Carolee Dean's Blog, page 8

My First Decodable Book

I'm thrilled to announce that my first decodable book, No Gift for Man, is available as an e-book. In fact, you can get it for FREE on Kindle Unlimited. If you do get the book, PLEASE leave a review on amazon! Reviews are what drive ratings and that is what gets books recognized by other readers. This book is useful for teachers and tutors of students with dyslexia, and also parents and grandparents who are looking for books to share with developing readers.

The story aligns with Level 1 of my Hot Rod Scope and Sequence and focuses on closed/short vowel sounds. The Pair and Share Reading Strategy is used to give background information about the Greek Creation Myth.

Visit my website at Word Travel Press to find supplementary games and activities as well as information about the Scope and Sequence of the series. There are several free sample games on my page for COR Instruction. Watch for news about the paperback version and additional books coming soon. The colorful illustrations in this book make it engaging for kids of all ages, but if you would prefer a text-only version for teens, you can get a free PDF of the text when you sign up for my newsletter. Visit the Sign Up Page on my website at www.wordtravelpress.com for details.

LISTEN and IN THE BLUE- Award Winning Picture Books Exploring the Disability Experience

Continuing with my theme for 2023 of sharing stories about perseverance, today I'm looking at award winning picture books exploring the disability experience. 

Every January the American Library Association (ALA) announces its most prestigious awards at its Midwinter Conference. These include the Caldecott, the Newbery, and the Printz Medals. In addition, there are several lesser known categories of winners that appeal to specific interest groups. One of these is the Schneider Family Book Award which honors an author or illustrator for "... the artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences." There are three categories for ages 0-8, 9-13, and 14-18.

The 2023 winner of the Young Children's (0-8) category was Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, A Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion written by Shannon Stocker and illustrated by Devon Holzwarth.

Evelyn loved music from a very young age. When she was eight, she could play songs on the piano by ear. At ten she tackled the clarinet. But soon she began to lose her hearing. A doctor told the family that the nerves in Evelyn's ears were degenerating. By the time she was eleven, she could barely hear the phone ring, but there was something she could hear - percussion. She loved the marimba, the timpani, and the snare drum and she found an understanding music teacher who helped her learn how to "feel" the different sounds in her body. She went on to attend the Royal Academy of Music and become an award-winning solo percussionist. To this day she performs barefoot so that she can feel the musical vibrations as they move through the floor and into her feet. 

As a speech-language pathologist, I especially enjoyed the explanation of how sound and touch are similar. Air vibrates and travels through the human ear before that vibration is converted into an electrical signal that we perceive as sound. 

Evelyn was featured in a BBC documentary called, The Will to Win and a second documentary called Good Vibrations. She has created a film entitled Touch the Sound and the TED Talk, "How to Truly Listen." She has a solo album entitled Rhythm Song and more than 40 CDs. 

Read more about Evelyn at www.evelyn.co.uk. Check out her website where you will find videos of her discussing "Feeling Sound" and other topics. You can also listen to samples of her music.

The 2023 honor title for Young Children was In the Blue written and illustrated by Erin Hourigan. It is a picture book for young children (ages 4-8) about depression that handles a sensitive topic and makes it accessible through the use of art and color. The book provides a sensitive and thoughtful way to begin conversations with young children about mental illness.

For more stories of resilience, check out my January 28th post on It's My Whole Life: Charlotte Salomon: An Artist in Hiding During World War II  by Susan Wider as well as Jubilee: The First Therapy Horse and an Olympic Dream written by KT Johnston and illustrated by Anabella Ortiz.

Keep up with my book reviews on more exciting stories of resilience by signing up for my newsletter. Visit the Sign Up Page on my website at www.wordtravelpress.com for details and discover free offers.

LISTEN - An Award Winning Picture Book Exploring the Disability Experience

Continuing with my theme for 2023 of sharing stories about perseverance, today I'm looking at award winning picture books exploring the disability experience. 

Every January the American Library Association (ALA) announces its most prestigious awards at its Midwinter Conference. These include the Caldecott, the Newbery, and the Printz Medals. In addition, there are several lesser known categories of winners that appeal to specific interest groups. One of these is the Schneider Family Book Award which honors an author or illustrator for "... the artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences." There are three categories for ages 0-8, 9-13, and 14-18.

The 2023 winner of the Young Children's (0-8) category was Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, A Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion written by Shannon Stocker and illustrated by Devon Holzwarth.

Evelyn loved music from a very young age. When she was eight, she could play songs on the piano by ear. At ten she tackled the clarinet. But soon she began to lose her hearing. A doctor told the family that the nerves in Evelyn's ears were degenerating. By the time she was eleven, she could barely hear the phone ring, but there was something she could hear - percussion. She loved the marimba, the timpani, and the snare drum and she found an understanding music teacher who helped her learn how to "feel" the different sounds in her body. She went on to attend the Royal Academy of Music and become an award-winning solo percussionist. To this day she performs barefoot so that she can feel the musical vibrations as they move through the floor and into her feet. 

As a speech-language pathologist, I especially enjoyed the explanation of how sound and touch are similar. Air vibrates and travels through the human ear before that vibration is converted into an electrical signal that we perceive as sound. 

Evelyn was featured in a BBC documentary called, The Will to Win and a second documentary called Good Vibrations. She has created a film entitled Touch the Sound and the TED Talk, "How to Truly Listen." She has a solo album entitled Rhythm Song and more than 40 CDs. 

Read more about Evelyn at www.evelyn.co.uk. Check out her website where you will find videos of her discussing "Feeling Sound" and other topics. You can also listen to samples of her music.

The 2023 honor title for Young Children was In the Blue written and illustrated by Erin Hourigan. It is a picture book for young children (ages 4-8) about depression that handles a sensitive topic and makes it accessible through the use of art and color. The book provides a sensitive and thoughtful way to begin conversations with young children about mental illness.

For more stories of resilience, check out my January 28th post on It's My Whole Life: Charlotte Salomon: An Artist in Hiding During World War II  by Susan Wider as well as Jubilee: The First Therapy Horse and an Olympic Dream written by KT Johnston and illustrated by Anabella Ortiz.

Keep up with my book reviews on more exciting stories of resilience by signing up for my newsletter. Visit the Sign Up Page on my website at www.wordtravelpress.com for details and discover free offers.

Accolades for New Mexico Author Susan Wider

Susan Wider, New Mexico children’s author, received the Young Adult Literature Award from the Jewish Book Council for It's My Whole Life: Charlotte Salomon: An Artist in Hiding During World War II (Norton Young Readers). 
The Jewish Book Council was founded in 1943. It is dedicated to the support and celebration of Jewish literature. Each year the organization gives awards for outstanding Jewish literature. Earlier this month, on January 18th, they announced the winners of the 72nd National Jewish Book Awards as part of their Books That Changed My Life festival in Manhattan. 
Charlotte was a young Jewish artist who created a series of paintings to document her experiences while hiding from the Nazis. I interviewed the author, Susan Wider, in August of 2022 when the book first came out. I have posted a copy of that interview below. To find out more about the Jewish Book Council awards and other noteworthy titles, visit their WEBSITE.
Carolee: In your author’s note you mention that you first became aware of Charlotte when another artist, Maira Kalman, shared in an interview about how Charlotte influenced her work? How has Charlotte influenced your work?
 
Susan: When the Nazi invasion of the south of France became inevitable, Charlotte described her need to “vanish for a while from the human plane and make every sacrifice in order to create.” With Charlotte’s words in my head, I find it easier to close out the world—as politely as possible—and disappear into my writing
 
Carolee: What inspired you to write a book about her?
 
Susan: When I realized that there were no books about Charlotte for young readers—apart from one Italian graphic novel-style biography—I wanted to write about her for teen readers. Charlotte deals with an avalanche of difficulties, from psychological abuse to family suicides to racism to genocide to living as a refugee, all issues that many teens face today.
 
Carolee: Your original manuscript for this book included three artists. Who were the other two? 
 
Susan: As I was researching Charlotte’s story, I came across two other creative young women—among many hundreds of thousands—whose lives and talents were severely disrupted by World War II. In the initial manuscript I braided the stories of Charlotte Salomon, Helga Weiss, and Zdena Berger because their creative output was influenced by pre-concentration camp years (Charlotte); time inside a concentration camp (Helga); and post-war reflection on surviving four camps (Zdena).
Carolee: Those are three very interesting perspectives. How did you decide to focus on Charlotte? 
Susan: When my agent sent that manuscript to various publishers, they all felt that each woman deserved her own book. Back to the drawing board and my agent suggested I start with Charlotte.
 
 Carolee: What is one thing you hope young readers take away from Charlotte’s story?
 
Susan: In spite of everything she was up against—Grandfather, her stepmother, a family history of suicide, Adolf Hitler—Charlotte was able to find her voice in art and writing “with the feeling I had something I would be able to say to humanity.” I hope she inspires young readers to search for their own forms of self-expression, even in dark times.
Carolee: I was certainly inspired by her story when I read it. Art is what gave beauty and purpose to her life during a time that could have otherwise been unbearable. Thanks so much for sharing her story!

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Accolades for New Mexico Author Susan Wider.

Susan Wider, New Mexico children’s author, received the Young Adult Literature Award from the Jewish Book Council for It's My Whole Life: Charlotte Salomon: An Artist in Hiding During World War II (Norton Young Readers). 
The Jewish Book Council was founded in 1943. It is dedicated to the support and celebration of Jewish literature. Each year the organization gives awards for outstanding Jewish literature. Earlier this month, on January 18th, they announced the winners of the 72nd National Jewish Book Awards as part of their Books That Changed My Life festival in Manhattan. 
Charlotte was a young Jewish artist who created a series of paintings to document her experiences while hiding from the Nazis. I interviewed the author, Susan Wider, in August of 2022 when the book first came out. I have posted a copy of that interview below. To find out more about the Jewish Book Council awards and other noteworthy titles, visit their WEBSITE.
Carolee: In your author’s note you mention that you first became aware of Charlotte when another artist, Maira Kalman, shared in an interview about how Charlotte influenced her work? How has Charlotte influenced your work?
 
Susan: When the Nazi invasion of the south of France became inevitable, Charlotte described her need to “vanish for a while from the human plane and make every sacrifice in order to create.” With Charlotte’s words in my head, I find it easier to close out the world—as politely as possible—and disappear into my writing
 
Carolee: What inspired you to write a book about her?
 
Susan: When I realized that there were no books about Charlotte for young readers—apart from one Italian graphic novel-style biography—I wanted to write about her for teen readers. Charlotte deals with an avalanche of difficulties, from psychological abuse to family suicides to racism to genocide to living as a refugee, all issues that many teens face today.
 
Carolee: Your original manuscript for this book included three artists. Who were the other two? 
 
Susan: As I was researching Charlotte’s story, I came across two other creative young women—among many hundreds of thousands—whose lives and talents were severely disrupted by World War II. In the initial manuscript I braided the stories of Charlotte Salomon, Helga Weiss, and Zdena Berger because their creative output was influenced by pre-concentration camp years (Charlotte); time inside a concentration camp (Helga); and post-war reflection on surviving four camps (Zdena).
Carolee: Those are three very interesting perspectives. How did you decide to focus on Charlotte? 
Susan: When my agent sent that manuscript to various publishers, they all felt that each woman deserved her own book. Back to the drawing board and my agent suggested I start with Charlotte.
 
 Carolee: What is one thing you hope young readers take away from Charlotte’s story?
 
Susan: In spite of everything she was up against—Grandfather, her stepmother, a family history of suicide, Adolf Hitler—Charlotte was able to find her voice in art and writing “with the feeling I had something I would be able to say to humanity.” I hope she inspires young readers to search for their own forms of self-expression, even in dark times.
Carolee: I was certainly inspired by her story when I read it. Art is what gave beauty and purpose to her life during a time that could have otherwise been unbearable. Thanks so much for sharing her story!

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Sign up for my newsletter HERE to keep up with news and free offers and you will receive the free writing template for Travel Trouble sent directly to your email address.

UnDiagnosed: The Ugly Side of Dyslexia

In Undiagnosed: The Ugly Side of Dyslexia, Ameer Baraka shares his personal struggles with growing up on the mean streets of New Orleans, being unable to read, and in continual trouble with the law. He was incarcerated at the age of 14 for manslaughter and served time again in his twenties. He was finally diagnosed with dyslexia while in prison.

After learning to read, Ameer turned his life around and became an Emmy-nominated actor. He is also a dyslexia advocate, youth mentor, and prison coach. He works with youth that are behind bars. He is keenly aware of the school-to-prison path for kids who can't read and makes it his mission to raise awareness about dyslexia by speaking at universities, businesses, and youth organizations around the world.

As I mentioned in last week's post about Jubilee: The First Therapy Horse and an Olympic Dream, my mission for 2023 is to share stories of resilience. There are many stories out in the world today about people who have overcome dyslexia to become successful entrepreneurs, millionaires, and billionaires. But there is also an ugly side to dyslexia. It's the story Ameer shares of young kids who get stuck in a school-to-prison pipeline because they cannot read.  Many of these young people belong to minorities. They don't have wealthy parents who can pay for expensive tutors or private schools for kids with learning differences. They don't have parents with the tenacity to go up against powerful school systems to demand accommodations for their struggling learners. They are not raised in families with the understanding and the means to support alternative dreams if pursuing higher education is not in their child's future.  

And yet, Undiagnosed is still ultimately a story of hope and resilience. Ameer takes us through his journey through a very dark place to come out the other side where he offers hope to kids who were just like him and understanding to educators as well as legal authorities. He now speaks to police departments and racial bias. He used to be part of the problem, and he has become a shining example of the solution.

Ameer will be speaking on Monday, January 9, 2023, at a free online event hosted by the Dallas Chapter of the International Dyslexia Association. Hear his story live at his book launch. See the QR code at the bottom of this post for details.

When I was working in the public schools, a large percentage of my struggling students had parents who were or had been incarcerated. It is what inspired me to write Take Me There, about a teen boy who has a big heart but always finds himself on the wrong side of the law. The story is fictional, but it was inspired by a theme I saw over and over again. Parents can't read and end up in prison. Their kids can't read and often end up on a similar path, not knowing why. The young man in my story goes looking for his father who is in prison in Texas to find out if badness is in his blood or if it is something he can outrun. What he learns is that his father's illiteracy led him to a life of crime. He was a football star in a small Texas high school who got passed along in school by teachers who meant well but never really helped him.

There are many places in our country where there is a simple formula for estimating the size of a new prison. They look at the literacy rates of the surrounding area. That is the real crime, that we have learned the formula for a life of crime, that it is within our power as a society to remedy much of it, but that we don't. Listen to Ameer's story to get inspired about what can be done. See details below.

Jubilee - Launching a Year of STORIES ABOUT RESILIENCE

How do we teach resilience, grit, and emotional fortitude? That is one of the questions that weighs on my heart these days. For that reason, I'm launching a year of stories about resilience for 2023, and I'm starting with Jubilee by KT Johnston, illustrated by Anabella Ortiz.

If you follow my blog or my newsletter, you know that I often discuss narrative non-fiction picture books on a variety of subjects including history, science, and disability. One of the hot topics in education these days is mental health. There is a children's mental health crisis going on in our country brought on largely by issues connected with the pandemic. Books on the subject are flooding the marketplace, but resilience is not an easy quality to teach.

One of the ways that young people learn about grit, perseverance, resilience, and developing a growth mindset is by reading stories about real people (and animals) who have overcome extreme obstacles. When we see another person do something courageous, we start to believe that we can be courageous, too.

To kick off the new year, I'm featuring the narrative non-fiction picture book, Jubilee: The First Therapy Horse and an Olympic Dream. Find the book HERE. 

Lis Hartel began competing in dressage when she was thirteen years old. In 1943 and 1944 she and her horse, Gigolo, were the national champions of Denmark, but within a few months of their second title, the tides turned. Lis contracted polio and was told she would probably never walk again and would definitely never ride.

Horses were her life and so Lis made up her mind that she would find a way to ride. Unfortunately, Gigolo was injured, but Jubilee was available. Jubilee was not a showhorse, but he was gentle and patient. Even so, Lis fell off of Jubilee many times. But each time, she got back up again. Gradually, Lis regained some of her strength and her balance, but not all of it. She had to use very subtle movements to direct the horse. Jubilee began looking and acting like a showhorse. They began competing and winning shows until they eventually qualified to compete in the Olympic games. You will have to read the book to find out what happened next.

Lis went on to create the first riding center for people with disabilities. The partnership that she and Jubilee formed inspired similar centers all around the world and a type of physical therapy called hippotherapy. 

As a speech-language pathologist, I'm familiar with the many benefits of hippotherapy. To learn more about this exciting intervention and the resources available for families, visit the American Hippotherapy Association HERE. 

Although Jubilee is a picture book, it is appropriate for older students because of the advanced concepts and vocabulary. Consider teaching it alongside Come On Seabiscuit! by Ralph Moody written for grades 7-9. 

Moody's book was originally published in 1963, but it made a comeback after Laura Hillenbrand's book for adults. Seabiscuit was the depression-era underdog that won the famous match race against War Admiral featured in the 2003 movie named after the thoroughbred. There is also a one-hour PBS Documentary on Seabiscuit found HERE.

Watch my blog in 2023 for more stories about people (and animals) that are examples of grit and resilience. Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free PDF of the first book in my Decodable Series, No Gift for Man. The PDF is text only. It also links to an online audio version of the book. The illustrated version will be available on Amazon soon. This is the first installment in the HOT ROD Series (Higher Order Thinking Through the Reading of Decodables.) Visit the Sign Up Page on my new website at www.wordtravelpress.com for details. Then explore strategies like Pair and Share Reading. Find downloadable activities to go with the book on my page for COR Instruction. 

Celebrating Dyslexia Awareness Month with A Walk in the Words

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month and I always like to celebrate by sharing children's books about kids with dyslexia. This October, I'm featuring A Walk in the Words, an autobiographical picture book written and illustrated by Hudson Talbott about his struggles with learning to read. 
Drawing was always easy for Talbott, but reading was a challenge.  His love of creating stories was one of the things that inspired him to persevere. He compares learning new words for his stories with finding new colors for his art. He learned that it was okay to tackle words at his own pace which is a lesson that can be hard for many kids to learn. He describes the words he knew as "Stepping stones leading me onward.' One of my favorite illustrations is his "Slow Readers Hall of Fame," which includes people like Albert Einstein, Leonardo DaVinci, George Washington, and William Shakespeare. 
A Walk in the Words was a 2022 Schneider Family Honor Book. This award honors an author or illustrator for, "A book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences." Read about this award and find other titles featuring children with a variety of disabilities on the website for the Schneider Family Book Award. 
Hudson Talbott is the creator of over 20 children's books including We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story which Steven Speilberg turned into a full-length animated film.
To find other titles about kids with dyslexia, visit last October's Post on Children's Books Featuring Young People with Dyslexia.
NEW DECODABLE BOOK SERIES
I'm also celebrating Dyslexia Awareness Month by giving away a free PDF of the first book in my Decodable Series, No Gift for Man. The PDF is text only. It also links to an online audio version of the book. The illustrated version will be available on Amazon in November. This is the first installment in the HOT ROD Series (Higher Order Thinking Through the Reading of Decodables.) 
Visit the Sign Up Page on my new website at www.wordtravelpress.com for details. Then explore strategies like Pair and Share Reading. Find downloadable activities to go with the book on my page for COR Instruction. If you already receive my newsletter, a link to the free PDF will be available in the November edition. If you are attending the International Dyslexia Association Annual Conference in San Antonio, be sure to check out my session on decodable books. See details below:
International Dyslexia Association - November 10-12, 2022 in San Antonio, TX
1. Live presentation - #93 - The Goldilocks Effect: Finding the “Just Right” Books for Struggling Readers - Saturday morning, 11-12 pm, November 12, 2022.
2. Recorded Presentation - #165 - Heracles vs. Hercules: The Importance of Cognitive Flexibility (I will be doing this presentation with Kelly Cartwright Ph.D.)

Cloaked in Courage - Q&A with Author, Beth Anderson

Beth Anderson is joining me today for a Q&A on her latest book, Cloaked in Courage: Uncovering Deborah Sampson, Patriot Soldier. Beth is a former educator and author whose well-researched books make history come alive for young people. I also appreciate how she discovers little-known characters and shares their fascinating adventures with her readers. I frequently use narrative non-fiction picture books with struggling readers. Her books are some of my favorites and theirs. I featured one of her titles, An Inconvenient Alphabet: Ben Franklin and Noah Webster's Spelling Revolution, in my resource for educators - Story Frames for Teaching Literacy (Brookes Publishing, 2021). An Inconvenient Alphabet takes place in the years after the Revolutionary War and would be a good title to explore alongside Cloaked in Courage which will be available on November 15, 2022. Scroll to the bottom of this post to find out how to pre-order Beth's new book and get some fun book swag in the process.  
LINKS TO THE COMMON COREI was excited for the opportunity to preview Cloaked in Courage and to ask Beth some questions about the story. Because of its historical context, Beth's book is appropriate for students of all ages. Teachers of older students may be interested to know how the story may be linked to the Common Core State Standards:
Grade 3 - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.9 requires students compare stories written by the same author. Ask students to Compare and Contrast Cloaked in Courage with another book by Beth Anderson. I suggest Revolutionary Prudence Wright: Leading the Minute Women in the Fight for Independence. Both stories are about real women who were instrumental in helping America in the fight for freedom.

Grade 4 - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.6 requires students to compare and contrast the point of view from which stories are narrated, including the difference between first- and third-person narrations. Cloaked in Courage is written in the third person as are most biographical stories. Compare it to Almost to Freedom told from the perspective of a doll that belongs to a family escaping to freedom through the Underground Railroad. It is written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by Colin Bootman who won a Caldecott Honor for his masterful artwork.

Grade 5 - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.9 requires students to be able to compare stories in the same genre specifically in regard to looking at how different authors handle similar subjects. Comparing Cloaked in Courage to Gingerbread for Liberty! How a German Baker Helped Win the American Revolution by Mara Rockliff would be a fun fit for addressing this standard. You could also compare An Inconvenient Alphabet to another book by Mara Rockliff, Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France. Both of those books share little-known stories about a well-known historical figure, Benjamin Franklin.  Both of Mara Rockliff's books are featured in Story Frames.

Grade 6 - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.9 requires students to be able to compare similar subjects explored across different genres. Comparing Beth’s picture book to any sixth-grade book on the subject of the Revolutionary War would be a great way to show how the same subject can be handled in very different ways. The Newbery Medal winner, Johnny Tremain: A Story of Boston in Revolt, would be an excellent choice. Although Johnny Tremain is a fictional character, the author, Esther Hoskins Forbes, conducted extensive research to write the story about life during and just before the start of the Revolutionary War. Comparing a narrative non-ficiton picture book such as Cloaked In Courage to a fictional novel on the same subject would be a good way to explore this standard.

If you are interested in using narrative non-fiction picture books like Beth’s with older students, see the piece I wrote for Beth's blog on Not Just for Little Kids: Five Reasons to Use Picture Books with Older Students. And now... I’m delighted that Beth Anderson is joining us today for a Q&A about her new book, Cloaked in Courage.

INTERVIEWCarolee: There are many similarities between Cloaked in Courage and Revolutionary Prudence Wright. Both books feature strong female characters, both dressing as men, to further the cause of the American rebels in the Revolutionary War. Those are ways they are similar. How would you characterize the main differences between these women?
Beth: I’m always fascinated with how people become who they are. And that’s really what Deborah Sampson’s story is about. The major difference I see between the two women is in their experiences growing up. Prudence was raised by forward-thinking parents. They sent her to school, encouraged her to participate in family “debate,” and allowed her to gain “male” skills like fishing and hunting. She was raised to see herself as a capable being. On the other hand, Deborah was “put out” at age 5 when her mother was unable to care for her children. She basically raised herself while working as an indentured servant in several households. She had to discover her capableness, sneak her education, and find her place in the world on her own. She had to dig deep for perseverance, not only to push back against the traditions that set her up for a limited life as a servant, but also the traditions that defined her future and restricted the path of women.
Carolee: I knew that parents in financial distress often hired out their children to work for other people, but I had no idea anyone would “hire” a child as young as five as was the case with Deborah. How widespread was the practice of hiring such young children? Did the parents receive money or were they just looking for room and board for children they could not afford?
Beth: I hadn’t heard of this tradition to “put out” or “bind out” children either. It offered a tremendous window into the times and her childhood as I dug into the research. Her father deserted the family, and her mother was unable to feed and clothe all her children. The restrictions placed on girls and women didn’t prepare them to make a living, so this was a heart-wrenching choice some had to make. This was basically the foster care system of the times and involved certain obligations. It was how a community cared for its members. They would place a child in the service of someone they owed a debt. As far as I know, the act of binding a child out served two purposes; it paid debts and also provided care for the child. This way, infants remaining with the mother and the children put out had a better option than starvation. Deborah was probably fortunate to first be placed in the home of an elderly aunt who cared for her and likely was the one who taught her to read and write. While this was emotionally extremely difficult, perhaps we can think of her mother’s act as generous and selfless, giving her daughter a chance in life. I could see how Deborah doing “male” chores as she grew up made her strong inside and out and prepared her for the path she was to choose later. 
Carolee: Deborah survived the war but almost died of disease. What disease was it? And how often do you think the outcome of wars was affected by diseases? 
Beth: Historians can’t verify which disease Deborah had, and different sources offer varied possibilities. This is why I left the disease unnamed. At the time, there were many diseases and illnesses that could be deadly: typhoid, typhus, measles, scarlet fever, smallpox, dysentery, putrid fever, malaria, yellow fever, and more. The question of what she likely had was one I put to the expert I consulted when Anne Lambelet was working on illustrations. She would need to show it. Based on the date and location, summer/fall in Philadelphia in 1783, the expert said measles. There was no vaccine for measles and many died from it. Medical staff weren’t aware of germs or viruses or what caused infection. Many practices did more harm than good. Sanitation and hygiene were lacking. And when you put troops closely together with others from different areas, contagion runs wild. Diseases affect the readiness of troops, strategies, logistics, and pose a constant danger. There’s no question that disease affects every aspect of our lives, including wars.
Carolee: You often write about little-known historical figures. How do you find out about them?
Beth:  I’m always on the lookout for people and events that make us think a little differently about history. I run across these people from history in all sorts of ways - from newsfeeds of all sorts to articles or researching one thing that leads to something else. Deborah Sampson was on my radar for a while but at first, her story didn’t grab me. I had only seen very limited information on her, and nothing about her childhood. A few years later - in 2020 I think - there was an article about her being mentioned in an old diary that the Museum of the American Revolution had just acquired. It referred to her first attempt to enlist - something new to me. When I looked at that incident, it revealed more character. So I tried again. The diary turned out not to be helpful, but in digging past the surface (as with Tad Lincoln’s story), I found the person. I got a peek into motivation and experiences that made her who she was. Suddenly she inspired respect and amazement. As I researched, I found that a lot of what’s out there about her is fiction—that's been repeated as fact—and she’s sort of been appropriated for various causes. My goal was to try to tell her story as close to verifiable truth as possible, to let her be her and let that be enough. As with all things history - it’s complicated. There’s a lot of joy in digging out a piece of history that opens your eyes, but, with limited resources, these little-known figures are definitely a challenge. 
Carolee: Students often read a book like yours and want to learn more about a topic. If the subject is broad, such as the Revolutionary War, it may be hard to narrow down all the possible choices. On the other hand, if they are interested in finding out about a little-known person like Deborah Sampson, there may not be many resources. Do you have any tips for young people who want to explore a topic from one of your books?
Beth: One of my goals with all my books is to spark interest in history. In my author’s notes, I share what grabbed me about a person or topic as an example for kids. I also try to offer more information about the times so there are many potential “sparks” to ignite curiosity to look further. My bibliographies list the sources I used. So many primary source documents are accessible digitally online. To see Deborah Sampson’s enlistment paper, or muster roll, or pension application is exciting! But then, take those facts and try to understand the person, their motivation, their risks, their challenges. Use critical thinking, as well as introspection, and connect as humans. That’s what makes digging into history meaningful. The back matter of this book shares some of the challenges of research, including many of the potential pitfalls. When kids start asking the WHY questions, it’s time to dig into the time and place. History becomes real and fascinating. Ask questions! And let your questions guide you. 
Carolee: Thanks so much for joining us today. Are there any parting thoughts you would like to leave us about Deborah Sampson?
Beth: Thank you for sharing Cloaked in Courage and encouraging using it in classrooms! When kids understand the human side of history, they can connect. They’ll see that we, too, are impacted by our time and place and are also a part of history.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, LINKS, AND PREORDERSTo pre-order signed copies of Cloaked in Courage and special swag go to https://shop.twjbookshop.com/products/cloaked-in-courage-signed-copy-preorder-out-11-15-22. 
For Colorado Front-Range residents, you may pre-order books from The Wandering Jellyfish Book Store and receive a signed copy, button, bookmark, and journal at https://shop.twjbookshop.com/products/cloaked-in-courage-signed-copy-preorder-out-11-15-22. You may also order the book from any local bookstore.
Watch a conversation between Beth and the illustrator, Anne Lambelet, on November 15, 2022, on Facebook -  https://www.facebook.com/events/3347028345565090
And here’s the educator guide: https://bethandersonwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/cloaked-in-courage_educatordiscussion-guide.pdf.
HAPPY READING!!  

Let's Connect at My Upcoming Presentations

I'm excited to be speaking at some of my favorite conferences this fall. If you happen to be attending, let's connect at one of my upcoming presentations. See the schedule below. Also, in celebration of my new decodable series and the launching of my new website, Word Travel Press, I'm offering a chance to win $100 for conference travel (or whatever) for signing up for my newsletter. You will also receive a free PDF (text only) of my new decodable book, No Gift for Man. The winner of the $100 gift card will be contacted on November 14 and announced in my newsletter. Visit my new website at Word Travel Press and go to the Sign Up page to sign up for my newsletter, or use the QR code below. If you already receive my newsletter, watch for information coming soon about how to sign up for the drawing and receive the free PDF.

My upcoming presentations are below:

Reading in the Rockies - IDA-RMB - October 7-8 in Vail, CO

Live Presentation - "Decodable Texts: The Goldilocks Effect - Finding the "Just Right" Books for Struggling Readers." Friday 10:45 am October 7.

International Dyslexia Association - November 10-12, 2022 in San Antonio, TX
1. Live presentation - #93 - The Goldilocks Effect: Finding the “Just Right” Books for Struggling Readers - Saturday morning, 11-12 pm, November 12, 2022.
2. Recorded Presentation - #165 - Heracles vs. Hercules: The Importance of Cognitive Flexibility (I will be doing this presentation with Kelly Cartwright Ph.D.)

I will also have a booth at the San Antonio IDA Conference for Word Travel Press, my new publishing company for decodable books. Stop by Booth #518.  

American Speech-Language and Hearing Conference - November 17-19, New Orleans, LA
Recorded Presentation - #2118V - Story Frames for Teaching Literacy: Narrative Intervention Strategies for Comprehension and Written Language.

My new book:Watch for more information coming soon about my new decodable book, No Gift for Man, or visit my website for details at Word Travel Press.