Gingerbread for Liberty: How a German Baker Helped Win the American Revolution by Mara Rockliff with illustrations by Vincent X. Kirsch is the delightful story of Christopher Ludwick. Appreciative of the freedom and comfort life in America brought him, the aging and overweight baker was determined to do his part when the Revolutionary War began. His contributions to feeding the American soldiers (at his own expense) and converting some Hessian mercenaries to their side were indeed significant. The illustrations, all done in the style of elaborate German gingerbread, perfectly complement the text. And Ludwick’s large belly is a delight! A gingerbread recipe is aptly included on the endpapers.

The story is entertaining and the baker endearing, but I fear many children will not realize they have been reading about an actual person and actual events. Ludwick is not even named until the author’s note! It is a shame that the readers who skip the Author’s Note will not realize the depth of his contributions and may even believe the brave and cheerful baker to be a fictitious character.

For more nonfiction picture book recommendations, visit the weekly round-up at KidLit Frenzy.

I’m participating in the Nonfiction Picture Books Challenge again. While they didn’t all get blogged, I easily met my goal of one per month last year. Combined with a return to some library work this year (more on that in another post), it seems natural for me to increase my goal this year to 25 nonfiction picture book reads in 2015. As with last year, I look forward to learning about gems from our host Alyson and all the other participants.

Time to catch up on sharing nonfiction picture book reading over the last few months. As usual, historical biographies and nature books dominated my choices.

Bird lovers and more will enjoy Feathers: Not Just for Flying by Melissa Stewart. Stewart highlights the many accomplishments of bird feathers from providing shade and warmth to more obscure dissolving bristle feathers of the American bittern or the forklift behavior of the lovebird’s tail feathers. A great introduction to the tools of bird life with well-executed illustrations by Sarah S. Brannen.

Mumbet’s Declaration of Independence by Gretchen Woelfle is the inspiring picture book biography of a slave woman who successfully challenged the writers of the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780. Using information drawn from the autobiography of her lawyer’s (Theodore Sedgwick) daughter, Woelfle gives a glimpse into Elizabeth Freeman’s difficult life as a slave as well as her groundbreaking fight for freedom. Alix Delinois deftly illustrates the strength of Mumbet’s convictions and character with the bold strokes and vibrant colours.

I’ve been meaning to read Cokie Roberts’ Founding Mothers (original adult version) since it first came out in 2004. This summer, I cheated and read the children’s adaptation, a Cliff’s Notes version if you will. A decent roundup of both well-known spouses like Martha Washington and women who impacted history independent of the men in their lives such as Deborah Sampson.

Malcolm Little by sheds light on the childhood of Malcolm X. The strong family foundations and the role that racial hatred played in destroying his loving family.

Butterfly farming in Costa Rica is handled beautifully in Handle with Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey by Loree Griffith Burns. By presenting an unique angle to both farming and butterflies’ stages of growth through gorgeous photographs and clear text, this book will have every child wanting to raise a butterfly. Highly recommended.

For lots of nonfiction picture book ideas, head over to KidLit Frenzy every Wednesday for the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge posts. This week’s roundup is here.