Display: Doreen Rappaport

Doreen Rappaport was born in New York City in a home filled with music. Her mother was a singer and her father was a musical arranger. With this musical background, Doreen studied the piano and became a junior high music teacher after graduating from Brandeis University. In 1965 she began teaching in McComb, Mississippi and realized that there was a large part of American history which she had never really understood. Doreen began to write books about people's struggles against oppression to bring light to less well known parts of history. She is now the award-winning author of over 60 children's books which celebrate the lives of those who have overcome hard things to make an impact on the world.

Walt's imagination: the life of Walt Disney
Written by Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by John Pomeroy
From his childhood in rural Missouri to his legendary stature as a film and television icon, Walt governed his life with imagination, ingenuity, and scrupulous attention to detail. Faced with both public failures and massive success, he revolutionized the art form of animation, always seeking innovative solutions, cutting edge technology, and new ways of storytelling. A picture-book biography that introduces the life and career of Walt Disney.

Frederick's journey: the life of Frederick Douglass
Written by Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by London Ladd
Sketches Frederick Douglass's journey from slavery to international renown as writer and lecturer.

Wilma's way home: the life of Wilma Mankiller
Written by Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Linda Kukuk
A picturebook biography of Wilma Mankiller, the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation.

Elizabeth started all the trouble
Written by Doreen Rapppaport
Illustrated by Matt Faulkner
The story of women across the nation who stood together and demanded equal rights, including the right to vote, brought to life by Matt Falkner's vibrant illustrations.

Martin's Big words: the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Written by Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
This picture book biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Brings his life and the profound nature of his message to young children through his own words. Martin Luther King, Jr. , Was one of the most influential and gifted speakers of all time. Doreen Rappaport uses quotes from some of his most beloved speeches to tell the story of his life and his work in a simple, direct way. Bryan Collier's stunning collage art combines remarkable watercolor paintings with vibrant patterns and textures.

Helen's big world: the life of Helen Keller
Written by Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Matt Tavares
An introduction to the life and legacy of Helen Keller and her teacher Annie Sullivan.

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Review: The Factory

The Factory By Catherine Egan New York, NY : Scholastic Inc., 2025. Fiction. 306 pages. Thirteen-year-old Asher Doyle has been invited to join the Factory, a secretive research facility in the desert which ostensibly extracts renewable energy from the electromagnetic fields of its young recruits. But Asher soon realizes something sinister is going on. Kids are getting sick. The adults who run the Factory seem to be keeping secrets. And the extraction process is not only painful and exhausting, but existentially troubling. Asher makes a handful of new friends who help him with an investigation that turns into a resistance, which turns into...a cliffhanger! The Factory is a page-turning sci-fi with multidimensional characters, an intriguing plot, and refreshingly straight-forward writing. Egan weaves in detail about climate crises and social unrest, making the story's dystopian setting feel rich and plausible. With its sophisticated themes and accessible storytelling, I would recomm...

National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry

National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry Edited by J. Patrick Lewis National Geographic, 2012, 183 p. Poetry In this beautiful poetry collection, the National Children's Poet Laureate, J. Patrick Lewis, has teamed up with the amazing photographers at National Geographic. The result is 200 poems about animals, all illustrated with stunning nature photography. The poems are well chosen and include rhyming, free verse, and shape poetry. Some of the poems are funny, many are contemplative and all are nicely typeset on top of the full color photographs. One of my favorites is a shape poem about flamingos, with a photograph of a flock of flamingos which seem to be standing the the shape of a flamingo (how did they do that?). Lewis ends the collection with a brief but interesting section about writing animal poetry. This selection is sure to turn any animal lover into a poetry lover.

Review: A Game of Noctis

A Game of Noctis By Deva Fagan New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2024. Fiction. 310 pages. On the island of Dantessa, social standings and wealth are determined by your place in the Great Game. If you keep on winning, you can reap treasures, power, and security for yourself and your family; but if you lose too many games, you'll be exiled to Pawn Island and a life of servitude. That's what happens to 12-year-old Pia's grandfather. Due to poor vision, he struggles to see the games, but also can't afford new eyeglasses without winning. When his score falls to zero, he is sent away. Desperate to bring him back, Pia joins a ragtag group of misfits to form a team for the annual game of Noctis. The game requires contestants to perform dangerous challenges in front of a live audience, and no one outside the wealthy Diamond District has ever won. Each member of Pia's team, the Seafoxes, has their own reason to compete, but if they're going to win they'll h...

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