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Children's Books That Celebrate Contributions of Immigrants

I is for Irving : Books about Immigrant and Songwriter Irving Berlin, who wrote the song "God Bless America"

3/20/2017

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Irving Berlin was born on May 11, 1888, in Russia and was named Israel Baline. He was about five years old when his family migrated to New York city in 1893 to escape Russian persecution of Jews. As a teenager, he was forced by poverty to become a street singer instead of attending school, and by 1906 was working as a singing waiter. When his first published tune "Marie From Sunny Italy," appeared in 1907, his name was misprinted as I. Berlin, and he decided to take the name Irving Berlin.

Though he had no formal training, Irving composed more than 1,500 songs and scored many musicals and films, establishing himself on Broadway and in Hollywood. 1942's Holiday Inn featured Bing Crosby singing Berlin's "White Christmas," the highest-selling tune in history. Irving was nominated for nine Academy Awards, and won in 1943 for "White Christmas." He wrote patriotic songs while serving in the Army in World War I, and his most famous patriotic song, "God Bless America," is sung even today.


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Children's Books
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Irving Berlin: The Immigrant Boy Who Made America Sing

Nancy Churnin (Author), James Ray Sanchez (Illustrator)
Publisher: Creston Books (May 2018)
Hardcover, 32 pages: Ages: 7-12 yrs


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Famous Immigrants: The 20th Century (Primary Source Readers) - Irving Berlin
Debra J. Housel (Author)
Publisher: Teacher Created Materials (2007)
Paperback, 32 pages: Ages: 10-18 yrs; Grades 4 and up
​Review: None


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Say it with Music: A Story about Irving Berlin
Tom Streissguth (Author), Jennifer Hagerman (Illustrator)
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books, Creative Minds Biography Series (1993)
Hardcover Book, 64 pages: Ages: 8-11 yrs; Grades 3-6
​Review: 
Booklist, School Library Journal, Amazon Review: 5*


Additional Online Sources:
  • Biography.com
  • PBS
  • History.net
  • Parlorsongs.com​
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    Series Author

    Nalini Krishnankutty
    Writer. Researcher. Speaker.  Eternal Migrant. Journeying between worlds in search of truth and meaning.

    Series Description

    Starting with A is for Albert, B is for Blackwell, and C is for Clive, the series highlights the contributions made by immigrants to science, art, medicine, and more - to the founding of our nation, our institutions and our ways of living. This series provides a starting point for parents, educators and librarians to shape personal perspectives, create common narratives, and increase awareness of the tremendous impact that immigrants have had on our country.

    Archives

    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017

    Series Introduction
    A is for Albert
    B is for Blackwell
    ​C is for Clive
    ​G is for Graham Bell
    ​H is for Hamilton
    ​I is for Irving
    J is for James
    L is for Levi
    ​M is for Muir
    N is for Nadia
    P is for Pedro
    T is for Tesla
    W is for Weisz 

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