Schroeder, A., & Pinkney, J. (2000). Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman. Puffin Books. ISBN: 9780140561968
Summary: This story is of a young girl named Harriet Tubman, who grew up to help hundreds of slaves escape to freedom using the Underground Railroad. In this story, you will learn the life of Harriet when she was growing up. She was usually feisty and headstrong, it usually ended her with trouble. Harriet would talk to her dolls, help animals, and dreamed of running away. Learn more about Harriet Tubman’s Childhood.
Analysis: The colored-pencil, watercolor paintings are simply gorgeous. Rich, vivid palette with excellent use of light and shadow. The settings are simply breathtaking and realistic, the watercolors give a surreal, dreamlike quality to the beautiful atmosphere of Minty’s environment. The illustrations are stunning, expressive and quite powerful, showcasing the life of Minty before she became the famous Harriet Tubman. Her rebellious, strong spirit brings the reader in. Her dream of escaping, to run away shows the beginnings of Harriet Tubman in her childhood. The things she learned to be able to escape are skills she develops to help hundreds of slaves successfully escape their masters. An inspirational tale to never give up and a great tale of a brave girl who makes her dream a reality.
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (1996): “...An author's note tells of the realization of her dream and her work with the Underground Railroad. Pinkney's illustrations are outstanding, even when compared to his other fine work. His paintings, done in pencil, colored-pencils, and watercolor, use light and shadow to great effect, and his depictions of Minty are particularly powerful and expressive.”
*1997 winner
Other books by Alan Schroeder:
Schroeder, A., & O’Brien, J. (2015). Abe Lincoln: His Wit and Wisdom from A-Z. Holiday House. ISBN: 9780823424207
Schroeder, A., O’Brien, J. (2018). Washington, D.C.: Our Nation’s Capital from A-Z. Holiday House. ISBN: 9780823436781
Schroeder, A., & Bereal, J. (2009). In Her Hands: The Story of Sculptor Augusta Savage. Lee & Low Books, Incorporated. ISBN: 9781600609893
Igus, T., & Wood, M. (2005). I See the Rhythm. Children’s Book Press. ISBN: 9780892392124
Summary: In this picture book that opens up and invites children to dance and swing into the rhythm of Harlem. It describes a time of historic events, music styles, and how music was born into the communities. It captures the style of music and it paid tribute to those that contributed to the Harlem community.
Analysis: The colors of the picture book are lively and energizing to look at while encompassing a rhythmic feel to the storyline. It feels as if the pictures were going to come to life! Stylistic with bold, vibrant colors and the use of the space was brilliant. The spreads were impactful and had a child hidden within the scene that can be interpreted by the reader. The expressions, postures reflect the different styles and aspects of African-American music. It shows the joy and expressiveness of music, the rhythm that the reader can see in the illustrations. The text fonts sometimes change color and size or style, which makes it pop with lots of energy to match the exciting color scheme and liveliness of the music that the figures are enjoying. Overall, a great book to educate readers on African-American music.
KIRKUS REVIEWS (2010): “...The color choices, postures of the figures, as well as the expressions on their faces, reflect various aspects of African-American music; the pictures broadcast joy, innovation, and exuberance in the face of systematic oppression. A child hidden in each scene adds a nice piece of personality for readers to interpret. Stylish and lively design pulls it all together into an absorbing, attractive package.”
*1999 Winner
Other books by Toyomi Igus:
Igus, T., & Wood, M. (2019). Clap Your Hands: A Celebration of Gospel. Zonderkidz. ISBN: 9780310769477
Igus, T. (2018). Book of Black Heroes: Great Woman in the Struggle. Just Us Books, Incorporated. ISBN: 9780940975262
Igus, T., & Wells, D. (2006). Two Mrs. Gibsons. Lee & Low Books, Incorporated. ISBN: 9780892391707
Collier, B. (2003). Uptown. Henry Holt & Company. ISBN: 9780805073997
Summary: This story is told as seen through the eyes of a young boy. In this story, you can see colors, sounds, flavors and different cultures coming together to create a community like no other. Read on every aspect of Harlem.
KIRKUS REVIEWS (2010): “...Indeed, their bricks are photos of chocolate bars. Walter Dean Myers's poem Harlem (1997), illustrated in similar style by Christopher Myers, conveys a deeper sense of the African American community's history, but this makes an engagingly energetic once-over.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (2010): "Collier's watercolor and collage artwork effectively blends a boy's idealism with the telling details of the city streets in this picture-book tour of Harlem," said PW.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (2010): “...Narrator Ricky Smith does a commendable job of capturing the tone of the book. Subtle sound effects such as an occasional car honking and the Boys and Girls Choir of Harlem singing enhance the telling. A stunning and affectionate celebration of Harlem.”
*2001 Winner
Other books by Bryan Collier:
Collier, B. (2021). We Shall Overcome. Scholastic Digital. ISBN: 9781338808247
Collier, B. (2017). It’s Shoe Time!. Hyperion Books. ISBN: 9781484726471
Summary: In this inspirational tale, you will read about a woman who has the determination to fulfill her dream. Bessie Coleman was only 11 when she decided that she would be the first African-American female pilot. Her faith and perseverance helped her overcome all her obstacles.
Analysis: The warm, sepia tones soften up the wonderful illustrations that have half page spreads dedicated to the wonderful artwork. Stunning and full of details, photo-like in quality that gives a great sense of actually being there with Bessie as she grows up. Each page has a person involved in Bessie’s life in their own little cameo, sharing information about what she is like gives a great amount of perspective and points of view of Bessie. It adds a lot of dimension to Bessie as a person since there is a statement from people who knew her and the reader learns about how she appears in the eyes of each person. A really great concept of the outside looking in compared to a first-person autobiography. Each comment about Bessie as she gets older develops along with her and shows progression towards her dream. The text matches the sepia coloring and has a photo of a person as if they are being “interviewed” that brings more realism to the historical context of the story. The plot is definitely unique with the inclusion of the observations of Bessie from her early years to womanhood, each voice is unique and adds depth to Bessie’s character. Overall, an incredible contribution to a young woman who wasn’t going to let racism, gender discrimination or anyone stop her from achieving her dream to become the first African-American female pilot. Truly an inspirational woman.
HORN BOOK (2003): “...Although the assemblage of mourners is slightly contrived (would a field hand Coleman once worked alongside and a woman who once hired her to do laundry really be present at her wake?), their parts in Bessie's story are integral to her early life. Grimes separates fact from fiction through introductory comments on the historical period and the setting, concluding observations about Coleman, and source notes. Like Bessie, this tribute to her life soars.”
KIRKUS REVIEWS (2002): “...Each double spread has the person's monologue with his or her name or role running down the edge of the page with a cameo drawing like a photo at the top; opposite is a full-page illustration in Lewis's typical style that strikingly adds dimension and context to the times and the woman.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (2007): “Born in poverty, Bessie Coleman overcame many obstacles to become a pilot, and only her untimely death kept her from opening the first flight school for African Americans.”
*2003 Winner
Other books by Nikki Grimes:
Grimes, N., & Christie, C. (2010). Almost Zero. Puffin Books. ISBN: 9780399251771
Grimes, N. (2018). Between the Lines. Nancy Paulsen Books. ISBN: 9780399246883
Weatherford, C.B., & Nelson, K. (2006). Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom. Hyperion Books. ISBN: 9780786851751
Summary: A slave named Harriet Tubman hears words from God that inspire her to leave her family behind and escape. You will read about her journey heading north to freedom. This journey takes Tubman back and forth nineteen times without being caught. Her faith and courage is a testament that faith and human spirit can accomplish it all.
Analysis: Harriet’s expressions are wonderfully captured and simply enchanting. The incredible details, realistic qualities and her larger-than-life presence truly matches an incredibly brave woman. The oil and watercolor paintings are stunning with vibrant colors and wonderfully done backgrounds really set the story of how Harriet becomes the Moses of her people. The use of perspective in some of the pages is astounding, truly inviting the reader into Harriet’s escape to the North. The vivid illustrations truly add so much historical context to the text, the drawings go along with the plot and don’t take away from the text. The text features different colored words that flow or change font size to coincide with the voice of God that Harriet hears as it guides her to freedom. The text is written in a lyrical, almost poetic style that describes how her faith and spirit keep her going to earn her freedom, just as expressive as the beautifully done illustrations. An incredible book to introduce to children for a biography of Harriet Tubman, a courageous woman who puts her trust in God and shows how human faith can accomplish anything a person sets their mind to.
KIRKUS REVIEWS (2007): “...At night, the moon lights Harriet's care-wracked face below a deep teal, star-pricked sky. By day, she disappears: A distant safe farm appears under a wan blue sky; a wagon transporting the hidden Harriet silhouettes against a golden sunset. Unique perspective and cropping reveal Tubman's heroism. Reaching Philadelphia, she's haloed in sunlight. Embracing her role as conductor, Harriet's face, eyes on the journey ahead, fairly bursts the picture plane against a blazing blue sky. Transcendent.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (2007): “...Nelson's (He's Got the Whole World in His Hands) finely rendered oil and watercolor paintings, many set in the rural inky darkness of night, give his protagonist a vibrant, larger-than-life presence, befitting a woman who became known as the Moses of her people. His rugged backdrops and intense portraits convey all the emotion of Tubman's monumental mission. A foreword introduces the concept of slavery for children and an author's note includes a brief biography of Tubman.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (2007): “...Whether filled with apprehension, determination, or serenity, Tubman's beautifully furrowed face is expressive and entrancing. A foreword briefly explains the practice of slavery and an appended note outlines Tubman's life. The words and pictures create a potent sense of the harsh life of slavery, the fearsome escape, and one woman's unwavering belief in God.”
*2007 winner
Other books by Caroline B. Weatherford:
Weatherford, C.B., & Ladwig, T. (2010). Beatitudes: From Slavery to Civil Rights.
Eerdmans Books. ISBN: 9780802853523
Weatherford, C.B., & Cooper, F. (2008). Becoming Billie Holiday. ISBN: 9781590785072
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