By Holly E. NewtonTo help children understand events and stories demonstrating the rich culture, slavery, and prejudice involved in African-American history, here is some of the best and newest literature on the subject.
My Name is Sally Little Song by Brenda Woods is an historical fiction based on little-known facts concerning runaway slaves back in the late 1700s. Most slaves, if given the chance, ran north toward the upper part of the country, or as far as Canada. But after reading this historical account, I learned that some slaves who lived around the Carolinas headed south to the swamplands of Florida. There they found refuge with the Seminoles (Native Americans.)
This wonderful story, told through 11-year-old Sally May Harrison's eyes, is about how her family lives on a plantation, gathering cotton from sunup to sundown every day except Sunday. When her parents learn that Sally May is about to be sold to another owner, they decide to run. The story is so well-written that children ages 8 and up will surely get a better understanding of life as a slave, back when our country was new.
Here's another piece of little-known history. York's Adventures with Lewis and Clark: An African-American's Part in the Great Expedition by Rhoda Blumberg tells about how William Clark's slave was the only African-American part of the expedition. He was tall, strong, good-looking, smart, very dependable, and a hard worker. The men grew to admire this outstanding young man, and he helped save them from some serious situations. There are photos, drawings, and maps throughout this excellent book that blend York's life and the events of Lewis and Clark. It is perfect for ages 10 through adult.Award-winner Patricia C. McKissack has a series of chapter books that are easy to read and grasp significant periods in America when African-Americans struggled. Scraps of Time: Away West, 1879 deals with a young boy striving to get out West where he hopes to live in freedom. Scraps of Time: Abby Takes a Stand, 1960 takes on the civil rights movement with strong brevity so that children ages 8 through 12 can understand.
And for even younger readers to begin to understand this movement, Time for Kids Biographies has a series about influential people. Rosa Parks: Civil Rights Pioneer is geared for children who are emerging into chapter books, ages 7 to 9. The book is small, but the message is huge. This book will surely help children better understand the rights of individuals.
Now for three outstanding books that beg to be read out loud. Two of the large-sized books are by Patricia C. McKissack. Porch Lies: Tales of Slicksters, Tricksters, and other Wily Characters is full of fun and funny stories that are truly great to read out loud. There are also full spread illustrations by Andre Carrilho.
The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural won the Newbery Honor several years ago. I first thought this book might be too scary for youngsters. But they are stories that have twists and surprises at the end and just the right amount of fright that make for great entertaining in large groups. The wonderful illustrations by Brian Pinkney are found throughout.
The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit, retold by Julius Lester and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, is rich with the wonderful dialect of the South. If your children haven't been exposed to the humorous romps of Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox, they are missing out!
The remaining books are picture books with a strong message. Dear Mr. Rosenwald, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and brightly illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, is based on a true story about how a poor community of African-Americans came together, along with Julius Rosenwald, the president of Sears, Roebuck, to build their school. The story is succinctly told in verse by 10-year-old Ovella.
Jesse Owens: Fastest Man Alive, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Eric Velasquez, is the true account of how a sharecropper's son and grandson of a slave became the first African-American to win Olympic gold medals, break records, and show Hitler that color, race, and pedigree makes no difference in the race of life.Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story From the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine is amazing! When a young slave is sick of the abuse and misuse of his African-American family, he decides to escape to freedom by mailing himself to Pennsylvania. The incredible paintings by award-winner Kadir Nelson are as amazing and breathtaking as the story!
Peggony-Po: A Whale of a Tale, written by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pinkney, is a salty yarn reminiscent of Pinocchio, but with the main characters African-American. Peggony-Po is carved out of wood and wishes to seek revenge on the "largest and meanest whale in the ocean." The story is great fun to read, and the back of the book notes that whaling was the only industry in America where an African-American could be treated with equality.And last, but not least, Across the Alley, written by Richard Michelson and illustrated by E. B. Lewis, is a powerful story about a Jewish boy and an African-American boy who live across from each other but because of segregation can't go to school together. So, with windows open, they throw baseballs across the alley. The story ends with two cultures meeting and blending friendships that were once divided—but no longer!To buy these books, go to Holly's article in Meridian Magazine.
© 2007 Meridian Magazine. All rights reserved.