Review: HEART AND SOUL: THE STORY OF AMERICA AND AFRICAN AMERICANS by Kadir Nelson

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Nelson, Kadir. 2011. Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans. Balzer & Bray. ISBN-10: 0061730742

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Heart and Soul by Kadir Nelson is a story of African American history, told from the viewpoint of an un-named narrator whose “Pap” was kidnapped from his family as a young child, and came to America aboard a slave ship. The narrator tells the story through the eyes of her Grandfather, and his memories about growing up a slave, living through the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the fight for equality. She describes the history of African Americans and their struggles for equal rights and treatment in America in a first person narrative. The narrator talks about the important contributions of black Americans to our society. The narrator tells of the many changes and conflicts during her lifetime, including wars, the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. She was there when women earned the right to vote for the first time and lived to cast her vote for the first black president of the United States. In the words of the narrator: “We have come a mighty long way, honey, but we still have a ways to go…”

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Heart and Soul by award-winning author and illustrator Kadir Nelson is an historical fiction re-telling of the story of “America and African Americans” through the eyes of “Everywoman”, the unnamed narrator. Heart and Soul relates the strength and courage of Everywoman’s ancestors, as well as the struggles against slavery and injustice. The time-period covered by this book is vast. While the story is set in America, it actually begins with the narrator’s grandfather getting kidnapped from his home in Africa, and being taken to America on a slave ship. The narrator begins relating the history of African Americans on this continent from the early 1600’s when European Settlers made their way to America, to 2008, when the Everywoman was able to vote for the first African American President.

Cultural markers and details are present everywhere in Heart and Soul, from the pictures of the slave ships where “African men, women, and children were packed like fish,” and the slaves in the cotton fields, to the timeline included in the end pages. Nelson used careful attention to historical accuracy when he talked about the slave ships, the Underground Railroad, the Buffalo Soldiers during the Civil War, the Jim Crow Laws, the Civil Right movement, and many, other events important in not only the lives of African Americans, but all Americans. In Nelson’s painting of a young Fredrick Douglas, you can see the determination on the face of “the Lion of Anacostia,” who learned to read, escaped from a life of slavery, to become a famous abolitionist, whose goal was “to expose slavery in this country, because to expose it is to kill it.”

This 108 page picture book is full of beautiful and thought-provoking paintings by Kadir Nelson, who is well known for his dramatic paintings which capture the spirit of African Americans. Nelson/s paintings have been displayed world-wide in museums and galleries. There is a depth to the pictures which speaks to the reader and brings the words to life. In the Author’s note at the back of the book, Kadir Nelson shares that he gained much of the information for the book by interviewing many of his oldest family members, and the narrator in this book is based upon a compilation of those memories. To add to the book’s authenticity, the book contains a two-page timeline of the events recorded in the narration, as well as a bibliography and index. 

Nelson’s other award-winning books include Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange, and Just the Two of us by Will Smith.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

HORN BOOK REVIEW: "Nelson effectively creates a voice that is at once singular and representative. A tour de force in the career of an author/artist who continues to outdo himself".

BOOK LIST REVIEW:" Nelson…adds to his notable titles with this powerful view of African American history. Illustrated with 44 full-page paintings, this handsome volume is told in the fictionalized, informal voice of an African American senior looking back on her life and remembering what her elders told her".

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW: "Provocative and powerful, this book offers a much-needed perspective for individuals of all ages seeking to understand America's past and present".

AWARDS

Jane Adams Honor Book Award

2012 Coretta Scott King Author Award and Illustrator Honor

 

5. CONNECTIONS

Other books by Kadir Nelson:

Nelson, Kadir. Nelson Mandela. ISBN-10: 0061783749.

Nelson, Kadir. We Are the Ship. ISBN-10: 0786808322

Nelson, Kadir. He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands. ISBN-10: 080372

Review: JOHN HENRY by Julius Lester

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lester, Julius. 1994. JOHN HENRY. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. New York: Dial Books.ISBN 0803716060

2. PLOT SUUMMARY

John Henry may or may not have been an actual person, but the hero of this folktale is a captivating character. From the time of his birth when he “jumped out of his mama’s arms and started growing,” John Henry was no ordinary person. John Henry’s birth was so memorable that it attracted the attention of the sun, moon, and woodland creatures. After he jumped out of his mama’s arms and started growing, he grew so quickly that he burst through the roof of the front porch. As with all tall tales, John Henry accomplishes feats which no ordinary man could achieve and exemplifies the character traits of kindness and hard work. The day after he was born, he helped his father re-build the porch roof he had broken, and added a new wing on the house. After winning a race on foot against a horse, John Henry headed off to West Virginia to find work building the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, where he had his famous race against the steam drill.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

A Caldacott Honor winning book, this version of John Henry is a fast-moving and interesting folk tale, which combines the storytelling of Julius Lester with the artistry of Jerry Pinkney. Set in the Allegheny Mountains between 1870 and 1873, the re-telling of a famous Black folk ballad is rich with metaphors and figurative language. I love the visual image of the sun, which was “peeping out from behind the moon’s skirts trying to get a look.” Pickney continues this use of descriptive language when telling that Ferret Faced Freddy’s, voice “sounded like bat wings on tombstones” and “the rainbow draped around him (John Henry), like love.” These metaphors and many others bring the book to life, and create rhythm and energy to the reading.

Jerry Pickney brought the realistic images of the curious animals and the human characters to life in beautiful earth-toned colored pencil and watercolor. The impression of size and strength is conveyed in the paintings of John Henry carrying the two twenty-pound sledge hammers over his shoulders with one hand. But when standing next to the mountain “as big as hurt feelings”, John Henry is a small figure in the corner.

The cultural markers in this story are evident in the both the rhythmic dialogue and illustrations. An example of cultural dialect is shown when the narrator says that John Henry built “one of them jacutzis.” Another example is shown when Lester tells us that Ferret-Faced Freddy and his horse rode by, and they were “sho’ nuf moving,” but “Didn’t nobody see John Henry.” The varied skin tones features of the characters add realism to both the illustrations and the text. Also adding to the background of this story is the note at the beginning of the book which gives the historical setting and background information about the basis for the folk tale and the building of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. Although I had read it to my 5^th graders years ago, this story was well worth re-reading.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Review: “Told with just a trace of dialect, the story moves along briskly toward the climax. Its moral message of the importance of a well-lived life is clearly stated, and the ending is uplifting. Pinkney's marvelous watercolors, abundantly rich in detail, convey both the superior strength and the warm sense of humanity that make John Henry perhaps a more down-to-earth character than some other tall-tale figures. The paintings' muted earth tones add a realistic touch to the text, bringing this John Henry alive. When viewed from a distance, however, figures and details sometimes blend together, making the book better suited to independent reading that group sharing. It will appeal to an older audience than Ezra Jack Keats's John Henry (Knopf, 1987) and is a fine addition to any folklore collection.”

BOOKLIST REVIEW: Based on the popular black folk ballad about the contest between John Henry and the steam drill, this picture-book version is a tall tale and a heroic myth, a celebration of the human spirit. Like Lester's great collections of the Uncle Remus tales, also illustrated by Pinkney, the story is told with rhythm and wit, humor and exaggeration, and with a heart-catching immediacy that connects the human and the natural world.

 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW: A great American hero comes fully to life in this epic retelling filled with glorious, detailed watercolors. From his momentous birth, when all the animals come to see him and the sun won't go to bed, John Henry works wonders. As a child he helps his father by adding "a wing onto the house with an indoor swimming pool and one of them jacutzis"-and that's just before lunch. Other episodes trace the growth of his generous spirit. His greatest feat is, of course, in his battle against the steam drill, as he races the machine to cut through "a mountain as big as hurt feelings." He dies ("he had hammered so hard and so fast and so long that his big heart had burst"), but the onlookers understand that "dying ain't important.... What matters is how well you do your living." This carefully crafted updating begs to be read aloud for its rich, rhythmic storytelling flow, and the suitably oversize illustrations amplify the text. As only one example, the animal witnesses of his birth reappear throughout, most notably to watch John Henry's funeral train pass by. This may not supplant more traditional retellings, such as Terry Small's The Legend of John Henry, but it is a triumph of collaboration from the creators of the noted Uncle Remus retellings. .

5. CONNECTIONS

This is great book to use when teaching a unit on tall tales. I read it with my 5^th grade students several years ago. My students read other tall tales about characters such as Pecos Bill and Paul Bunyan and compared the main characters. They discussed the story elements which make up a tall tale, and listed the larger-than-life actions which happened in each book. Students could then write their own tall tale and illustrate it. They could do their illustrations using pencil, colored pencil and watercolor like Jerry Pinkney did.

Other picture books written by Julius Lester or illustrated by Jerry Pinkney:

Pinkney, Jerry. The Lion and the Mouse. ISBN-10: 9780316013567
Holiday, Billie, and Arthur Herzog Jr.. God Bless the Child. Ill.  by Jerry Pinkney. ISBN-10: 0060287977
Lester, Julius. Uncle Remus: The Complete Tales. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. ISBN-10: 0803724519

Review: FEATHERS by Jacqueline Woodson

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Woodson, Jacqueline. 2007. Feathers. New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 9780399239892.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

On Wednesday, January 6, 1971 a strange thing happened in Frannie’s classroom. Her all-black class got a new male student who is white and has long hair. Trevor, the class bully quickly nicknamed him Jesus Boy, and let him know he didn’t belong there. “Jesus Boy” told his classmates his family moved there because his father thought people would be nicer to him there. The hope of a new beginning is something for which all of the characters are looking. Mrs. Johnson, Frannie’s teacher, recently read a poem by Emily Dickenson about new beginnings, and the phrase-“ hope is the thing with feathers”- sticks in Frannie’s mind. She hopes that her mother will be OK during her pregnancy, because she has already lost two babies. Her older brother Sean, who is deaf, hopes to be accepted in the hearing world. Frannie’s best friend Samantha begins to hope that perhaps this boy actually is Jesus. Throughout this absorbing story, the characters grow as they each struggle with their own issues and learn more about each other and even themselves.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson, (a three-time Newberry Honor winner), is a compelling example of realistic, historical fiction for young readers.  Set in the early 1970’s in Jacqueline Woodson handled the sensitive issues of race and fitting in with a light and deft touch. Frannie, the protagonist, is a strong, thoughtful, and compelling character, who thinks deeply about things and grows in depth and maturity throughout the story. She worries about her mother being sick, and about her brother’s feelings getting hurt when he is interested in hearing girls, but they aren’t interested in him once they find out he is deaf. Another example of her thoughtfulness is shown when her teacher tells the class to write their story, and the first line of Frannie’s story is about her older brother who is deaf: “My brother taught me to speak. I grew up inside his world of words.” This story evokes contemplation in the reader, no matter what their age.

There are many cultural markers evident in this story. Woodson was not afraid to tackle the big issues. She handled racism, deafness and loss of babies all in the same story. The racially charged setting of the early 1970’s was accurately portrayed with the references Black Power and the reactions of the characters towards having a student of a different race in their midst. Samantha, Frannie’s best friend reflects on this when she asks, ““If there was a world for Jesus to need to walk back into, wouldn’t this be it?” The dialogue carefully and respectfully showed the viewpoints of all of the characters and explored types of music enjoyed by the different characters, For myself, as an adult who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s it brings back memories of the issues of Vietnam, the music of the time, and the “jive” talk of the students, (“Right on, my brother-man. I feel what you’re saying.)” Woodson was careful to portray the physical features of the characters accurately. For example, the narrator referred many times to the different shades of color of the students’ skin, not just black and white, but the shades in between: “In the summertime, Trevor’s skin turned the prettiest copper brown.”

This is an excellent book for students to read to learn that no matter what the race, disability, or social status, people are important, alike in many ways, and worthy of respect. Woodson brings to light the issues surrounding the racial charged atmosphere, beliefs about God and the hardships of growing up deaf in the hearing community. For today’s young readers, it will hopefully make them think about other people and themselves in a new and more tolerant light.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY STARRED REVIEW- Frannie's keen perceptions allow readers to observe a ripple of changes. Because she has experienced so much sadness in her life (her brother's deafness, her mother's miscarriages) the heroine is able to see beyond it all—to look forward to a time when the pain subsides and life continues. Set in 1971, Woodson's novel skillfully weaves in the music and events surrounding the rising opposition to the Vietnam War, giving this gentle, timeless story depth. She raises important questions about God, racial segregation and issues surrounding the hearing-impaired with a light and thoughtful touch.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL STARRED REVIEW- With her usual talent for creating characters who confront, reflect, and grow into their own persons, Woodson creates in Frannie a strong protagonist who thinks for herself and recognizes the value and meaning of family. The story ends with hope and thoughtfulness while speaking to those adolescents who struggle with race, faith, and prejudice. They will appreciate its wisdom and positive connections.

AWARDS

Newberry Honor Book 2008

ALA Notable Children’s Books

5. CONNECTIONS

This would be a great book to read when studying the events leading up to and during the Vietnam War. Students could research the events, styles of music and language referred to in the story. They could find pictures from the 1970's and compare them with modern dress and hairstyles. Students could write about issues in their own lives which have caused them to hope for a new beginning.

Other books by Jacqueline Woodson:

Woodson, Jacqueline. Each Kindness. ISBN-10: 0399246525
Woodson, Jacqueline. Locomotion. ISBN-10: 0142415529
Woodson, Jacqueline. This Is the Rope: A Story From the Great Migration. ISBN-10: 0399239863.
Woodson, Jacqueline. The Other Side. ISBN-10: 0399231161

Review: THE SHADOWS OF GHADAMES by Joelle Stolz

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Stolz, Joelle. 2004. The Shadows of Ghadames. Translated by Catherine Temerson. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 9780385901314.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In The Shadows of Ghadames by Joelle Stolz, we meet Malika, a young Berber girl who lives in the city of Ghadin southern Lybia at the end of the 19^th century. The story, told by Malika, begins with Malika’s merchant father leaving on a two week journey. In the city of Ghadames, the women wait at home on the rooftops while the men populate the streets, conduct business, and are allowed to travel. At twelve years old, Malika will soon be of marriageable age, and the freedoms of childhood will give way to the restrictions being a woman. Malika struggles with the constraints of the traditional way of life, and dreams of a life beyond the walls of her house. She doesn’t think it is fair that just her, Jasim, is allowed travel and learn to read just because he is a boy. Change occurs in Malika’s point of view when Bilkisu, her father’s second wife, rescues a fugitive who is injured while being chased by the men of the city. Bilkisu and Malika’s mother Miriem make the decision to disobey the norms of their society and hide the fugitive on the rooftop. This is when Malika begins to realize that the women have a power of their own.  

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Originally written in French, this story is set in the late 19^th century in southern Lybia. The text is historically accurate in its representation of the roles of the men and women of that time period and location. The text describes the religious beliefs of the traditional Muslim world, and how those affected their daily lives. The description of the character’s clothing and the architecture of the city were also accurate according to the information about the ancient city and its population during an on-line search. The author depicted authentic relationships when she described Malika’s family as one in which her father had two wives, “the wife from home, and the “wife of the journey. In the author’s note at the end, Stolz addresses the time period of the story, and contrasts the city of Ghadames in the 19^th century with the modern city.

 My one complaint was that I would have liked to have known the time-period at the beginning of the book. I found the book to be captivating. The writing style flows and carries the reader along with Malika from the beginning of the story to the end.  The Shadows of Ghadames was a book that I did not want to put down, and would highly recommend for others to read.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

KIRKUS REVIEWS: Setting her tale at the end of the 19th century, Stolz not only weaves the sights, sounds, and daily rhythms of life in Ghadames into a vivid tapestry, she creates a cast of distinct characters, each of which displays a unique blend of strengths and weaknesses, as well as sometimes unexpected intelligence and compassion.

BOOKLIST STARRED REVIEW: “Stolz invigorates her tale with elegant prose and a deft portrayal of a girl verging on adolescence. The vivid backdrop is intoxicating, but the story’s universal concerns will touch readers most.”

5. CONNECTIONS

This would be a great story to read while studying women’s movements in America. Students could draw connections between the woman suffragists and the strong female characters in the Shadows of the Ghademes. Students could also write a paper comparing their lifestyle to that of Malika.

*Other children’s novels with strong female characters:

O’Dell, Scott. Island of the Blue Dolphins. ISBN-10: 0440439884
Paterson, Katherine. Bridge to Terabithia. ISBN-10: 9780064401845
Creech, Sharon. Walk Two Moons. ISBN-10: 0064405176

Review: WHEN APPLES GREW NOSES AND WHITE HORSES FLEW by Jan Andrews

 

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Andrews, Jan. 2011. When Apples Grew Noses and White Horses Flew. Ill. Dusan Petricic. Toronto: Groundwood Books ISBN-10: 0888999526.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

When Apples Grew Noses and White Horses Flew by Jan Andrews is a collection of three stories featuring the hero Ti-Jean, who is “a hero unlike any other.” Indeed, the author says that Ti-Jean is a changeable character who is a little bit like each of us. Ti-Jean, who is described as being both foolish and wise, manages to land himself in trouble time and again, and yet manages to work his way out of it.

In the first story, Ti-Jean and his two brothers inherit gifts with magical properties when their father dies. Ti-Jean gets tricked out of all three gifts by a greedy princess, but cleverly manages to get the better of her. In the second story, Ti-Jean is again a farmer’s son who would much rather play marbles than work in the fields. When he finds himself in trouble due to foolishly accepting a challenge, he must accept the help of the princess, to earn back his freedom. In the third story, Ti-Jean is not the one who lands in trouble, but instead rescues his two brothers when they are imprisoned for failing to win the hand of the siegneur’s daughter.

In each of these three stories, Ti-Jean must use his wits, good manners & work ethic to solve the problem and save the day.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This light-hearted book of stories brought a smile to my face as I read it. Ti-Jean is a loveable character who goofs up a lot and tries to fix it, a character trait which most of us can relate to. Jan Andrews explains in the source notes that the stories have their roots in oral traditions, and folklore of different regions of Canada. The “note on sources” at the back of the book tells where each one of Andrew’s re-told stories originates and lends authenticity to the tales. Andrews has sprinkled bits of French-Canadian language patterns throughout the text to further tie it to its French- Canadian roots.  The author’s introduction, “A Word About Ti-Jean sets the stage for the collection of stories and gives the reader a framework to build on. The comical cartoon illustrations by Dusan Petricic capture the personalities of the various characters and bring the text to life.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

CM MAGAZINE REVIEW: Delightfully rendered black and white cartoon-like illustrations add to the sense of frivolity of the retellings. Fully fleshed source notes round out this attractive book and end with Andrews' assertion that "the stories might need the history that is our own."

KIRKUS REVIEW: Il Ttait une fois... " French Canada's version of beanstalk-climbing Jack gets a rare outing in three tales refashioned from old sources by a veteran storyteller. Preserving the lightest touch of a French inflection—"Cric, crac, / Parli, parlons, parlo. / If you won't listen, / Out you go"—Andrews sets her nanve but teachable everylad up against a trio of opponents.

5. CONNECTIONS

When Apples Grew Noses and White Horses Flew would be a great addition to the curriculum when students are studying folktales. They could compare Ti-Jean to Jack,(of beanstalk fame), or other Folktale characters.

The story could easily be used to inspire a writing prompt. Jan Andrews suggests that there might be a little bit of Ti-Jean in all of us due to the difficulties we get into. Students could write about what difficulties they have gotten themselves into, why they got into them, and how they solved the problems.

*Other books of adapted folktales by Jan Andrews:
Andrews, Jan. Stories at the Door. ISBN-13: 9781770499058
Andrews, Jan. Rude Stories. ISBN-13: 9780887769214
  

 

 

Review: KOALA LOU by Mem Fox

 

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Fox, Mem. 1989. Koala Lou.  Ill. by Pamela Loftis. Orlando: Harcourt Brace. ISBN 0152000763

2. PLOT SUMMARY                       

The main character of this book by Mem Fox, Koala Lou, feels very special and loved by her mother. She often hears the phrase “Koala Lou, I DO love you”. But circumstances change when Koala Lou’s younger brothers and sisters arrive, and her mother doesn’t have as much time to spend with Koala Lou as she is caught up in caring for her younger brothers and sisters. It has been a long time since Koala Lou has heard those special words. She decides that she must do something to earn back her mother’s love and attention, so Koala Lou enters the Bush Olympics. She is sure that by winning the Bush Olympics; she can win back her mother’s love. Cheered on by her mother, Koala Lou practices her tree climbing, running and weight lifting in preparation for the upcoming Olympics. Will she win and earn back her mother’s love and attention?

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

I greatly enjoyed reading this touching book. Mem Fox portrayed the culture of Australia through the personification of one of its most famous animals. While it is difficult to show cultural accuracy in the depiction of animals who are wearing clothing, as in this picture book, the types of animals native to Australia are accurately shown and easily identifiable, as is the gum tree which Koala Lou has to climb. Koala Lou shows very human-like emotions, and any child who has felt left out when younger siblings arrive will be able to relate to it. Pamela Lofts illustrated the book with colored pencil drawings which accurately show the Australian outback. I thought that her drawings did an excellent job of capturing the expressions on the character’s faces and imparting imparting the human emotions described in the text.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE REVIEW- “The koala heroine enters the Bush Olympics and hopes to win the gum tree-climbing event so that her mother-overwhelmed by the birth of many, many koala babes-will tell her eldest daughter ‘Koala Lou, I DO love you.’ My favorite illustration shows fluffy Lou racing in red sneakers and pumping weights.”

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY- “Fox's two new books join Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge as perfect examples of why the Australian writer has become one of today's top authors of children's books.” …”Lofts's colored-pencil drawings portray the Australian flora and fauna beautifully, including a few of the more exotic species.”

Texas Reading Club, 2005

5. CONNECTIONS

*I read Koala Lou with one of my third grade students, and she absolutely loved it, and agreed that even when your mom gets very busy and distracted, she still loves you.

*Other books by Mem Fox:      

Fox, Mem. Whoever You Are.  ISBN-13: 9780152060305  
Fox, Mem. Time for Bed. ISBN-13: 9780152881832
Fox, Mem. Possum Magic. ISBN-13: 9780152632243