dorothea lange

Dorothea Lange experienced suffering during childhood and learned about empathy at a very young age, which prepared her for her life's work.  In high school, she discovered that she had a keen eye for images and she worked very hard to break into the field of photography, which at the time was dominated by men.  Dorothea Lange is most famous for documenting people living in rural America during the Great Depression.  The frankness and stark realism of her images brought to light the poverty and injustices suffered by so many in that era.  Her lens told the truth.  "More than a photographer, she was a storyteller with a camera."

Dorothea Lange: The Photographer Who Found the Faces of the Depression was written by Carol Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Sarah Green and published by Albert Whitman.

For additional resources about Dorothea Lange, visit Artsy which provides current listings of Lange exhibitions, over 30 of her works as well as exclusive articles.

other-wordly: words both strange and lovely from around the world

Oh, brumous days of January — "of gray skies and winter days; filled with heavy clouds or fog; relating to winter or cold, sunless weather."  Reading Other-Wordly: words both strange and lovely from around the world this week, and thinking about the relationship between language and culture.  If anyone else listens to a lot of bossa nova and has always wondered what “saudade” means, it’s included in this beautiful collection of words.

Other-Wordly: words both strange and lovely from around the world was written by Yee Lum-Mak, illustrated by Kelsey Garrity-Riley and published by Chronicle Books.

little lit book series: books about mail

February’s theme is mail for #littlelitbookseries.  The art of correspondence.  Concerned about her Great-Aunt Josephine being too lonely, Sadie decides to send her a "care package."  A pretty sizable one—an ELEPHANT!  She thinks her aunt "could really use the company."  Sadie encounters some obvious obstacles along the way but remains undeterred and determined.  Heartfelt, funny and completely thoughtful.

Special Delivery was written by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Matthew Cordell and published by Roaring Brook Press.

Be sure to check in at @littlelitbookseries to see what other titles we're reading throughout the month.  And search the hashtag #littlelitbookseries on Instagram to see which epistolary tales our group sharing today.

i don't know what to call my cat

Quandary of quandaries.  What to name the cat?  As a young girl gets to know the playful and mischievous nature of her new cat and the other more eccentric facets of its personality, she realizes picking a name will not be a straightforward task.  Cats are complicated creatures, no?  Luckily, the perfect name presents itself at just the right time.  And all is purrrfect again.  Completely funny, charming and lovable story and illustrations.  Hard to ask for more, really.

I Don’t Know What to Call My Cat was written by Simon Philip, illustrated by Ella Bailey and published by Simon and Schuster.