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|---|---|---|
Searching... Oakdale Library | J 921 GANDHI | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | J 921 GANDHI | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
DK Biography sets a new standard in children's paperback books, relying on bold photographs, energetic storytelling, and detailed sidebars and definition boxes to build an educational and entertaining series. These books are perfect for either the classroom or the living room. Each title features a celebrated leader who has impacted our world in a big way, from important politicians to inspiring civil rights leaders, great entertainers to groundbreaking artists. These men and women come from a diverse range of nationalities and generations, but all have played a crucial role in shaping our society. DK Biographies gain momentum from detail, delving into the small things -- childhood hobbies, little-known fears, hidden strengths -- that make a person great. Most importantly, they encourage young readers to be curious about the world and those who have influenced it.
Mohandas Gandhi was born at a time when his home country was choked under the oppression of British rule. Although many thought that violence was the only way to fight this injustice, Gandhi successfully used his teachings of nonviolence and civil disobedience to win his country's freedom -- and create a philosophy of peace and equality that endures to this day.
Supports the Common Core State Standards.
Author Notes
Primo Levi was born on July 31, 1919 in Turin, Italy. He pursued a career in chemistry, and spent the early years World War II as a research chemist in Milan. Upon the German invasion of northern Italy, Levi, an Italian Jew, joined an anti-fascist group and was captured and sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. He was able to survive the camp, due in part to his value to the Nazis as a chemist.
After the war ended, Levi did chemistry work in a Turin paint factory while beginning his writing career. His first book, If This Is a Man (title later was changed to Survival in Auschwitz) was published in 1947 and its sequel, The Truce (later retitled The Reawakening) came out in 1958. These two books recount Levi's story of surviving concentration camp life.
Levi also published poetry, short stories, and novels, some under the pen name Damianos Malabaila. His 1985, largely autobiographical work, The Periodic Table, cemented his world fame. Awards in tribute to his writing included the Kenneth B. Smilen fiction award, presented by the Jewish Museum in New York.
Ironically, despite his surviving Auschwitz, Primo Levi appears to have died by suicide, in Turin on April 11, 1987.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (1)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 6-9-These biographies are detailed but flawed. The chronologically arranged chapters cover major events in the men's lives, such as "Growing up in Gujarat" (Gandhi) and "Acts of Defiance" (Mandela). Numerous interesting photos and illustrations are included. Unfortunately, both books contain errors, such as incomplete Web site addresses in the "Works Cited" sections and incorrect quotes. Pretoria, where Gandhi lived for a year, is omitted from the map of South Africa, and the reason given for Mandela's separation from his first wife is not the same as that given in his autobiography. For books on Gandhi, stick with John B. Severance's Gandhi: Great Soul (Clarion, 1997). Most titles on Mandela for this audience aren't any better than this one.-Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
