Monday, March 21, 2011

Rosie the Riveter by Christine Petersen


I am pleased to be hosting the Nonfiction Monday Round-up this week! If you would like to participate, please leave a comment below including the title of the book you are reviewing, the name of your blog and a link to the post, and I will add links throughout the day.

In December, I wrote about the death of Geraldine Hoff Doyle, whose photograph served as the prototype for Rosie the Riveter. Rosie immediately became a well-known figure for the country’s campaign to recruit women into the labor force during World War II. But women did so much more than riveting and Christine Petersen’s book Rosie the Riveter does much in explaining to young readers just what their great grandmother’s might have done outside the home to help the war effort.
The book begins with a brief history of women’s participation in past wars, including Revolutionary War, the Civil War and World War I, as well as the prevailing attitudes that women’s place is in the home.

It then goes on to give a short account of Hitler’s rise to power and the actions he took that eventually led to another World War. This is followed by a description of how the United States entered the Second World War.

With so many men being drafted or enlisting, a labor shortage was created. Yet, employers were as reluctant to hire women as women were to seek jobs outside the home.

As factories were converted for defense, machinery was rebuilt to accommodate women and assembly line production methods instituted. Then the government launched an all-out propaganda campaign to tempt women to fill these new, sometimes dangerous jobs in ordnance work making military supplies, such as bombs and ammunition. And so the image of Rosie was created:

J. Howard Miller's original Rosie
in 1942
Women, as Ms. Petersen points out, did more than factory work. Some of the other jobs women held were as lumberjacks, miners, and fire fighters, while others worked on farms in the land army. And they also did volunteer work, like Civil Air Patrol, working nights, watching for enemy aircraft

Sadly, as needed as home front workers were, many minorities, for example, African-Americans, were usually overlooked for these positions. In 1941, under threat of a huge protest, restrictions were somewhat lifted and some people of color were hired for defense jobs.


Geraldine Hoff Doyle in 1997
 Ms Petersen also covers hardships faced on the home front, including the difficulties of rationing and handling a home and a job at the same time. And she points out women’s contribution in the armed services and the kind of progress they made there.

Included at the back of the book is a glossary of unfamiliar terms, followed by a timeline of women’s war time contributions, and recommendations for further information.

Rosie as interpreted by
Norman Rockwell in 1943
Rosie the Riveter is wonderful book for introducing Women’s History Month and the work women did during World War II to younger readers. The book is written very clearly, with words in bold print that be found in the glossary. In addition, there are lots of pictures showing women in the different jobs covered, along with pertinent sidebars. For a small book, it is packed with useful, relevant information and I would highly recommend it for pleasure or classroom reading.

Until I read this book, I didn’t know there was a Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Park in Richmond, California. More information about this may be found at http://www.rosietheriveter.org/

Christine Petersen is not only a writer of books for young readers; she is an environmental educator and naturalist. More information can be found about her and the work she does at her website Christine Petersen

Rosie even has her own song, hear it here:


This book is recommended for ages 9-12.
This book was borrowed from the NYPL’s Children’s Center at 42nd Street, NYC.

For more book reviews on Women’s History Month, why not visit Kidlit Celebrates Women's History 

Nonfiction Monday Roundup
Wild About Nature has a review of Insect Detective by Steve Voake

Lisa over at shelf-employed has a review on a great new baseball book called the Unforgetable Season: the Story of Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams and the Record-Setting Sumer of '41.

Lisa also reminds us that Kidlit Celebrates Women's History Month has a guest post today by The Happy Nappy Bookseller on favorite books featuring women of color.

Shirley at Simply Science has a review on a book called Elephant Talk by Anne Downer.

You can find a review by Amanda at A Patchwork of Books on a book called What to Expect When You're Expecting Larvae: A Guide for Insect Parents.

Over at Books, Dogs, and Frogs you can find some books about going to school around the world.

Anastasia at Picture Book of the Day has a post on a book called Gold! Gold from the American River!: January 24, 1848: The Day the Gold Rush Began by Don Brown.

Jeff at NC Teacher Stuff has a review on Dragons by Charlotte Guillain, which he says is a good early reader.

Mary Ann over at Great Kids Books has a review on a book full of good projects called This Book Made Me Do It.

Lori at Lori Calabrese Writes has a post on a book that tells how to preserve our history called How the Sphinx Got To The Museum.

A review of a backlist tile called Face to Face with Dolphins may be found over at MotherReader.

Carrie at Carrie's Comfy Cozy Reading Nook has a book called Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian by Jan Greenburg and Sandra Jordan along with a video preview.

Racing car legend Louise Smith is featured in a picture book called Fearless, reviewed by Jeanne at True Tales and a Cherry on Top for Women's History Month.

And Margo at The Fourth Musketeer has a review of a picture book about Amelia Earhart called Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic.

Maclibrary at Check It Out reviews Ten Birds by Cybele Young.

Catherine has a review called Spring has Spring, a review of five Spring books for young readers at The Cath in the Hat.

At Biblio File, Jennie has a post on Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri.
And Jennifer at Jean Little Library takes a look at Snow Leapards by Erika Shores today.
 
Meanwhile, Tammy at Apples with Many Seeds reviews One Well: the story of water on Earth by Rochelle Strauss in honor of World Water Day tomorrow.

Rasco from RIF features a review on a book about my favorite city called ABC NYC: A book about SEEING New York City by Joanne Dugan.

Roberta at Wrapped in Foil offers a review on another Women's History Month book called Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicyle to Freedom by Sue Macy.

Pink Me takes a look at Celebritrees: Historic and Famous Trees of the World by Margi Preus.

Over at Bookends you can find a review on Sports Illustrated Kids All Access, a book that gives a behind the scenes look at sports.

Janet at All About the Book with Janet Squires also has reviewed a book about sports called Athletes with Disabilities by Deborah Kent.

Brenda at Proseandkahn has written a post on a book called Arctic Lights: Arctic Nights by Debbie S. Miller in honor of the vernal equinox.

And Heidi at Geo Librarian has reviewed a book about Jane Goodall called Me...Jane by Partick McDonnell.

At L. L. Owens Lisa is introducing Space Neighbors, her picture book series of 10 books covering our solar system.

26 comments:

  1. Wild About Nature blog reviews Insect Detective by Steve Voake.

    http://wildaboutnaturewriters.blogspot.com/2011/03/nonfiction-monday-insect-detective.html

    Thanks for hosting this week!

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's almost baseball season! I've got a great new baseball book, The Unforgettable Season.
    http://shelf-employed.blogspot.com/2011/03/unforgettable-season-book-review.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. KidLit Celebrates Women's History has a guest post by the HappyNappyBookseller, a review of favorite Women's History books featuring women of color. http://kidlitwhm.blogspot.com/2011/03/women-of-color-make-their-presence.html

    Thanks for the mention.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for hosting. Today at SimplyScience I have Elephant Talk by Ann Downer--and I loved it. http://simplyscience.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/elephant-talk-the-surprising-science-of-elephant-communication/

    Shirley

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have a review of What to Expect When You're Expecting Larvae: A Guide for Insect Parents over at A Patchwork of Books:

    http://apatchworkofbooks.blogspot.com/2011/03/non-fiction-monday-what-to-expect-when.html

    Thanks for hosting!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for hosting!

    I've written about some books on going to school around the world at Books, Dogs, and Frogs, http://booksdogsandfrogs.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/non-fiction-or-not-fiction-going-to-school/

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for hosting today! I'm in with Gold! Gold from the American River!: January 24, 1848: The Day the Gold Rush Began by Don Brown http://wp.me/pWySC-b9

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you for hosting this week! I have posted a review of Dragons which is an early reader examination of the subject:

    http://ncteacherstuff.blogspot.com/2011/03/nonfiction-monday-dragons.html

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great post! Thank you for hosting this week. I would love to share a review of This Book Made Me Do It. It's full of ideas for projects, and grabs kids right away.

    http://greatkidbooks.blogspot.com/2011/03/this-book-made-me-do-it-cool-things-to.html

    ReplyDelete
  10. How funny--who knew Rosie even had her own song!Looks like a great book--thanks for sharing.

    At Lori Calabrese Writes!, I review How the Sphinx Got to the Museum

    Thanks for hosting!

    ReplyDelete
  11. A backlist title, Face to Face with Dolphins, over at MotherReader:

    http://www.motherreader.com/2011/03/nonfiction-monday-face-to-face-with.html

    Thanks for hosting!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for hosting!

    Ballet for Martha at Carrie's Comfy Cozy Reading Nook

    http://prekroomideas.blogspot.com/2011/03/nonfiction-monday-ballet-for-martha.html

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love Rosie the Riveter stories!

    At True Tales & A Cherry on Top I'm celebrating Women's History Month with FEARLESS -- a picture book featuring the car racing legend, Louise Smith.

    http://jeannewalkerharvey.blogspot.com/2011/03/fearless.html

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi, at the Fourth Musketeer I have a review of a new picture book about Amelia Earhart, Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic.

    Here's the link:
    http://fourthmusketeer.blogspot.com/2011/03/nonfiction-mondaywomens-history-month_21.html

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi. Thanks for hostiing. I have Ten Birds: http://maclibrary.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/nonfiction-monday-ten-birds-by-cybele-young/

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks for hosting! My post for Nonfiction Monday is Spring Has Sprung, reviews of five books about Spring for young readers.

    http://thecathinthehat.blogspot.com/2011/03/spring-has-sprung.html

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks for hosting today! I'm in with Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty

    http://www.jenrothschild.com/2011/03/nonfiction-monday-yummy-last-days-of.html

    ReplyDelete
  18. I have a review of a snow leopard book...sadly not positive )-:

    http://jeanlittlelibrary.blogspot.com/2011/03/nonfiction-monday-snow-leopards-by.html

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for looking after today's event.
    I'm looking at the book One Well: the Story of Water on Earth at Apples with Many Seeds.
    http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blogspot.com/2011/03/world-water-day-march-22-2011.html
    Tammy

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thank you for hosting today. I have featured ABC NYC: A book about SEEING New York City by Joanne Dugan. http://bit.ly/h3ynJF

    ReplyDelete
  21. Very appropriate review of Rosie the Rivetor, thanks.

    I have a review of Wheels of Change by Sue Macy at http://blog.wrappedinfoil.com/2011/03/wheels-of-change-how-women-rode-the-bicycle-to-freedom/

    Another fabulous book for Women's History Month.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ooh this is a great batch of books today! Today on Pink Me I reviewed Celebritrees: Historic and Famous Trees of the World.

    http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2011/03/celebritrees-margi-preus-review.html

    ReplyDelete
  23. Bookends is headed behind the scenes in sports today with a post for Sports Illustrated Kids All Access.
    http://bookends.booklistonline.com/2011/03/21/sports-illustrated-kids-all-access/

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thanks for hosting.
    My selection is Athletes with Disabilities by Deborah Kent.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Sorry I'm in so late, but I posted about a book called Arctic Lights: Arctic Nights in honor of the vernal equinox.

    http://proseandkahn.livejournal.com/203205.html

    Thanks for hosting.

    brenda

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks for hosting. Geo Librarian has a review on the picture book biography of Jane Goodall called Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell.

    http://geolibrarian.blogspot.com/2011/03/nonfiction-monday-mejane-by-patrick.html

    ReplyDelete