History, Poetry, and Inspiration

Our Children Can Soar written by Michelle Cook and illustrated by award winning illustrators is a great picture book for young children.  Simple text shares a little bit of history in poetic style, while the illustrations does the rest.  Cook carefully selected famous people and words to help us understand the historical connection from one person to another.  One person did something, so that another person could do something, too.  The continuity flows to our children.  A great discussion starter, this book will help our children understand their history and their responsibility.  A short biography is given on each person in the story and the illustrators.

Family History

Who Will I Be, Lord? by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by Sean Qualls, focuses on family history.  A young girl remembers some stories about her relatives, the jobs they held and their personalities and characters.  After each story, she asks herself who will she be?  She comes to the conclusion that she will use her God given talents and skills, and what she does with them is up to her.  
Nelson's story presents all kinds of jobs and all kinds of people.  Mixed in the stories are words of wisdom and advice that helps the character understand not only the job, but the person, too.  Sean Qualls' illustrations support the text.  The facial expressions are nicely detailed; the jobs are nicely illustrated; and the background colors carries the story.
We cannot underestimate the power of our family history.  Knowing our family history can help us physically, socially, emotionally and mentally.  With this information, we can make informed decisions about our health and jobs, and other life choices.  The character in this story is armed with information about her family members, thus she can make informed decisions about her own life. That is what we want for our students and children, to have the information they need to make informed decisions.

Remembering Rosa Parks

February 4 was Rosa Park's birthday.  Among the many books written about her and her heroic bus ride, my favorite is Rosa by Nikki Giovanni and illustrated by Bryan Collier.  Nikki not only wrote Rosa's story, but the story of the Civil Rights Movement.  Collier's collage illustrations make Rosa an icon, almost angelic, with a golden arch around her head as the police officer tells Rosa to get off the bus.  However, if you closely examine that arc, you will see that it is an arch of fences, shackles and bars that keep folks locked in.  Mrs. Parks broke free from the shackles, and propelled the civil rights movement.  Thank you Rosa Parks, for breaking rules and leading the way.  Thank you, Giovanni and Collier for creating a different book on Rosa and the Civil Rights Movement.

28 Days Later and NCTE African-American Read-In

What a great combination: The Brown Bookshelf's 28 Days Later  and NCTE's 2010 National African American Read-In.  First, go to The Brown Bookshelf's website and read about famous and "under the radar" children and young adult authors.  Then select and read one of these authors' books and either host or participate in a read-in event in your community.  Thereby celebrating African American History Month and promoting reading in quite a literary fashion! For more information on these two projects, click on 28 Days Later and 2010 National African American Read-In.

A Tribute to Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes was born on February 1st, 1902.  He was a prolific writer, writing several plays, poems, short stories and novels.  He was well-known for his poetry.  "Mother to Son", "My People", "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" and Montage (Dream Deferred) are some of the most recited poetry.  So it seems very appropriate that two award-winning illustrators pay a tribute to Langston Hughes by illustrating his poetry in their own unique ways.  Even more interesting, these two illustrators received a CSK Award for their beautiful illustrations.

"The Negro Speaks of Rivers" illustrated by E.B. Lewis won the CSK Illustrator Award.  As you turn each page, Lewis literally and symbolically illustrates the words of the poem.  Each page takes you to the river, the land, and the people.  You are mesmerized not only by the poem but by the beautiful watercolors of the land, sky, people, and Lewis' attention to the details of hands, feet, and faces.  Lewis himself is in this book, embraced by water and praying.  In the book, he says:

Water has played a powerful role in the lives of black people. . . We have been born out of water, baptized by water, and even killed by water.  After nearly drowning as a child, I have grown to acknowledge and respect this awesome element. . .In many ways, my life is like this poem:  water almost ended my life; but now, through my watercolors, it has cultivated the spring of it.


The next book, My People, is another literal and symbolic interpretation of Hughes' poem.  Charles R. Smith, Jr., an award winning photographer, took photographs of African Americans that just capture the spirit and beauty of this poem.  The sepia photographs show the fine details and the different skin tones of the subjects.  From the smooth skin of smiling baby to the deep wrinkles of the smiling older man, you feel the joy, beauty, and spirit of our people.  Smith's photographs certainly capture the uniqueness of our people in just the way Langston Hughes describes us.  Hughes would be proud.

Good News for Bass Reeves

I met Vaunda Nelson a few years ago.  She is very nice, personable and a great writer.  I remember asking her about a sequel to one of her books, Almost to Freedom.  This particular book tells an escape story from a doll's perspective.  I thought this was very different and I shared this story with educators and librarians.  I wanted to know where the doll travels next.  So when I saw Vaunda, I asked her about the doll and a sequel.  I don't remember her answer, but I hope she writes a sequel.  I think it would make a fascinating story! When I learned that Vaunda had written another story, I had to get the book.  I borrowed the book from the library and read it with fascination.  I love reading about lesser known African Americans who were remarkable in their own way.  Bass Reeves was such a character.

This man was born a slave in Texas, but escaped to the Indian territory, after he hit his owner.  He lived among the Indians, and learned much about their culture and language.  When the Civil War ended, Bass settled down, married a woman name Jennie, and bought land in Arkansas.  The vast open land was too much for the few sheriffs and marshals to supervise.  Consequently, Arkansas as well the Indian Territory was a perfect place for outlaws to hide and commit crimes.  To catch the criminals Bass and other men were hired as Deputy Marshals.  Because Bass was familiar with this area, and he had many skills, Bass performed this job very well.

As Deputy Marshal, Bass arrested more than 3,000 men and women, and killed only 14 men in the line of duty.  Bass used many tactics to get the criminals.  A few of them turned themselves in willingly.  Bass served as Deputy Marshall for many years until the area cease to be the Indian Territory.

     

R. Gregory Christie's illustrations of Bass is perfect for the story.  Whether in uniform or in some disguise, Christie's detailed illustrations matched the story.  Christie's beautiful landscapes of the west were the perfect backdrop for the illustrated characters.  Christie's use of rich colors attracts the reader and carries the story.  It is definitely deserving of the Coretta Scott King Author Award. A discussion guide is available for this book.  It can be found at this url: http://www.lernerbooks.com/badnews/discussionguide.pdf

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday was one week ago. Some of us probably honored King in some fashion: attending programs or discussing issues on diversity, integration, and what his dream means for us in 2010, listening to his speeches, meditating on his words, and reflecting on King's life and actions. As we remembered King on his birthday and now, in our hearts, we probably committed ourselves to do something about racial inequality and injustice.

Everyone is born with gifts and talents that they can use to make this world a better place for present and future generations. When I read Why We Can't Wait, I clearly saw King using his gifts and talents. He is a great orator, and an excellent writer. His "Letter from Birmingham Jail" is one of my favorite writings. Other writings from the book showed that King was an effective strategist and organizer. With these skills and talents, it was clear King was the perfect man to lead the civil rights movement. Although King's time on earth was short, he accomplished much. Those of us who remember King, and are committed to do something about racial inequality and injustice must continue his work. We have the gifts and talents to do the work; now we must use them.

Doreen Rappaport and Bryan Collier used their gifts of writing and illustrating to create an excellent book for students titled, Martin's Big Words. This book is one of my favorite children's books on King. Rappaport's version of King's life is told simply and very appropriately for young children. The large text on every page emphasizes important concepts, not only for King, but for the readers as well. Collier's illustrations are both literal and symbolic representations of the words and King's life. He creatively uses patterns, textures and colors that not only enhances the text, but graphically tells our history. Both the story and illustrations will certainly encourage much discussion on King and his life, and hopefully encourage some of our children to action.

Lesson plans and activities are available online for Martin's Big Words. The links are below:

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/martin-words-thinking-about-92.html

http://www.tracievaughnzimmer.com/Martin's%20big%20words.htm

http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=35990

2010 Coretta Scott King Book Awards

On Monday, January 18, the 2010 Coretta Scott King Book Awards were announced during the Youth Media Awards at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting in Boston. I am pleased to announce the 2010 Coretta Scott King Book Awards Winners and Honors.

CSK Author Award Winner is Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson.

CSK Illustrator Award Winner is My People by Langston Hughes, Charles R. Smith, Jr. , illustrator.

CKS/John Steptoe New Talent Winner is The Rock and the River by kekla magoon

CSK Author Honor Book is Mare's War by tanita s. davis

CSK Illustrator Honor Book is The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes, illustrated by E.B. Lewis