Americas

Materials from the Americas

Shipwrecks, Monsters, and Mysteries of the Great Lakes

In 1679, a French ship called the Griffon left Green Bay on Lake Michigan, bound for Niagara with a cargo of furs. Neither the Griffon or the five-man crew was ever seen again. Though the Griffon’s fate remains a mystery, its disappearance was probably the result of the first shipwreck on a Great Lake. Since then, more than six thousand vessels, large and small, have met tragic ends on the Great Lakes. For many years, saltwater mariners scoffed at the freshwater sailors of the Great Lakes, “puddles” compared to the vast oceans. But those who actually worked on the Great Lakes ships knew differently. Shoals and reefs, uncharted rocks, and sandbars could snare a ship or rip open a hull. Unpredictable winds could capsize a vessel at any moment. A ship caught in a storm had much less room to maneuver than did one at sea. The wreckage of ships and the bones of the people who sail them litter the bottoms of the five lakes: Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, and Superior. Ed Butts has gathered stories and lake lore in this fascinating, frightening volume. For anyone living on the shores of the Great Lakes, these tales will inspire a new interest and respect for their storied past.

Nosh, Schlep, Shluff

Learning—and using—Yiddish is fun for the whole family, from the youngest mamaleh to the oldest bubbe and zaideh. Introduced to America as the mother tongue of millions of Jewish immigrants, Yiddish has made its way into everyday English. The sprightly, rhyming text follows a toddler through a busy day and is peppered from beginning to end with Yiddish words. Oy!—will everybody kvell when they hear their little ones spouting words from this most expressive of languages.

Noni Says No

Noni can do many things: she can give her baby brother his bottle, she can help her mother in the kitchen, and she can even walk over to her friend Susiers’s house. But Noni just canr’t say “no.” When she was very small, it was easy saying “no” to everybody, but now that she has a best friend, she wants to please. Noni can’t say “no” to her friend, even when it means she has to hand over a precious toy, or when it means agreeing to a hideous haircut, or even giving up her bed at a sleepover. But when Noni finally finds her voice, the consequences are not what she or the reader expects. A comforting exploration of friendship and of the importance of trusting one’s own judgment. Noni learns that you can stand up for yourself and still be a good friend.

Before There Was Mozart: The Story of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier De Saint-George

The musical superstar of 18th-century France was Joseph Boulogne—a Black man. This inspiring story tells how Joseph, the only child of a Black slave and her White master, becomes “the most accomplished man in Europe.” After traveling from his native West Indies to study music in Paris, young Joseph is taunted about his skin color. Despite his classmates’ cruel words, he continues to devote himself to his violin, eventually becoming conductor of a whole orchestra. Joseph begins composing his own operas, which everyone acknowledges to be magnifique. But will he ever reach his dream of performing for the king and queen of France? This lushly illustrated book by Lesa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome introduces us to a talented musician and an overlooked figure in Black history.

Not A Baby Anymore!

This beautifully photographed series of board books shows us the major stages in a baby’s first year — the first day, sitting, crawling, and walking. Mother, father, and big brother also appear. Finally in Not a Baby Anymore! the little boy has made the amazing transition to walking, and he has even started day care. We see him having his first haircut and getting all dressed up in time to celebrate his very first birthday party.

Go, Baby, Go!

This beautifully photographed series of board books shows us the major stages in a baby’s first year — the first day, sitting, crawling, and walking. Mother, father, and big brother also appear. Go, Baby, Go! features the baby who has learned to crawl. Uzon’s photos capture him as he investigates every corner of the house, pulling himself up to a standing position at every opportunity. At the park the baby delights in the swing, tries to eat flowers, and is drawn like a magnet to his brother’s bike. But best of all, he has discovered the pleasure of turning the pages of a book.

Hello, Baby!

This beautifully photographed series of board books shows us the major stages in a baby’s first year — the first day, sitting, crawling, and walking. Mother, father, and big brother also appear. Hello, Baby! follows the first day in the life of the newborn baby as he eats, cries, sleeps, and is given a bath and cuddled. In Look Around, Baby!, the young baby looks around at the world, sits up, and begins to play and interact with his older brother. Go, Baby, Go! features the busy baby who can now crawl and practice standing up, and is constantly getting into everything, and in Not a Baby Anymore! he can walk, goes to day care, and finally enjoys his first birthday party.

Look Around, Baby!

This beautifully photographed series of board books shows us the major stages in a baby’s first year — the first day, sitting, crawling, and walking. Mother, father, and big brother also appear. In Look Around, Baby!, photos show the young baby just beginning to sit up — now he sees the world from a whole new perspective. He holds his rattle, plays peek-a-boo, and even begins to interact with his big brother. He loves to laugh but has frequent crying bouts since his teeth are bothering him. Maybe that’s why he loves to chew on his toes!