Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday - Mountain Chef 9.07.16

Every Wednesday I join Alyson Beecher from kidlitfrenzy and other

kidlit bloggers to share wonderful nonfiction picture books.

The intention of today's blog is to give educational professionals

new nonfiction reading material and ideas to use 

with students to promote a love of reading nonfiction materials.

I am excited to be taking a look at this book which is by fellow Wednesday NFPB Challenge contributor, Annette Bay Pimentel!

Mountain Chef:

How One Man Lost HIs Groceries, Changed His Plans,

 and Helped Cook Up the National Park Service

written by Annette Bay Pimentel

illustrated by Rich Lo

published by Charlesbridge

Goodreads summary:

The true story of a Chinese American mountain man who fed thirty people for ten days in the wilderness--and helped inspire the creation of the National Park Service.
 
Tie Sing was born in the mountains. The mountains were in his blood. But because he was of Chinese descent at a time in America when to be Chinese meant working in restaurants or laundries, Tie Sing’s prospects were limited. But he had bigger plans. He began cooking for mapmakers and soon built a reputation as the best trail cook in California. 
 
When millionaire Stephen Mather began his quest to create a national park service in 1915, he invited a group of influential men—writers, tycoons, members of Congress, and even a movie star—to go camping in the Sierras. Tie Sing was hired to cook. 
 
Tie Sing planned diligently. He understood the importance of this trip. But when disaster struck—twice!—and Tie Sing’s supplies were lost, it was his creative spirit and quick mind that saved the day. His sumptuous menus had to be struck and Tie Sing had to start over in order to feed the thirty people in the group for ten whole days. His skills were tested and Tie Sing rose to the challenge. 
 
On the last night, he fed not just the campers' bodies, but also their minds, reminding them to remember and protect the mountains.
 
2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, created by Congress on August 25, 1916. 
 
Today, you can hike to Sing Peak, named for Tie Sing, in Yosemite National Park.

My review:

I really enjoy nonfiction picture book biographies about people you might not have heard of before.  When PB biographies cover the life of someone well known and famous, it's hard to always get the PB right - how much information do you put it?  Do you not add enough?  Is a moment in time enough?  I have seen criticism on both accounts of books.  Plus, we often have background information on the person.  But take someone you have never heard of before and learn about their contributions, you start to realize how it really does take many villages to grow our world!

I enjoyed reading about Tie Sing and his determination and resourcefulness.  Seeing the impact Sing made on one of our nation's great resources - the National Parks and the outdoors - it really made the story all the more interesting and relevant.  How quickly we grab for the easy way out, for the already made/ready/prepared.  To read the story of this young man and how he made do with the resources around him was inspiring!  I also think it's important to note how people of all backgrounds and cultures really did shape our nation.  Even if that's not what is spotlighted in our textbooks.

I was really impressed with the features Annette used in the book.  The end pages have maps that show the route the camping trip took that is described in the book.  The end notes are full of answers to questions you may have been wondering as you read the book!  Many of these questions, even if I hadn't already been thinking about them, made me glad she brought them up!  Annette also included additional notes about the people who were on the trip.  It was interesting to me to hear about the backgrounds of people who were making government decisions!  Annette also includes bibliography and source note information.  

Teaching suggestions:

• great book to use if you're doing any teaching around:  our National Parks, the diversity of people who helped form, build and grow our nation
• writing - small stories/small moment in time stories
• character trait - resourceful
• word choice - I was constantly in awe of the writing choice Annette made.  On one page alone, listen to these great words:  swaddled, tucked, strapped, stacked, snuggled, trudged.  So many nondescript words are overused in stories, I loved how some of these just rolled off my tongue as I read!
• debate - do you think the decisions Sing made helped make up the minds of the travelers?  

Be sure to visit Annette's website to read more information about her book.

Here is some information about the book.

And here is some information about Rich Lo's artwork from the book.

Looking forward to more books by Annette!