Powerful Picture Books About Work, Dreams, and Family

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Labor Day honors the American worker and his effort to build the beautiful country that we enjoy now. I have gone through my library and selected a dozen or so picture books that are a beautiful testimony to the American worker. I tried to include a little bit of everything, from anonymous workers to better known ones. It was really hard to pick only a dozen books! Americans are not afraid to dream and to work hard for their dreams! So this weekend, while you read about the hard working Americans of yesterday to the hard working Americans of tomorrow, do not forget to dream! 

Labor Day Picture Book List

Building America

• Pop’s Bridge by Eve Bunting, illustrated by C.F. Payne
  The construction of the “impossible bridge” seen from the perspective of one of the high-iron men’s son. Robert calls it “Pop’s bridge” but we know it as the Golden Gate Bridge, one of the grandest bridges ever built. Watch alongside Robert as Pop and the other workers build this amazing feat of engineering.

• Sky boys: How They Built the Empire State Building, by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by James E. Ransome
  Another Pop is on another impossible job. From one coast to the other, travel to New York city in the 1930s and watch the erection of the Empire State Building. This architectural landmark, recognized worldwide, is another fantastic symbol of the power of the American worker. 

• Brooklyn Bridge,  by Lynn Curlee
  Some 50 years before the Empire State Building pierced through the skies, just down the East River, a new feat of American progress spanned the said river: the Brooklyn Bridge. A tremendous project built with the most advanced technology of the time, the Brooklyn Bridge stands to this day, a triumph of American sweat, blood and hard work.

The American Farmer

• No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and his Kingdom in Kansas, by Tonya Bolden, illustrated by Don Tate
  As we move to the Midwest, the hard work of the American farmer becomes apparent. Junius G. Groves, born in slavery, ended his life as The Potato King of Kansas. Unafraid of hard work, long hours and insects Junius G. Groves is the picture perfect of the American farmer. A wonderful true story of grit, hard work and perseverance. 

• John Deere, That’s Who! by Tracy Nelson Maurer, illustrated by Tim Zeltner
  Another midwesterner whose hard work changed the face of our country, quite literally. John Deere’s perseverance in perfecting the plow improved America’s agriculture a thousand folds. There is no imagining the American landscape without its iconic green tractor. And it all came from the forge of a nineteenth century blacksmith!

• The Milkman’s Boy, by Donal Hall, illustrated by Greg Shed
  This is the beautiful true story of the Brock-Hall dairy, started by the author’s great-grandfather. Nostalgic, sweet, family centered, the beauty of life exudes from this story. Based on his own family’s experience in the industry, Donald Hall transports us in a slower time when concern for your neighbors was more important than making money, no matter how hard the work was.

Mighty Machines

• Maybelle the Cable Car, by Virginia Lee Burton
  This lesser known picture book by Virginia Lee Burton describes the life of a San Francisco cable car and why they are worth preserving. Based on actual events, Maybelle is a beautiful tribute to the cable cars of San Francisco, their operators and technicians and the people of San Francisco themselves. They fought to preserve and protect this iconic image of their city, and won.

• Katy and the Big Snow, by Virginia Lee Burton
  I love Virginia Lee Burton and her big machines! Katy is another tribute to the anonymous American worker. Katy is not afraid of a blizzard, she will do everything in her power to conquer  the snow to help the people of Geopolis. Another great tale of hard work at the service of one’s neighbor, creating the amazing communities that dot our country.

Expansion

• Amazing Impossible Erie Canal, by Cheryl Harness
  The Erie Canal is another amazing example of the determination and power of the American worker. What a feat! This book is full of maps, graphics and explanations on how it was all accomplished. I personally love it for its multi-faceted story telling and because of how complete it is. A great story of what we can do when we put our mind to it. 

• 10 Miles Day: And the Building of the Transcontinental Railroad, by Mary Ann Fraser
  Wow! Another “tour de force”, feat of strength! The Transcontinental Railroad, despite its many controversial side effects, has been one of the most important human powered transformations of our country. Being able to travel from coast to coast, almost in comfort, and record time has changed the entire way people thought of traveling and moving. This book is a wonderful explanation of the hard work encountered on the tracks.

• Coolies, by Yin, illustrated by Chris Soentpiet
  This is another description of the hardship endured by the railroad builders. It also demonstrates the importance of the dream held close to all the immigrants’ hearts. The power of a dream and of the love of family can never be underestimated. The illustrations are absolutely stunning! A must read. 

• John Henry, by Julius Lester, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
  A tour of the hard work on the railroad cannot be complete without John Henry! This tall tale of the man who competed against a machine and won is, again, a prime example of the sheer force of the human spirit. Julius Lester and Jerry Pinkney are always a winning combination with beautiful text and breathtaking illustrations. 

America, America…

Wow! What a feast of hard work this is! I could have kept going, but we will save them for next year ;). Did you notice the three common threads to them all: hard work, service to family/community and dreams. That is such a great springboard for discussion with our children, especially teens who are getting ready to launch themselves into the world. These three values can really encourage us that many great things are possible in our life. I would definitely include a better and higher one: God first, in all things. And with Him having our back, all is possible as long as we follow His Holy Will.
Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!
Love,
Mattie