Book Description

Reviews (5)

A children¿s book about collective bargaining? ¡Si se puede!
In light of the "zero tolerance" policies maintained by most schools, conventional wisdom says parents should discourage their children from fighting or causing trouble.
Kathleen Krull's latest biography flies in the face of such convention, daring children to resist the status quo, to take a stand and to, yes, fight.
This past Saturday San Antonio honored the legacy of Cesar E. Chavez with a march to the Alamo - the mission, not the premiere. But how much do we really know about the noble migrant laborer who passed away peacefully in his sleep 11 years ago? How much do our children know about this Chicano organizer - only the second Mexican American to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
With broad brushstrokes and soft, warm tones, Krull and illustrator Yuyi Morales paint a picture of a quiet, peaceful man who was compelled by injustice, greed and racism to overcome his own fears and insecurities.
The story begins on a summer night upon the lush, utopian, magical fields of his grandfather; family that relaxes after a long, but satisfying day working the land surrounds Cesar.
Watching young Cesar run away from school on the first day of class back to the loving embrace of his gentle mother, the reader relates, beginning to see the human being behind the legend.
To drought and depression paradise is soon lost and the Chavez family must strike out towards California to seek out new opportunities, a new Promised Land.
But Cesar finds instead an oppressive blanket of harsh reality, patched together by insecticides, calluses, short-handled hoes and pennies a day for backbreaking work. After many brutal hours under the unrelenting sun his family returns to a shack with no doors in an overcrowded shantytown. And school provided no refuge, either, as teachers torment Cesar for his poor English.
Through these difficult pages he appears downtrodden, quiet, sad, fearful. As injustice is heaped upon his shoulders Cesar quietly bears his load.
But he remembers his early childhood, knows "Farmwork did not have to be this miserable" and gradually Cesar realizes things will never change by themselves - he must force change.
The book then details the nonviolent means Cesar used to battle oppression and stand up for the rights of migrant workers, returning a sense of pride and hope to a people long deprived of these basic human needs. Krull recounts in simple language the first meeting of the National Farm Workers Association, the grape picker strike of 1965 and the subsequent March to Sacramento from the San Joaquin Valley.
Morales' sweeping images use few straight lines, so the rigid black eagle of the NFW and the large banner reading "HUELGA" stand in stark contrast, anchors providing the weight due such monumental matters in a book washed over in light acrylic and pastels.
But the pictures match the man - mild and unassuming, with the strong, black eagle representing the warrior spirit of the Aztec imbedded inside.

Cesar Chavez demonstrated the power of unity and organization. And "Harvesting Hope" begins to show that a person with tenacity and compassion spurs change from the way things are to the way things should be.
Unfortunately, this is a lesson that may go largely untaught in a school system dedicated to keeping our children in line and outbursts to a minimum, making Krull's work that much more necessary and relevant.

Top notch, two thumbs up, and other cries of adulation.
In her author's note, Kathleen Krull points out that Cesar Chavez continues to remain a controversial figure in the United States today. The fact of the matter is, he followed perfectly in the footsteps of the men he admired; St. Francis of Assisi, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, and Gandhi. Helping to lead migrant workers in the first successful agricultural strike the U.S. had ever known, he is best remembered worldwide as a hero. In her book, Krull follows Chavez from a happy early childhood in Arizona to an unpleasant shift to the fields of California. As we watch, Cesar grows from a boy forced to endure the humiliations of the fields (and the poor schooling as well) to a man capable to leading workers in a non-violent protest against the grape growers of Southern California. Especially impressive are the ways in which Krull ties in young Cesar's lessons about life (his mother cautioning him to use one's head to work through conflicts) with their actual implementation years later. Illustrated by Yuyi Morales, the book looks like nothing so much as Jonah Winter's fabulous biography of Frida Kahlo. Beautiful surreal images meld with sweeping panoramas of a life of difficulty. You'll find yourself reading it over and over again just to look at the pretty pictures.

The fact of the matter is, there's not a single misstep in this book. Anyone familiar with the previous Pura Belpre winner, "Esperanza Rising" will see that this book succeeds where "Esperanza" was apt to fail. But, quite frankly, it's unfair to compare the two. Fiction will always pale in comparison to well-written non-fiction. In this book you have an honest story told simply with an elegance all its own.

Richie's Picks: HARVESTING HOPE
"César reprimió la amargura que le causaba haber perdido su hogar y empezó a trabajar junto a su familia. Era pequeño y no muy fuerte, pero un trabajador incansable. Casi cualquier cultivo era un tormento. Arrancar betabeles le desgarraba la piel entre el dedo pulgar y el índice. Los viñedos rociados con pesticidas le irritaban los ojos y le hacían difícil la respiracíon. La lechuga era lo peor de todo. Plantar lechuga con un azadón de mango corto le causaba espasmos de dolor por toda la espalda. Trabajar la tierra de otros en vez de la propia, le paracía ser una forma de eslavitud.
"La familia Chávez hablaba constantemente de ahorrar lo suficiente para poder volver a comprar su rancho. Pero al atardecer, la familia entera había ganado no más de treinta centavos por todo un día de trabajo. Conforme pasaban los años, hablaban cada vez menos del rancho."

That's right, a total of thirty cents pay for a long, backbreaking day of labor put in by the whole family!

Oh. You didn't understand that the first time because it was in Spanish? Hey! What's wrong with you?

"The towns weren't much better than the fields. WHITE TRADE ONLY signs were displayed in many stores and restaurants. None of the thirty-five schools Cesar attended over the years seemed like a safe place, either. Once, after Cesar broke the rule about speaking English at all times, a teacher hung a sign on him that read, I AM A CLOWN. I SPEAK SPANISH. He came to hate school because of the conflicts, though he liked to learn. Even he considered his eighth-grade graduation a miracle. After eighth grade he dropped out to work in the fields full-time."

When Cesar was young, his mother cautioned him and his siblings "against fighting, urging them to use their minds and mouths to work out conflicts."

And so, instead of punching out those people responsible for making his family's life so tough, Señora Chavez's son grew up to be a disciple of Gandhi and of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Cesar organized migrant workers one by one, persuaded them to go on strike against grape growers, and led them on a march of over 300 miles to Sacramento, thus obtaining the first contract for farmworkers in American history.

As Kathleen Krull reiterates in her author's note, "Before [Chavez] formed the National Farm Workers Association, [farm] workers had...the longest hours, lowest wages, harshest conditions, shortest life spans, and least power of any group of workers in America."

Krull also explains how Chavez would go on hunger strikes as a publicity tool for achieving economic justice for the migrant workers. (This strategy had worked well for both Gandhi and, earlier, for the Suffragists. Sadly, while also effective for Chavez, it eventually killed him.)

HARVESTING HOPE: THE STORY OF CESAR CHAVEZ (the title of the English language version) is an essential biography for elementary and middle school libraries about one of America's greatest civil rights leaders. It is written in the 32 page picture book format and illustrated with brilliant, Caldecott-quality acrylic paintings by Yuyi Morales who trekked through the fields and vineyards for inspiration.

Before sharing this book--the English edition--with her eighth-grade English students last month, my wife Shari asked her students about Cesar Chavez. Despite being raised in California where Cesar did all of his groundbreaking work, not one in a hundred of these students knew anything significant about Chavez. A couple had heard of him--thanks to there being streets and plazas named in his honor.

The book has unfortunately been mislabeled as being for ages 6-9. In reading it to a class of 8-10 year olds, I found those students did not have the same firm grasp of the vocabulary and concepts (union organizing, contracts, walking 300 miles, owning 80 acres, etc.) that makes it a more ideal fit for middle schoolers. (Yes, this review will serve as my nomination of the book for the California Young Reader Medal in the Picture Books for Older Readers category.)

As with great books about other important and inspirational leaders who have devoted their lives to change for the better, HARVESTING HOPE: THE STORY OF CESAR CHAVEZ provides fertile ground for planting a seed of activism in the hearts of young readers. Hopefully, the book will also provide inspiration for celebrating Cesar Chavez Day (March 31st) in significant fashion, as we do with Martin Luther King Day.

(And if you would like to read, or read aloud, an unforgettable speech about Martin--Lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.-- that was given by Cesar Chavez on Martin Luther King Day, 1990, you can find it on the San Francisco State University site at http://www.sfsu.edu/~cecipp/cesar_chavez/cesarmlk.htm .)

Outstanding Illustrations and Thoughtful Treatment
This is a well-written book enhanced immeasurably by Yuyi Morales' vivid, mural-like illustrations (done with acrylics, handmade stamps, and computer-created cutouts). Morales' tableaux display swirling designs, bold colors, and expressive faces to portray the joys and struggles described in Kathleen Krull's narrative. It's not a preachy book, but relies instead on short revealing statements of fact: "Once, after Cesar broke the rule about speaking English at all times, a teacher hung a sign on him that read, I AM A CLOWN. I SPEAK SPANISH."

The book describes the inhumane treatment of the farm workers, focusing on Chavez' own experience: "Anyone who complained was fired, beaten up, or sometimes even murdered." Some may complain that this represents a monolithic view of ALL landowners in California. Still, this is a children's book, not a history of agricultural employment in California. The author correctly points out the terrible conditions that Chavez battled through non-violence, notably the 1965 grape strike which ended with Chavez signing the first farmworker contract in American history. The book ends with a 2-page "author's note" that summarizes what Chavez accomplished. I look forward to more of Morales' work.

Incredibly moving and beautiful
This book tells the story of Cesar Chavez and his fight to improve the lives of itinerant farm workers. The story is wonderful- inspiring and educational and always interesting.

And the illustrations must be seen to be believed. The artist uses a gorgeous palette of colors and mixes the fantastic with the realistic in her moving depiction of the life of a true American hero. Buy this book immediately! ... Read more

Book Description

For a long time, the main role of First Ladies was to act as hostesses of the White House...until Eleanor Roosevelt. Born in 1884, Eleanor was not satisfied to just be a glorified hostess for her husband, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Eleanor had a voice, and she used it to speak up against poverty and racism. She had experience and knowledge of many issues, and fought for laws to help the less fortunate. She had passion, energy, and a way of speaking that made people listen, and she used these gifts to campaign for her husband and get him elected president—four times! A fascinating historical figure in her own right, Eleanor Roosevelt changed the role of First Lady forever. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An impressive and highly recommended life story
In Who Was Eleanor Roosevelt?, biographer Gare Thompson reveals to young readers the impressive and highly recommended life story of one of the most influential women in American 20th Century history. Individual chapters begin with the question "Who Was Eleanor Roosevelt?", and the continue on with "Early Years"; "Daddy's Little Girl"; "All Alone"; "Years at Allenswood"; "Cousin Franklin"; "Marriage and Children"; "Politics"; "White House Years"; and "Ambassador to the World". ... Read more

Reviews (3)

First One
This is a Good book and I really enjoy reading it. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a hero of all time. He has save all the Black, and he gave their freedom.

This book is informative and touching for children of all ag
As a third grade teacher I use this book on a yearly basis during the month of January. Davidson does a wonderful job of allowing the children to connect to young Martin. From the early chapters she eloquently weaves Martin's words along with those of his friends and colleagues. Children are certainly saddened when Martin is eventually killed. Well worth reading!

Excellent read aloud for grade school students.
The Scholastic company along with Margaret Davidson has put together a very informative book for youngsters. The book doesn't delve too deeply into the social consciousness so it will keep a youngster's interest. It is an excellent book to show how, against all odds, a man no more slated for greatness than any other American, had a dream to change the way African Americans were treated. It is also an excellent book that demonstrates how conflict-resolution can be achieved through peaceful means. This book makes for a wonderful read aloud to herald in the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King's Day. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In this elegant pictorial biography of Martin Luther King Jr., authorDoreen Rappaport combines her spare, lyrical text with King's own words for aneffective, age-appropriate portrayal of one of the world's greatest civil rightsleaders. From King's youth, when he looked up to his preacher father and vowedone day to "get big words, too," to his death at a garbage workers' strike ("Onhis second day there, he was shot. He died."), Rappaport imbues the story withreverence.

Acclaimed artist Bryan Collier depicts his subject with stunning watercolor andcollage illustrations, balancing glorious recreations of stained glass windowswith some of the more somber images of peace marchers and the famous bus thatpitched Rosa Parks into the civil rights movement. A brief chronology andbibliography provide additional resources for readers. Here is an exquisitetribute to a world hero. (Ages 4 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Simply amazing!
I bought this book, not really knowing much about it. Once I opened it up, saw the beautiful artwork and imagery and read the story, I was amazed. This book gives an excellent, truthful, beautiful portrayal of a restless time in our history. The final page with the picture of Martin in the stained glass windows, overlooking four candles which represent the four little girls who died in the Birmingham church bombing was beautiful. Yes, it's true: some of this history might be frightening for small children. But the theme is important: Dr. King taught people to use their voices, not their fists. As long as a parent is engaged enough to talk about this with their child, the child should have no problem hearing, reading and loving this book.

Now I want to buy a copy for every kid (and adult) I know.

Big, Powerful, Strong Words.....
Martin Luther King was a man of BIG words. When others said "hate", Martin said "love." When others said "separate", he said "together." And when he heard others say "war", Martin said "peace." "Sooner or later, all the people of the world will have to discover a way to live together." Martin always went where he was needed in the struggle for equality. He shared his dreams and filled people with hope. "He walked with them and talked with them and sang with them and prayed with them." Doreen Rappaport has written a simple and inspirational picture-book biography that combines her quiet, yet powerful prose, with Dr King's own "big words." Her text emphasises his courage and strong committment to non-violence, equal rights, and the civil rights movement. "White ministers told them to stop. Mayors and governors and police chiefs and judges ordered them to stop. But they kept on marching." Bryan Collier's watercolor and cut paper collage illustrations are stunning and evocative, and together word and art create a passionate and powerful tribute to a great man of peace. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Martin's Big Words is an engaging and elegant introduction to a man who stood up and struggled to change America and the world, and includes a marvelous timeline of important dates and additional books and web sites to explore. "His big words are alive for us today."

Great Book!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The book Martin's BIG Words by Doreen Rappaport is excellent for children between the ages of 4-8. It depicts the life of Martin Luther King and the struggles he had to endure his entire life. I like that on each page you were given a quote by Dr. King himself. I also thought that having a list of his important dates at the end of the book was great for the children to see. This is an excellent book to share with your child or classroom.

1st time reader
...I was very impressed with how the book was written. I was able to learn something myself that I didn't know. I think the pictures bring out the picture of Martin standing tall as an activist in those days. i enjoyd reading things that Martin said himself, things that was quoted in the book.

Marvelous
A mavelous book. Well written and beautiful art work. With simple words and simple style, will bring you to tears by the end. A wonderful way to introduce teachings of peace, justice, and a belief in God that leads to change to children. We read this book every year on MLK Day and my young sons talk about MLK all the time. ... Read more

Book Description

Sharon Robinson shares memories of her famous father in this warm loving biography of the man who broke the color barrier in baseball. Jackie Robinson was an outstanding athlete, a devoted family man and a dedicated civil rights activist. The author explores the fascinating circumstances surrounding Jackie Robinson's breakthrough. She also tells the off-the-field story of Robinson's hard-won victories and the inspiring effect he had on his family, his community. . . his country! Includes never-before-published letters by Jackie Robinson, as well as photos from the Robinson family archives. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Kept Promises and Social Change
Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America

In this wonderful biography,Sharon Robinson shares her father with us as a daughter who held her father in high regard not only for his achievements in breaking the color barrier in baseball, but also for his hard won victories in politics, busines, civil rights and as a family man. Through love letters to his wife Rachel, photos from the family's archive and Sharon's deft writing hand, readers get to spend time with Jackie Robinson and come to understand how he navigated his way through the treachery of racism to become an integral part of creating another important chapter in the social contract with America.

As the Vice President of Educational Programming for Major League Baseball and an author, Sharon Robinson continues to preserve her father's legacy--well. ... Read more

Book Description

On August 28, 1963, more than 250,000 people came to the nation's capital to speak out against segregation and to demand equal rights for everyone and to hear Martin Luther King, Jr. This book captures the spirit of this landmark day and brings Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech to vivid life. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent illustrated story of the March on Washington
"Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington" tells the story of the historic day when one of the most famous speeches in American history was delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Author Frances E. Ruffin sets the stage for King's "I Have A Dream" speech by providing the background on why civil rights leaders called for the March on Washington. The illustrations of Stephen Marchesi are combined with photographs of white only laundromats, colored entrances, and separate (and clearly unequal) drinking fountains. By the time the story gets to King's speech, students will have a good understanding of the rhetorical facing the speaker. The "I Have A Dream" speech is nicely summarized and the book concludes by talking about how the Civil Rights Act of 1964 changed a lot of the wrongs depicted in the opening section. This book is designed for students in the first through third grades (Level 2) and makes an excellent introduction to the civil rights movement and would be very useful for students to read during Black History Month to help them understand why King's birthday is a national holiday. I especially liked Marchesi's picture of President Kennedy watching King's speech on television; it might be useful to ask students to look at that picture and imagine what the President might be thinking as he listens to what King had to say. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Learn about Martin Luther King, Jr. for young readers
This book will be enjoyed by all students. It really speaks from the heart and instead of continually writing on all the negative stuff that authors seem to write on, i really think that Adler focused on writing on all the positive things that King did for the nation. The book was beautifully written.

History in pictures
Filled with teachings of peacefully protesting fair laws for all people, David
Adler gives us a picture book of Martin Luther King, Jr. In it, he shares the
early life of MLK Jr, his young experiences with racism and segregation and on
to his dreams as well as highlights some of his well-known protests. In these
protests, he speaks of a world free of hate, prejudice and violence.

This book is a great lesson in history for our children and also covers a few
other events in the plight for civil rights. Casilla's illustrations do a
decent job of giving us a pictorial view of the events chronicling King's life.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
...

Excellent first biography
The entire "A picture book of..." biography series byDavid Adler is outstanding. Perfect for lower elementary studentsdoing their first real report. Makes a great read-aloud for non-readers as they are easily completed in one sitting. They are loaded with information including a timeline of important dates. The illustrations in this book are not cartoon-like as in his other biographies of Washington or Lincoln, but are appealing to young children. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As this skilled duo did with Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride, Pam Muñoz Ryan and Brian Selznick bring to life the story of yet another remarkable American woman, gifted black contralto Marian Anderson.

Undoubtedly one of America's greatest singers, Anderson was hardly known in her own country because of her race--music schools ignored her applications ("We don't take colored!") and even after she began singing professionally, many venues only featured white performers. Ryan's well-paced story becomes especially poignant as she recounts Anderson's overwhelming success in Europe ("one newspaper in Sweden called it 'Marian Fever' ... In Austria, the world-famous conductor Arturo Toscanini announced that what he had heard, one was privileged to hear only once in a hundred years"). The book reaches its climax with a wordless, deep brown two-page spread from Selznick, a crowd's-eye view of Anderson singing at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939, an historic concert that drew an integrated audience of over 75,000.

Ryan's simple, metered text (punctuated frequently by lyrics) captures the quiet drama of Anderson's story, and kids will especially identify with the confusion and frustration of young Marian. And as with the pair's previous collaboration, Selznick's rich illustrations ably convey the undeniable strength and courage of a talented, determined woman. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Singing for the Soul
A little black girl named Marian Anderson loved to sing . She would sing to her baby doll everyday. Every Sunday she would go to church and sing with her sister. She and her family were very proud. She grew into her teens and still loved to sing. People say when Marian sang she would sing with her eyes closed ,as finding the music within. As marian sang her heart filled with tragedy and sometimes her songs.
Marian was a full grown adult and Marians parents past away She was sad but still sang.

She went to a music school and she patiently in line for an application. The girl behind the counter helped everyone else but Marian. The lady didn't let her have an application because she was colored. She grew older and married a fine man who respected her singing. She went to a master singer and he loved her singing so she sang and sang till the end of her days.

The Best Book
This book is undoubtedly one of the best books that I have ever read for my class. It teaches people, both young and old, a little piece of our American history including the Great Depression and segregation. With it, the tandum of Ryan and Selznick provide a general overview of history realia. Overall, this piece is a great resources to read for all people.

One of my favorites for my own classroom!
When this book first came out, I was ecstatic that someone took the time to make the life of Marian Anderson accessible to children. Too often classical singers of the Civil Rights era are overlooked and forgotten. The combination of the gorgeous illustrations and lovely text make this book exceptional. Although not the easiest book for children to read on their own, as a read-aloud in a classroom setting, it can make an incredible impact. It is an excellent book to incite discussion on many subjects and it truly inspires children to pursue their dreams despite the troubles they may face.
The timeless lyrics interwoven within the story comment wonderfully on Marian's life and the perseverance with which she dealt with her struggles. The beauty of this book is that it focuses on the accomplishments of her life and the overcoming of disappointments, not the actual disappointments themselves. This lack of sensationalism gives the book dignity. This is definitely one book that I will treasure and hope to share many times over with students in my own classroom.

Singing for the Soul
WHEN MARIAN SANG beautifully depicts the life of Marian Anderson, a wonderful singer who broke racial barriers to become one of the most world-renowned performers. The story tells of her humble upbringing in Philadelphia and the support she garnered from her family, her church, and her community. It also tells of the discrimination that Marian faced when trying to learn music and later when she attempted to perform. Yet, Marian persevered. She went to Europe where she received so much attention and acclaim that it was said the people suffered from "Marian Fever." She later returned to the United States, and fought prejudices and discrimination by performing at the Lincoln Memorial. She was finally able to break down racial barriers and perform at the Metropolitan Opera. At last, Marian felt free to sing.

WHEN MARIAN SANG is an inspirational and educational biography of a great performer. The book gives details in a poignant, yet simplistic way that people of all ages will be able to appreciate. The illustrations are truly breathtaking. I enjoyed the fact that verses of songs that Marian sang were intertwined within the text to add depth to the story. I was also impressed with the detailed information about Marian's life and the fact that her discography was included in the back of the book. Pam Munoz Ryan and Brian Selznick have done an excellent job in telling the story of Marian Anderson. I look forward to future works from this dynamic duo...

Good drawings, very poor text
While the artwork illustrating this book is beautiful, the text is sorely lacking, being at the same time both too complex and too narrow, besides being confined by the device of using song lyrics to illustrate Anderson's life and feelings.
The text is overly long, and some concepts in the book are more complicated than needed, such as specifying that "the Department of Interior of the United States invited Marian" and "teachers ... marched ... in front of the Board of Education" to an age group which is grappling with the concept that our country is the United States of America. The report of the actual concert at the Memorial is short. There's no discussion of how the concert, the controversy surrounding it, and Anderson herself may have influenced the country's views on civil rights. The author uses the word "Negro" to refer to Anderson's race; that term was appropriate in 1939, but not now.
The afterword by the illustrator is just silly, since he spends much of his time telling us how his uncle knew both Eleanor Roosevelt and Marian Anderson, until he gets to the end of his afterword and says, paraphrased, "just kidding -- my uncle made it up!" The illustrator continues this joke at our expense by making his absent, lying uncle a primary character in the drawing of the audience at the Lincoln Memorial.
The afterword ("Encore") by the author is helpful, as are the suggestions for further reading and viewing.
The theme of Ryan's book is that Anderson fulfills her girlhood dream of singing at the Met, and is the first African American to do so. Everything else is essentially an incident along that road. There's more to Anderson's life than that.
The main flaw of this book is that the text uses too-complex terms to convey a story which is paradoxically too simple. It leaves out important parts of Anderson's life, such as her first "flopped" concert in New York, and her life after the Met. There are other books which provide more reality, and/or a more child-oriented text (such as Patricia and Fredrick McKissack's _Marian Anderson: A Great Singer_). Click on "see more about me" above for a review of and link to McKissack's book. ... Read more

Book Description

Long before he became a world-famous dreamer, Martin Luther King Jr. was a little boy who played jokes and practiced the piano and made friends without considering race. But growing up in the segregated South of the 1920s forced a very young Martin to learn a bitter lesson -- little white children and little black children were not to play with one another. Martin decided then and there that something had to be done. And as a seven-year-old, he embarked on a journey that would change the course of American history.

Renowned educator Christine King Farris, older sister of the late Dr. King, joins with celebrated illustrator Chris Soentpiet to tell this inspirational story of how one boyhood experience inspired a movement. It's a tale that will touch the hearts of all people, and remind us all that if you believe hard enough, dreams can become reality. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

There's no better Martin Luther King Jr. Book!
This is a straight forward, compassionate, informational story of Martin Luther King Jr.'s life. His sister tells their story simply and provides perspective where Martin Luther King Jr. got many of his ideas and courage - from his dad! It is a quiet appreciation for the life the family led. I really appreciated the story and it brings a new more realistic meaning to King's life.

A touching memior of the childhood that shaped the man
I LOVE this book. It is a well-written, personal account of a family. It spans from fun carefree days to the realization of prejudice. It is not about the man, it is about the boy. It was not graphic in it's description of violence and hatred, which made it completely appropriate for my six year old (who also really enjoyed the book). And the poem at the end was the perfect ending. GET THIS BOOK!

Unique Perspective
I loved this book because whenever i read a biogaphy I always want to hear from someone who really knew the person and in this book by Martin Luther King's sister, Christine King Farris, I get that perspective. Farris writes beautifully and poetically about their childhood and sheds light on the experiences and influences that shaped MLK to be the great inspirational leader that he was. I highly recommend this wonderful biography! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Sojourner Truth, an Inspiring Lady.
This book starts out with the birth of Sojourner Truth and takes you all the way through her life. You learn about her as a slave, as a free woman, as a preacher, an abolitionist, and an activist for the rights of both blacks and woman.

I personally did not know much about Sojourner Truth, but I do now.

If you are looking for a great novel to entertain you or for something to keep you on the edge of your seat, then this book probably isn't what your looking for. If you want to learn about history and an inspiring lady than I would say pick up this book and read. There is nothing worng with knowledge and this book is a great way to learn.

Sojourner Truth Ain't I a Woman
Sojouner Truth Ain't I a Woman takes place in the 1700's-1800's, about 300 years ago. This genre is non-fiction. If you like true stories then read this!
This story is about black people being slaves. Sojouner works for a family that beats her. She works for them for about 13 years. Then she gets sold again and the family tells her she can leave at 27 years (a year before she is suppose to.) The family says, "No you can't leave we changed our mind," when she was about to leave. They finally make a deal and say, "Okay, you can leave."

She knows she has no place to live and people invite her to live with them, but she has to work for them to get money. Then she leaves and tells stories of her life and people like the stories!

When I read this book, I thought to myself, I feel sorry for black people back then. I really loved this book so much! My opinion is if you are prejudiced then you should read this book, and that might change your mind.

Review
This book was interesting and thorough, but it was a bit too thorough and not interesting enough.

A very inspirational woman of great faith
This is a captivating story of the life of Sojourner Truth--herstruggles as a slave, as a mother, and as a woman, and how sheovercame those struggles to be one of the most amazing abolitionistsin America.

Great for kids. Full of primary sources, includingpictures, quotes, letters, and speeches. Also includes bios of otheramazing abolitionists and activists such as Frederick Douglass, SusanB. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, and Harriet Tubman. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Ten Inspirational Women...
What do Rosa Parks, Mary McLeod Bethune and Shirley Chisholm all have in common? They're three of the ten extraordinary African American freedom fighters in Andrea Davis Pinkney's marvelous collection, Let It Shine. These are strong women who didn't just sit back and accept the status quo, but met challenges head on and took action to change the world and make it a better place. These ten dynamic women were never silent, even when they thought no one was listening, faced discrimination, inequality and racism, triumphed in their battles against oppression and for civil rights and inspired those who followed in their footsteps. Told in easy to read, conversational style, each chapter is rich in both anecdotal and historical detail and accompanied by Stephen Alcorn's beautiful and bold oil painting illustrations. Perfect for youngsters 10 and older, Let It Shine also makes a wonderful read-aloud book the entire family can share and enjoy.

Continuing the Legacy
"Let It Shine: The Stories of Ten Black Women Freedom Fighters" is an amazing, entertaining, and educational journey back through time for both children and adults alike. The stories accurately depict the changing face of America for all people. The author, Andrea Davis Pinkney, uses a combination of oral stories and historical facts to re-create the lives of ten African American women "freedom fighters" (a.k.a. civil rights activists.) The descriptive language Pinkney uses keeps the style of the text upbeat and enjoyable. Among the list of women are Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks. However, there is also a presence of many unknown women, such as Shirley Chisholm, an inspirational politician, and Biddy Mason, a one-time slave with never ending generosity. The stories are quite diverse, spanning a history of nearly the entire 20th century. Some of these historical references include the signing of the emancipation proclamation, the peaceful demonstrations of the civil rights movement, and the Democratic Convention of 1968. There is one common, underlying goal of each story- inspiration. From Harriet Tubman's Underground Railroad to Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat, there is a sublte undertone that promotes and requires action. These women learned that justice comes from not only speaking, but doing. Their stories and successes encourage people of all ages to get up and fight against inequality. The combination of descriptive oral stories and historical facts, along with the colorful illustrations, keep readers of any age interested in this text. ... Read more

Book Description

The acclaimed civil rights leader Ida B. Wells (1862-1931) is brought vividly to life in this accessible and well-researched biography. Wells was a founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and she helped black women win the right to vote. But what she is most remembered for is the success of her lifelong crusade against the practice of lynching--called by some "our nation's crime"--in the American South. She fought her battle by writing and publishing countless newspaper articles and by speaking around the world. Her outspokenness put her in grave danger many times over, but she would not be silenced, and today she is credited with ending lynching in the United States. Her story is one of courage and determination in the face of intolerance and injustice. AFTERWORD, BIBLIOGRAPHY, INDEX. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

True American Hero
It is a travesty that the name of Ida B. Wells-Barnett is not more widely known in the most common lists of American heroes. This great woman, though little in stature, was a giant in the fight for justice and racial equality in this country. This book was a very thorough look at the life of an early champion of the civil rights movement in America. After my chilren an I read about her being physically thrown off a railcar, sueing the railroad company and actually winning her lawsuit, we could not put the book down. Although many of the discriptions and photographs were gruesome, they offered a realistic and brutally honest look at the horrors of lynching. I would recommend this book for sixth grade and up.

Eye-opening, vivid, highly recommended!
Grades 5 and up will find this an excellent biographicalcoverage of the mother of the civil rights movement, providing 178pages packed with facts and black and white illustrations. Thisexamines the life and times of Ida Wells, considering her early years, her civil rights campaign, and her anti-lynching campaign which succeeded in nearly abolishing the popular practice. An eye-opening account of not only her life, but her times. Highly recommended and vivid.

An Absolutely Outstanding Biography of an Amazing Woman
If you are not familiar with Ida B. Wells and her work, by allmeans become so immediately. I will be recommending this book toeveryone I know, and I am a children's and young adult librarian. Ida B. Wells is one of the greatest Americans of all time, and most of us have never heard of her. What she did to better the lives of African-Americans and, especially, to stop lynching, is moving, stirring, and heartbreaking. I never knew that people were burned at the stake in the USA, but they certainly were--and the crowds who came to see them die were happy to have so much fun watching "the nigger burn". A great book. ... Read more

Book Description

As reported by a fellow student, when Elizabeth Blackwell arrived at her first class in medical school in 1847, "A hush fell over the class as if each member had been stricken with paralysis...A death-like stillness prevailed during the lecture." Elizabeth Blackwell tells the fascinating story of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first female physician in the United States. Blazing trails and overcoming prejudice throughout her education and professional life, denied access to hospitals. Blackwell opened the New York Infirmary for Women and Children and, in 1868, the Women's Medical College, the first of its kind in history. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Inspiring story of first woman doctor
This is an extraordinarily informative and gripping account of Elizabeth Blackwell's unlikely rise to prominence in the field of medicine in the 19th century. The portrayals of Dr. Blackwell and her contemporaries and friends--Stowe, Nightingale--are drawn with unusual vividness, as are the many and often seemingly insurmountable obstacles that beset Blackwell at every turn. I was amazed at how much ground Glimm covered, and all in a clear, well-organized and brisk-paced narrative. I am certain that girls and boys alike will find this account of Blackwell's heroic--really triumphant--life inspiring and delightful.

First woman doctor-a biography for junior high students
An excellently written biography for young people sets the life of Elizabeth Blackwell against its historical backdrop using photographs, engravings, and sidebars with nuggets of information that clarify the era. This first woman doctor's struggle to achieve her life's dream within that period of history so harsh and prejudicial to women and primitive in terms of medical teaching and practice is brought vividly to life by the informative illustration, accessible historical perspective, and visual design of the book. It should be very useful to help young students understand the history of both women and medicine in the 19th century. ... Read more

Book Description

An easy-to-read, page-turning account of Harriet Tubman's life--from her childhood in slavery to her years as a conductor on the Underground Railroad to her later work as a suffragette and as a spy in the Civil War. This remarkable true story brings to life one of America's greatest female role models. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Let's Escape
We are four girls in second grade who read this book. It is a really good book. It has excitement, and we learned a lot about Harriet Tubman. She was born in 1820 and died in 1913. She was 93 when she died. Here are some comments: "I liked the part when Harriet was going to escape and she followed Daddy Ben's instructions." "She was so happy when she saw Old Rit and Daddy Ben again." ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Famous People
Susan B. Anthony is an awesome book. If you like history then you should read this book. If you are a girl especially you would want to know who was the"Champion of Women's Rights." It gives you so much imformation.It gets you into what happen in her life, and how hard it would be to get a job back then. My recommendations for future readers is if you like history than this is the book for you. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Born in 1797, and sold three times by the time she was 13 (and beatenmany more times), a tall young slave girl named Isabella grew in herdetermination to fight the evils of slavery and speak for human rights. At theage of 46, having been a free woman for 17 years, Isabella woke from a dreamtelling her she must travel the country, conveying to people what it meant to bea slave. On that day, Isabella renamed herself.

"It was as though the life she'd known up till then belonged tosomeone else. A new one was beginning. The old life had become a tale to tell, astory to bring freedom to others. Her old name belonged to her old life. Fromthat day on, she was never called Isabella again. Her name was SojournerTruth."

Reviews (5)

She could not be silenced
Many a young reader will be shocked by the opening page of this story about slavery in the U.S. For the auction block from which a 9-year-old girl was sold in 1806 was in Kingston, N.Y., not Alabama or Mississippi.

Isabella was sold only after a long day in which no bidders showed any interest--until the auctioneer threw in a flock of sheep. She was separated from her aged, ill parents, who were left to fend for themselves, having been worn out by cruel masters. Hell followed for Isabella, for her new master spoke English while she spoke Dutch--like most people in the Hudson valley. For not understanding, he whipped her so hard that her back bore the scars all the rest of her life.

She was sold to a tavern-keeper and, when she was 13, to a neighboring farmer named John Dumont. At 16, she was six feet tall and could do the work of any man. She was forced to wed, against her will, and bore four daughters and a son. In 1817, New York enacted a law that would free all slaves on July 4, 1827. By then, Isabella was 28. But when Dumont reneged on his promise to free her, she ran to a nearby farm, believing that its abolitionist owners would save her. The Van Wageners bought and freed her.

Dumont, however, sold her son Peter to an Alabama plantation owner. To sell a slave out-of-state was then illegal in New York. Isabella took the unheard-of step of hiring a white lawyer to plead a court case for the return of her son. She won, he returned, she sent him to school, and he became a sailor on a whaling ship.

After Peter left, Isabella dreamed that she should travel the U.S. and tell people of her bondage. She took the name of Sojourner Truth. The final pages of this adventure tell some of the accomplishments of this American heroine. The illustrations greatly compliment the story, accentuating the iron will of a woman who would not be bought, or silenced.

The book concludes with a one-page author's note and a chronology of the events of Sojourner Truth's life. In the former, the author writes of those times when evil rules, and good people feel called upon to tell the truth to those who do not wish to hear.

Sojourner Truth was such a person, and she lived in such a time. Children find this story inspirational. Alyssa A. Lappen

The story of a real fighter for freedom
"Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth" combines text by Anne Rockwell with illlustrations by R. Gregory Christie. Together they tell the story of Truth, who was an important figure in the movement to abolish slavery in the United States. The text discusses her own life in slavery, how she gained her freedom, and her participation in the abolitionist movement. The book includes a chronology of her life.

The illustrations are colorful and striking, but Christie's human figures are bizarrely distorted, with out-of-proportion heads, limbs, and hands. Ultimately I found that this style distracted me from the important story being told. Still, this book is a worthwhile look at an important figure in American history.

The Voice of Freedom.....
Anne Rockwell's moving picture book biography of Sojourner Truth is a powerful and evocative story that will draw youngsters in and take them on a journey toward freedom with an amazing woman.Born into slavery, Isabella was taken away from her parents when she was only nine, sold three times, threatened, beaten and lost her own children to slavery before she was finally freed.Though she never learned to read or write, shechallenged the system of buying and selling people in court, traveled around the country, spoke out against slavery and became one of the most powerful voices in the abolitionist movement.She was a sojourner, one who is only passing through and her mission was to speak the truth about the evils of slavery..... Ms Rockwell's passionate and eloquently written biography is complemented by Gregory Christie's beautifully rich paintings and together they've authored a story about this remarkable woman that's full of courage and strength.With an author's note and timeline at the end to augment and enhance discussions, Only Passing Through is a wonderful book, perfect for youngsters 9-12 and a story few will soon forget.

review on only passing through: the story of sojourner truth
I think this is a wonderful book.I have not read it but even the title pulls you in.The reason I am writing about this book is because I love slave stories.I have read other books by this author and I think she is awesome.This book is on my wish list and i hope to get it soon

review on only passing through
I think this is a wonderful book.I have not read it but even the title pulls you in.The reason I am writing about this book is because I love slave stories.I have read other books by this author and I think she is awesome.This book is on my wish list and i hope to get it soon ... Read more