PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA

State Board of Education / Department of Public Instruction Instructional Technologies Division

About InfoTech: The Advisory List

InfoTech is published by the Resources Development and Evaluation Section of the Instructional Technology Division within the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and is distributed to every PreK-12 public school media center in the state. InfoTech reviews are written by media coordinators, technology facilitators, and teachers who currently work in the North Carolina Public Schools and have been trained in evaluation criteria.

Elementary Education

Fullen, Marilyn K. Great Black Writers: Biographies (Contributions Series). 63 p. $12.95. Open Hand, 2002. (ISBN 0-940880-17-7)

[Grades 4-8, ELA] This collection of six brief biographies provides information about African American writers who made important contributions to American literature from the late nineteenth century to the 1990s. Written in a conversational style, each biography portrays the difficulties each writer overcame, the support and influence of family and friends, the role of education and experience on each writer's development, and the recognition each received. Beginning with the journalist Ida Wells-Barnett, Fullen includes anthropologist/novelist Zora Neale Hurston, poet Langston Hughes, Alex Haley, novelist James Baldwin, and playwright Lorraine Hansberry. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs and written with a younger audience in mind, these biographies will inspire students and may be used with older struggling readers as well. Bibliography. MC [SS] (Volume 2003, Issue 8, pg 14)

Stone, Chuck. Squizzy the Black Squirrel: A Fabulous Fable of Friendship. Illustrated by Jeannie Jackson. 30 p. $16.95. Open Hand, 2003. (ISBN 0-940880-71-7)

[Grades K-3, PIC] Marcus, a seven-year-old African-American, discovers a black squirrel in the park while playing with his friends. Surprisingly, the squirrel Squizzy can talk, and Marcus is delighted to find a "black" squirrel. But Squizzy doesn't understand such words as black, white, brown, yellow, and red-or the world color. Squizzy points out that black can't do anything, but squirrels can, and that he and the other squirrels are just squirrels. Marcus learns an important lesson about acceptance and the artificiality of categorizing people by color. With its colorful illustrations and important message, this is a good resource for lessons on tolerance and friendship by a North Carolina author. MC CE (Volume 2004: Issue 1, pg 29)

Taylor, Charles A. Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom. Illustrated by Charles Taylor II. 32 p. $19.95. Open Hand, 2002. (ISBN 0-940880-68-7)

[Grades 4-8, TL] This short book is packed with information about Juneteenth-the commemoration of June 19, 1865-the date that General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas, freeing the last slaves in America. Taylor describes the horrors of slavery, and the subsequent disillusionment of segregation, and discrimination in its many forms, and emphasizes the important role that the Black church has always played in as a source of faith, support, leadership, self-expression, and creativity. Throughout the text, Taylor underscores cooperation between the races and the perseverance and contributions of African American people. A discussion of Juneteenth celebrations throughout history and a description of one family's observance of the day round out the book. An excellent resource for the social studies curriculum. Glossary, references. [SS] (Volume 2003: Issue 8, pg 19)

Middle School Education

Fullen, Marilyn K. Great Black Writers: Biographies (Contributions Series). 63 p. $12.95. Open Hand, 2002. (ISBN 0-940880-17-7)

[Grades 4-8, ELA] This collection of six brief biographies provides information about African American writers who made important contributions to American literature from the late nineteenth century to the 1990s. Written in a conversational style, each biography portrays the difficulties each writer overcame, the support and influence of family and friends, the role of education and experience on each writer's development, and the recognition each received. Beginning with the journalist Ida Wells-Barnett, Fullen includes anthropologist/novelist Zora Neale Hurston, poet Langston Hughes, Alex Haley, novelist James Baldwin, and playwright Lorraine Hansberry. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs and written with a younger audience in mind, these biographies will inspire students and may be used with older struggling readers as well. Bibliography. MC [SS] (Volume 2003: Issue 8, pg 14)

McMillan, Felecia Piggot. The North Carolina Black Repertory Company: 25 Marvtastic Years. 179 p. $36. Open Hand, 2005. (ISBN 0-940880-73-3)

[Grades 6-10, SS] This book is an intriguing examination of one of North Caroina's most popular and enduring dramatic companies. Liberally illustrated with black-and-white photographs, this work is inspirational and motivational. Chronicling founder Larry Leon Hamlin's efforts and the resulting success of the North Carolina Black Repertory Company, McMillan presents highlights of the group's achievements in chronological order. Theater teachers will find this work to be an excellent supplement to class lessons, and social studies teachers will appreciate the relevance to North Carolina studies. Readers will recognize many famous faces and names among supporters of this esteemed organization. An extensive bibliography encourages further research and study. MC [AE] (Volume 2007: Issue 1, pg 26)

Taylor, Charles A. Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom. Illustrated by Charles Taylor II. 32 p. $19.95. Open Hand, 2002. (ISBN 0-940880-68-7)

[Grades 4-8, TL] This short book is packed with information about Juneteenth-the commemoration of June 19, 1865-the date that General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas, freeing the last slaves in America. Taylor describes the horrors of slavery, and the subsequent disillusionment of segregation, and discrimination in its many forms, and emphasizes the important role that the Black church has always played in as a source of faith, support, leadership, self-expression, and creativity. Throughout the text, Taylor underscores cooperation between the races and the perseverance and contributions of African American people. A discussion of Juneteenth celebrations throughout history and a description of one family's observance of the day round out the book. An excellent resource for the social studies curriculum. Glossary, references. [SS] (Volume 2003: Issue 8, pg 19)

High School Education

McMillan, Felecia Piggot. The North Carolina Black Repertory Company: 25 Marvtastic Years. 179 p. $36. Open Hand, 2005. (ISBN 0-940880-73-3)

[Grades 6-10, SS] This book is an intriguing examination of one of North Caroina's most popular and enduring dramatic companies. Liberally illustrated with black-and-white photographs, this work is inspirational and motivational. Chronicling founder Larry Leon Hamlin's efforts and the resulting success of the North Carolina Black Repertory Company, McMillan presents highlights of the group's achievements in chronological order. Theater teachers will find this work to be an excellent supplement to class lessons, and social studies teachers will appreciate the relevance to North Carolina studies. Readers will recognize many famous faces and names among supporters of this esteemed organization. An extensive bibliography encourages further research and study. MC [AE] (Volume 2007: Issue 1, pg 26)

Moyé, Lemuel A. Face to Face with Katrina Survivors: A First Responder's Tribute. 232 p. $27.95. Open Hand, 2006. (ISBN-10: 0-940880-77-6) (ISBN-13: 978-0-940880-77-1)

[Grades 9-12, SS] Dr. Moyé is a professor of biostatistics in Houston. His first-person story as a volunteer physician at the Houston Astrodome, receiving and treating the evacuees from the devastation of hurricane Katrina, is a moving account. He represents many others as the true heroes in the treatment and recovery process, chronicling their indomitable spirit as they pick up the pieces and move forward. In many cases, the story is of evacuees helping each other, even as they try to come to terms with their own losses. If positives are to come from Katrina's devastation, they must come from stories like this that show what people can accomplish with hope and perseverance. Moyé's story is engaging reading and suitable for character studies and as a human interest supplement for history and science classes. CE [SCI] (Volume 2007: Issue 3, pg 20)

Taylor, Charles A. Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom. Illustrated by Charles Taylor II. 32 p. $19.95. Open Hand, 2002. (ISBN 0-940880-68-7)

[Open Hand Publishing recommends this reading for Ages 10-Adult, TL] This short book is packed with information about Juneteenth-the commemoration of June 19. 1865-the date that General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas, freeing the last slaves in America. Taylor describes the horrors of slavery, and the subsequent disillusionment of segregation, and discrimination in its many forms, and emphasizes the important role that the Black church has always played in as a source of faith, support, leadership, self-expression, and creativity. Throughout the text, Taylor underscores cooperation between the races and the perseverance and contributions of African American people. A discussion of Juneteenth celebrations throughout history and a description of one family's observance of the day round out the book. An excellent resource for the social studies curriculum. Glossary, references. [SS]