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WE MARCH by Shane Evans (Neal Porter/Roaring Brook, 2012) is a simple homage to the brave men and women and children who gathered on the Mall in Washington, DC, in the summer of 1963. The words are spare and the illustrations are simple yet radiate all sorts of quiet strength. History teachers should consider taking this into the classroom to supplement the textbook. <711>
THERE GOES TED WILLIAMS: THE GREATEST HITTER WHO EVER LIVED (Candlewick Press 2012) by Matt Tavares simply exudes joy. From the joy in the face of the young Ted Williams as he breaks high school records and is signed to a contract at the tender age of 17, to the newly minted big leaguer Ted Williams as he practices until his hands bleed. This biography clearly communicates the incredible joy that Williams found in his sport. <712>
THE LONELY BOOK by Kate Bernheimer with illustrations by Chris Sheban (Schwartz and Wade 2012) shows how much the love of a reader can do in the life of a book. As the story opens, the book is new. It is frequently checked out and lovingly read. Eventually, though, the new-ness wears off and the book is relegated to a normal shelf where sometimes it will sit for a long time without anyone reading it. The special bond between a book and a reader comes to life in this lovely story. <713>