Books with author Constance R. Bergum

The cheetah may be the fastest land mammal, but is it the fastest animal of all? Or does the award go to a soaring bird, slithering snake, or sailing fish? The fourteen animals presented in Who’s Faster? span a range of speeds, from the slow crawl of a sloth to the breakneck blur of the fastest animal in the world. With lyrical text, author Eileen Meyer describes each animal’s unique movement and then asks readers, “Who’s faster?” Kids won’t be able to stop turning the pages until they find out who’s fastest. Beautiful watercolors by award-winning illustrator Constance Bergum capture each animal’s graceful movement and include intricate details of hooves, whiskers, fins, and feathers. An appendix provides more information about each animal.

A moving story of the transforming power of love and the bonds between siblings that even polio cannot weaken.Anna loves to dance with her beloved sister Katya in the meadow of their family’s Wisconsin farm. But one summer, Katya is overcome by a high fever, and the doctor delivers a grim diagnosis: polio. Although she recovers from the lingering illness, Katya’s legs are left weakened and twisted. Now, Anna carries Katya to the meadow and dances alone for her sister. Together they dream of a time when Katya will be able to join her again. When Mama and Papa announce that Katya must go to a hospital in the city where doctors will try to make her legs strong again. Anna worries: Will the treatment and Katya’s “pioneer spirit” allow her to dance once again?In an afterword, author Dori Chaconas and illustrator Constance R. Bergum each offer true stories of their families’ personal battles with polio.