Books with author Russell. Banks

Winner of the 1982 Pulitzer Prize for biography/autobiography, this is Russell Baker's story of growing up in America between the world wars - in the backwood mountains of Virginia, in a New Jersey commuter town, and finally in the Depression-shadowed urban landscape of Baltimore. It is the story of adversity and courage, of the poignancy of love and awkwardness of sex, a family bonds and family tensions. We meet the people who influenced Baker's early life: his strong and loving mother, his bold little sister Doris, the awesome matriarch Ida Rebecca and her twelve sons. Here, too, are schoolyard bullies, great teachers, and the everyday heroes and heroines of the Depression who faced disaster with good cheer and usually muddled through.

For a pair of cattle egrets named Bubulcus and Ibis, life in Africa is happy. During the day, they hunt insects at the watering hole and cruise the skies with their friends. At night, they settle down for rest in their favorite balboa tree. Then one day the rains cease to fall. The watering hole dries up, the earth becomes parched, and the animals begin to die. Bubulcus and Ibis know that if they are to have any hope for survival, they must leave their barren home for a new, unknown land. Together, they bravely lead their flock across Africa and through the strong winds and storms swirling over the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way, they forage for food on the edges of an angry wildfire and find rest and fresh water on the decks of a cruise ship! Finally, they arrive in a new world (Florida) that offers the promise of a happy new home. Thanks to Bo Russell’s colorful illustrations, children and teachers alike will enjoy this uplifting tale of courage, discovery, and teamwork.