Tag Archives: African Americans

Elem. – Do You Know Them? Families Lost and Found After the Civil War

Posted on by

Keller, Shana. Do You Know Them? Families Lost and Found After the Civil War. Illustrated by Laura Freeman. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2024. 978-1-665-91307-2. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades 2-4.

After the Civil War, many formerly enslaved people began searching for their lost family members, who were often sold or went missing before the abolishment of slavery. Lettie is a young African American girl who is hoping to reunite with her family. She lives in Richmond with her Uncle Charlie, who also is searching for his wife and children. Lettie works hard and saves her pennies, hoping to place an advertisement in the Richmond newspaper asking for information about her family. The young girl practices reading the newspaper with her uncle, focusing on the “Seeking the Lost” ads. Eventually, she becomes such a strong reader that the minister asks her to read the ads to the congregation, whose members do not all know how to read. One day, a woman and Uncle Charlie recognize one of the names. Another day, the congregation rejoices when Lettie reads an advertisement reporting that a father had been found. After many years, the young girl earns enough pennies to place a personal ad about her own family and is rewarded with a positive response. This engaging picture book brings to light the topic of using advertising to help find missing African American family members after the war. The author became intrigued when she learned how newspapers were read aloud to the illiterate in churches in order to share information in the hope of reuniting families. Keller includes the wording of some of the original advertisements throughout the text. The digitally rendered illustrations by Freeman are done on a large scale and show the range of emotions experienced by the characters. Images of Indian head pennies are sprinkled throughout the text and symbolize the longing and hopes of the African American community after the Civil War.

THOUGHTS: This poignant story is a great read aloud and is perfect for Civil War and slavery units. It  provides a unique perspective on African American life during the Reconstruction. Highly recommended for elementary library collections.

Historical Fiction
Picture Book

MG – Shark Teeth

Posted on by

Winston, Sherri. Shark Teeth. Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2024, 978-1-547-60850-1. $17.99. 304 p. Grades 4-8.

Sharkita also known as “Kita” is constantly in fear of the other shoe dropping. She has assumed the role of “mom” too many times to trust that it won’t happen again. She’s been separated from her siblings and put in foster care by social services too many times to believe now that Mama is home and seems to have stopped drinking and going out with her friends that everything will be okay and that things have changed. When Kita’s new Assistant Principal and dance coach asks some questions about Kita’s homelife she is determined to keep her and her siblings together, so she lies to keep up appearances when the truth is Mama has been going out again and leaving the kids at home alone. With the fear of being separated from her siblings constantly looming, Kita feels more and more anxious and questions if being together and neglected by Mama is really what is best for her and her siblings.

THOUGHTS: Oof. This one hit hard. It touches on so many different topics in such a genuine and realistic manner that it is at times hard to read. You want what’s best for Kita and her siblings, but the reality of leaving/being separated from her mother and siblings is hard to grasp. 

Realistic Fiction

Elem. – Call Me Roberto! Roberto Clemente Goes To Bat For Latinos

Posted on by

Alonso, Nathalie. Call Me Roberto! Roberto Clemente Goes To Bat For Latinos. Illustrated by Ruby Gutierrez. Astra Books for Young Readers, 2024, 979-8-888-59075-1. $17.99. 32p. Grades 2-4.

Roberto Clemente loved the game of baseball almost as much as his home country of Puerto Rico. At the age of nineteen, he was pulled up to the Majors. While he sat on the bench most of his time in Montreal, when he got traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, he finally got his chance to shine. While he made an impact almost immediately, the rest of the team and the fans did not easily accept a Black man from Puerto Rico that still spoke Spanish. Through perseverance, Clemente continued to show his worth while facing racism day in and day out.

THOUGHTS: This nonfiction picture book does a great job of showing readers the highs of his career but also the lows. Seeing the illustration of Clemente sitting inside what is depicted as a jail cell because he was Black and could not go golfing or to the beach like the white players on his team really did a great job of showing, not just telling. There are some Spanish words mixed into the text as well as beautiful illustrations.

Picture Book
921

Elem. – Summer is Here

Posted on by

Watson, Renee. Summer is Here. Illustrated by Bea Jackson. Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2024. 978-1-547-60586-6. $18.99. 40 p. Grades PK-2.

This lyrical ode to summer joy features a young girl soaking up the magical days of the season. She wakes up to a sun filled room, full of hope for what the day will bring. She enjoys the fruits of summer, swimming with friends, dancing and jumping rope, cookouts at the park, popsicles from the ice cream truck, blowing bubbles, and watching the sunset. The girl falls asleep with the summer wind blowing through her bedroom window, wishing summer would stay forever. 

THOUGHTS: This book is a beautiful poem to the simple joys of summer. Young readers will resonate with the summer activities artfully depicted by Bea Jackson. Recommended for ages 3-6. 

Picture Book  

Elem. – My Daddy is a Cowboy

Posted on by

Seales, Stephanie. My Daddy is a Cowboy. Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2024. 978-1-419-76081-5. 40 p. $18.99. Grades K-3. 

When a father wakes his daughter for a pre-dawn horse riding adventure, she is excited to have some “just us time.” The pair dress quietly, retrieve a bag of apple slices from Abelita, and ride a motorcycle across the city to a ranch. They feed the horses the snack they’ve brought, gently brush and saddle them, and set off for their ride. The narrator explains how she usually rides after school at the ranch with the other kids, and her father usually rides in the early mornings on the streets with his friends. But today, he takes her out on the streets for the first time, just the two of them. They ride together through dark neighborhoods, laughing and telling stories. These small shared moments celebrate the father-daughter bond and also provide loving opportunities to pass down cultural tales and traditions. Bright oil painted illustrations echo the love between father and daughter, and small details, like Abuelita’s mug and a Mola blanket wall hanging, offer nods to the family’s Panamanian heritage. 

THOUGHTS: This story is reminiscent of My Papi Has a Motorcycle and will attract a similar audience. It will also be an excellent narrative writing mentor text for upper elementary classrooms. 

Picture Book

Elem./MG – Black American Journey Series (Series NF)

Posted on by

Black American Journey Series. The Child’s World, 2024. $24.95 each. $199.60 Set of 8 (2024 Releases). 32 p. Grades 4-8.

Cunningham, Kevin. Condoleezza Rice: US Secretary of State. 978-1-503-88062-7.
De Marco, Tony. Jackie Robinson: Professional Baseball Player. 978-1-503-88063-4.
Dolbear, Emily. Ketanji Brown Jackson: Supreme Court Justice. 978-1-503-88060-3.
Raatma, Lucia. The Harlem Renaissance. 978-1-503-88070-2.
Summer, L.S. Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. 978-1-503-88065-8.
—. The March on Washington. 978-1-503-88068-9.
Troy, Don. Booker T. Washington: Educator and Orator. 978-1-503-88064-1.
—. Harriet Ross Tubman: Abolitionist and Activist. 978-1-503-88066-5.

This reviewer evaluated the title Ketanji Brown Jackson: Supreme Court Justice. Learn about Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson from her days as a school class president to her current time serving as a judge on the highest court in the United States. Jackson is the first Black woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. At only 32 pages, this title still is highly detailed and shares the story of Jackson’s personal upbringing and career. Jackson grew up in a home with high academic expectations; she was raised by two parents who had lived under segregation and were determined to give their child opportunities they did not have themselves. Jackson attended Harvard University, and although she witnessed racial prejudice and discrimination there, her determination drove her to be successful in the field of law.

THOUGHTS: This title will make a welcome addition to upper elementary and middle school library collections about the United States judicial system. The information included is robust enough to be used by upper middle school students while completing research and inquiry projects. Recommended for libraries where students can benefit from access to modern American biographies. Additional titles from this series were published in prior years and may also be of interest.

347.73
Biography

Elem. – Ode to Grapefruit: How James Earl Jones Found His Voice

Posted on by

Lavelle, Kari.  Ode to Grapefruit: How James Earl Jones Found His Voice. Illustrated by Bryan Collier. Alfred A. Knopf, 2024. 978-0-593-37276-0. Unpaged. $19.99.  Grades 1-3.

Lavelle’s picture book is an ode to the great American actor, James Earl Jones. In this memoir of his childhood, the author tells the story of Jones’ difficulties with stuttering. As a young student, James enjoyed learning, but he did not like speaking in front of the class. He stuttered, his throat seized up, and he could not get the words out. The young boy became a great listener and took in everything that was happening around him, from his aunt’s singing to his uncle’s piano playing and to the conversations of his teachers and friends in school. However, when he was by himself in the barn, James could talk to the animals without difficulty. Things began to change for James when his high school teacher introduced him to poetry. Mr. Crouch encouraged his students to memorize poems and to recite them out loud. Although Jones was attracted to the “irresistible patterns of poetry,” he feared speaking aloud in class, even though he said the poetic verses eloquently at home. One day, while peeling a grapefruit, the boy noticed the juicy fruit inside and was inspired to write a poem in the cadence of The Song of Hiawatha. He called it “An Ode to Grapefruit.” His teacher encouraged James to recite his poem in front of the class, which he did successfully to the acclaim of the listeners. Jones went on to participate in debates, plays and recitations, and later became a well-known actor. Collier’s signature illustrations are done in watercolor and collage. He places images of bubbles on the drawings to indicate the “musicality in language,” which helped James find his voice. The back matter contains author and illustrator notes and a brief commentary on stuttering. The bubbles pictured on the front endpapers are empty, but accompanied with quotes by James Earl Jones in the back endpapers.

THOUGHTS: Readers will be amazed to learn that this actor, who was the voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa, had speech problems as a child. This story shows how perseverance and practice helped overcome these difficulties. Hand this inspiring book to speech teachers. This tribute to a legendary, recently deceased, American is an essential purchase for elementary collections.

Picture Book
Biography
616.554 Speech and Language Disorders

Elem. – Fighting with Love: The Legacy of John Lewis

Posted on by

Cline-Ransome, Lesa. Fighting with Love: The Legacy of John Lewis. Illustrated by James E. Ransome. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2024. 978-1-534-49662-0. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades 3-6.

John Lewis grew up working on his family’s farm in the segregated South. Although he was surrounded by a loving family, it bothered him that he and his family were not treated equally in public. For instance, they had to eat standing up outdoors rather than sitting inside at a lunch counter, and they had to drink from a rusty water spigot instead of from the Whites Only fountain. One Sunday morning, he is listening to the radio when he hears a young Martin Luther King, Jr. preach about segregation and justice. This sermon inspires him to take an active role in the nonviolent protests taking place around the country. Lewis eventually becomes involved with the Nashville chapter of the NAACP and with the Freedom Riders, participating in sit-ins and marches throughout the South. This picture book biography details both his early life as well as his important work as a civil rights activist. Vibrant illustrations and extensive back matter, including a timeline and bibliography, complement this detailed, informative biography. 

THOUGHTS: This is a great addition to elementary biography collections. Use it for research projects pertaining to the civil rights movement, or include it as part of a Black History Month display.

921 Biography

Elem. – Go, Wilma, Go! Wilma Rudolph, From Athlete to Activist

Posted on by

Davis, Amira Rose, and Michael G. Long. Go, Wilma, Go! Wilma Rudolph, From Athlete to Activist. Illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow. Bloomsbury Children’s Books. 978-1-547-61209-3. 36 p. $18.99. Grades K-3. 

“Go, Wilma, go!” The refrain, repeated throughout this picture book biography, is a nod to Wilma Rudolph’s groundbreaking performances both on and off the track. The story begins with Wilma’s gold-medal-winning victories at the 1960 Olympic Games. Following the Olympics, Wilma tours Europe, and she notices that in Greece, all kinds of people swim together at the beaches. In England, all kinds of people ride buses together, and in Germany, all kinds of people eat in cafes together. These are all stark contrasts to the segregated swimming pools, buses, and restaurants in her hometown of Clarksville, Tennessee. When she returns to Clarksville, town leaders want to honor her with a “Wilma Rudolph Day” celebration. Wilma tells them she will not attend unless Black people are invited to all of the day’s events. Town leaders agree, and on the day of the celebration, Black people and white people march side by side in a parade, eat together at a banquet, and cheer for their hometown heroine together. Unfortunately, even though all kinds of people join together on “Wilma Rudolph Day,” the town remains segregated for many more years. But, Wilma keeps pushing and protesting, realizing that the race towards equality is not a sprint, but rather a marathon. A lengthy Author’s Note provides background information about Wilma Rudolph’s childhood, athletic career, and advocacy work in the Jim Crow South. Mixed-media illustrations, including handpainted cut-paper collage and digital finishes, convey additional period-appropriate details that round out the story and depict daily life in the 1960s. 

THOUGHTS: Wilma Rudolph was one of the first Black athletes who used her platform to challenge the status quo and protest racial inequality not only in the United States, but around the world as well. She paved the way for today’s athletes to take stands about racism, sexism, mental health, and more. This title will be a relatable addition to units about Civil Rights and social justice. 

796.42 Track and Field

YA – Twenty Four Seconds From Now… :A LOVE Story

Posted on by

Reynolds, Jason. Twenty Four Seconds From Now… :A LOVE Story. Atheneum, 2024. 978-1-665-96127-1. 239 p. $19.30. Grades 10-12. 

Meet Neon who in about 24 seconds is about to have sex with his girlfriend Aria for the first time. The reader meets Neon in Aria’s bathroom as he talks to himself about what’s about to happen, and we go backwards in time until we get to twenty four months ago when Neon met Aria for the first time. The reader sees Neon’s family talk to him about his relationship with Aria as it progresses through the book. The reader sees the awkward moment when Neon’s mom finds Aria’s bra in his room and the conversation that follows. All of these moments lead up to the reader being with Neon as he walks out of the bathroom door into Aria’s bedroom.

THOUGHTS: This is a masterful journey through a relationship told through a male perspective. Jason Reynolds weaves a beautiful tale that all readers can relate to on some level, whether it’s the romantic relationship or the family relationships in the book. This is definitely a book for older high school students, however, a must own for every high school collection.

Romance

Told in reverse chronological order, this story centers on Neon Benton, a teenager reflecting on the defining moments of his relationship with his girlfriend Aria. The story opens in the present day where Neon nervously prepares for their first intimate experience by giving himself a pep talk in the bathroom mirror. From there, the story rewinds over the previous two years of his life in increments of time, starting with 24 minutes before the moment, then 24 days, and continuing backward. Neon’s life unwinds through significant milestones, such as when Neon and Aria met and the impact working at his father’s bingo hall has on his life. Neon’s perspective on the events unfolding around him is deeply influenced by his relationships with the people closest to him: his wise older sister Nat, his lively best friend Dodie, and his caring parents. Through these connections, Neon navigates the challenges of love, consent, and communication while striving to honor his emotions for Aria with sensitivity and respect. 

THOUGHTS: Jason Reynolds’ young adult novel offers a modern perspective on romance, emphasizing emotional vulnerability and the importance of mutual respect. With humor and heart, Reynolds captures the complexities of teenage relationships and the importance of setting a standard for kindness and empathy in partnerships. Ultimately, the story is about the beauty of Black love, stated by Reynolds himself in his acknowledgements: “Black boys deserve love stories, too.”

Realistic Fiction