Board Books for Black History Month [Review]
Since the month of February is Black History Month in America, take a look at these board books that introduce two of the most well-known figures from the U.S. Civil Rights movement in the mid-20th century!
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| © 2016 Worthy Publishing Group |
Author: Johnny Ray Moore
Illustrator: Amy Wummer
Published: 2016 by Worthy Publishing Group
About the Book:
This little book tells the story of Martin Luther King Jr. and how he excelled in school, became a minister; and worked to end segregation in America. Parents can use this book to introduce Dr. King to the very young child.
About the Author:
Johnny Ray Moore is a poet and children's author. His other books include Meet Martin Luther King Jr. and But Still, We Dream (a novel in verse). Johnny is a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature and a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife and three daughters.
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| © 2016 Worthy Publishing Group |
Author: Patricia A. Pingry
Illustrator: Steven Walker
Published: 2016 by Worthy Publishing Group
About the Book:
This little book introduces Rosa Parks, who is called the "mother of the civil rights movement." Here is the story of her courageous decision to remain on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, an action that resulted in arrest and, ultimately, a victory for civil rights.
About the Author:
Patricia A. Pingry has written dozens of children's books and edited hundreds more. Among her best-known titles are the previous edition of this book and its companion, The Story of Christmas. Together thee two titles have sold more than 2 million copies.
The Artist Librarian Review:
The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. and The Story of Rosa Parks are succinct introductions to these well-known figures for young children and toddlers. Each double page spread is limited to 1-3 brief sentences. The text covers basic information such as their birth, parents, early life, racial segregation, and their contribution to the Civil Rights movement. If I had any criticism it would be that perhaps it is too simple to fully capture the complexities, issues, and challenges African-Americans faced in the mid-20th century, but it is appropriate for the target age group for board books (i.e. birth to five years). I doubt that a child that young would be able to comprehend such things completely, so these books are good starting-off points, with more information and concepts to be introduced when the child is older (e.g. Dr. King's story ends at his "I Have a Dream" speech, but assassination probably isn't something a parent or teacher wants to explain to a toddler).
The illustrations also lend well to the stories. Amy Wummer's loose watercolor illustrations are outlined with graphite which detail Martin Luther King Jr.'s transition from a young, round faced boy to a leader of the Civil Rights movement. Meanwhile, Steven Walker's canvas paintings have a softness reminiscent of pastel work, which lovingly illustrate Rosa Parks' life from a young child to a married working woman.
Finally, though the size of these books were a bit smaller than I expected (about 4"x7.5"), they are a nice size for a young child to read and are comparable to other board books. A nice addition for board book fans and collections.
[Disclosure: I received complimentary copies of these books from the publisher for review purposes.]
Do you have any favorite children's book recommendations for Black History Month?
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