Linda Elovitz Marshall

"Jonas Salk was a kid who saw things differently." On the opening spread, he sits on his father's shoulders, watching injured and wounded soldiers march in a victory parade at the end of the Great War in 1918. Though Jonas' parents were Jewish immigrants with little formal education, they valued the importance of "education, of kindness, and of doing good works." Jonas went on to embody these principles, attending college (the City College of New York, where Jews were welcome) and then med show more school. He teamed up with Dr. Thomas Francis to make a flu vaccine, and then they went to work on polio. Later in his career, he founded the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. The final spread shows children in lighted apartment windows, looking out at a sky full of stars: "Jonas Salk was a kid who saw things differently.... Ever meet a kid like that? Could that kid be YOU?"

Back matter includes author's note, reproductions of letters sent by children to Jonas Salk, and sources (books, interviews, and other media).

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Re-read March 2022 show less

Young Ixchel wants to learn to weave colorful fabric like her mother, who works hard creating the beautiful cloth for which the Mayan people are celebrated. Unfortunately, her mother, determined to earn enough at market to send Ixchel to school, doesn't have the time or the material with which to teach her. Deciding that she will teach herself, Ixchel uses various things - grass, thick thread made from bits of wool - in her experiments at weaving, but never seems to produce the kind of show more colorful cloth she is hoping to create. Then she thinks of all of the plastic bags, bags of every color, littering her small village, and she has a new idea...

Pairing an engaging and inspirational story from author Linda Elovitz Marshall with beautiful artwork from illustrator Elisa Chavarri, Rainbow Weaver / Tejedora del Arcoiris explores the themes of creativity and hard work, and how they can be used to address serious problems. Ixchel wants to learn to weave, something her mother does not have the liberty to help her with, and her village has a problem with plastic waste. Her solution - creating rainbow cloth from said plastic - helps with both of these issues. The story here is fictional, but is based upon real Mayan craftspeople in Guatemala, whose work is sold by the non-profit organization Mayan Hands, founded by friends of the author. The idea of turning plastic bag waste into woven cloth is one that can also be found other parts of the world, and this fictional tale would pair very nicely with Mirand Paul and Elizabeth Zunon's picture-book biography, One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for stories about creative problem-solving and/or featuring a Mayan cultural background. show less

All her life, Anne Frank wanted to be heard.Really, truly heard.Linda Elovitz Marshall introduces readers to the story of Anne Frank in this powerful book about family, war, and the importance of finding your voice.During her two years in hiding from the Nazis, Anne Frank poured her soul into a red plaid diary named Kitty. She wrote honestly of the reality of Nazi occupation, of daily life in the annex, and of her longing to be heard. More than anything, Anne spoke the truth, and her words show more have echoed throughout history.Gorgeous prose and striking art deliver Anne's ever-relevant story with poignancy and grace, while robust back matter -- including biographical information, an author's note, and a timeline -- makes this the perfect book for history curriculums. show less

While reading books for the multicultural literature project, I came across this particular book and was immediately drawn in by the cover of the book. On the front cover, we meet Ixchel, a young Mayan girl who wants to follow in her mother and grandmother’s footsteps and have her turn at weaving thread. When her mother tells her that there is not enough thread, however, Ixchel sets out to find something else to weave, stumbling upon an abundance of plastic bags scattered throughout the show more fields. She takes the colorful bags, cuts them, and weaves them together to form a beautiful fabric like those of her mother and grandmother’s. The illustrations carefully and artfully depict colorful nature of not only Ixchel’s fabric, but also reflects the vibrancy of the Mayan culture and its rich traditions. The images are warm, bright, and inviting! In addition, I also really enjoyed the personality quality of Ixchel and how she used her determination and ingenuity to create an amazing piece, despite limited resources. She thought outside the box and let her imagination and drive run wild while also honoring her family and culture! show less