African American Literature

 

A. Bibliography

Pinkney, A., & Pinkney, B. (2007). ELLA FITZGERALD: THE TALE OF A VOCAL VIRTUOSA. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-0786805686

 

B.  Plot Summary

Ella Fitzgerald began her life as a singer on the stage of the Apollo Theater when she was just seventeen years old. Her rich voice and vocal innovations brought her fame and a remarkable career that spanned half a century and won her generations of fans around the world. Acclaimed author Andrea Davis Pinkney has told Ella's inspiring story in the voice of Scat Cat Monroe, a feline fan whose imagined narrative sings with the infectious rhythms of scat. Two-time Caldecott Honor winner Brian Pinkney's dramatic perspectives and fantastical images offer a jazzy improvisation all their own.

 

 

C.  Critical Analysis

Purple is used as a signature color throughout the book. The cover of the book depicts Ella Fitzgerald in a beautiful purple dress along with a purple background. The doll is also depicted in a purple dress as well. The use of narrator Scat Cat Monroe as a device to engage children is successful especially due to his use of language. The rhymes and rhythms the authors adopt to tell the story echo the snazziness of the music at the time. The characters’ clothing is appropriate for the time period. The features on the characters, which are African American with the exception of the cat, are all appropriate as well. The book goes through stages of Ella’s life and musical career. The Pinkney's biography on Ella Fitzgerald is a delightful read for young children who want to learn more about the talented jazz artist.

 

D. Review Excerpts

Publishers Weekly: The talented husband-and-wife team behind Duke Ellington turns to jazz biography once again, this time showcasing the First Lady of Song. Narrated by Scat Cat Monroe, a feline in a zoot suit, the book spins four "tracks" on Fitzgerald's life, from her childhood in Yonkers performing on street corners, to her discovery at a 1934 talent contest at the legendary Apollo Theatre to her move into the "ping-pong rhythms" of bebop. Whether swinging at the Savoy "to a house packed tighter than the A train" or breaking the racial barrier at many clubs ("Ella's popularity showed them that a true star has no color—it just shines"), the singer's career is expertly framed to fit a picture book format. The prose, while occasionally labored, swings to a syncopated beat and piles on the synesthesia ("Ella rolled out a tune sweet enough to bake"; "Her voice was quick-fried rhythm, with a brassy satin twist"). Brian Pinkney turns out some of his best work yet. Rendered in a pleasingly high-contrast palette of pastels, the scratchboard illustrations are invested with magical realism, complete with dancers flying off the pages and topsy-turvy musicians. A particularly memorable spread about Ella's hit "How High the Moon" launches her into space on a trumpet with Dizzy Gillespie. A "skippity-hop-doo-dee-bop" picture book. Ages 5-9.

 

A Mighty Girl: Acclaimed author Andrea Davis Pinkney has told Ella's inspiring story in the voice of Scat Cat Monroe, a feline fan whose imagined narrative sings with the infectious rhythms of scat. Two-time Caldecott Honor winner Brian Pinkney's dramatic perspectives and fantastical images offer a jazzy improvisation all their own.

 

E. Connections

You might like these books about African American Jazz Artists:

Pinkney, Andrea. DUKE ELLINGTON: THE PIANO PRINCE AND HIS ORCHESTRA. ISBN: 978-0786814206

Raschka,Chris. CHARLIE PARKER PLAYED BE BOP. ISBN: 978-0531070956

 

Andrews, Troy. TROMBONE SHORTY. ISBN:978-1419714658

 

 

 

A. Bibliography

Woodson, Jacqueline. BROWN GIRL DREAMING. New York, Nancy Paulsen Books, 2014. ISBN 978-0399252518

 

B.  Plot Summary

In this free verse memoir, Jacqueline Woodson relates her childhood experiences as a young African American girl growing up in the 1960s. Jacqueline was born in Ohio, the youngest child of three, in 1963, during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Jacqueline and her family are African-American. Her father, Jack, is from Ohio, and her Mama, Mary Ann, is from South Carolina. Prior to Jacqueline’s birth and the birth of her sister Odella, Mama lost her brother, Odell.

 

C.  Critical Analysis 

Brown Girl Dreaming is a beautifully written memoir of a young African American girl growing up in the 1960s in both the North and the South. Because this is an honest free verse novel, the characters are authentic and not stereotyped and reflect distinct cultural experiences with distinct realities during the Civil Rights Movement.. Since the personal narrative is rich in cultural details, there are several cultural markers that are consistent with the historical time period and African American culture such as accounts and references of marches, sit-in protests, Freedom Riders, President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Ruby Bridges, and civil rights. Moreover, the short vignettes of sitting in the back of the bus due to a “Coloreds to the Back” sign and the burning of a high school because of the marches add to the authenticity of the story as well as accurately depict African American history.

The theme is about family memories, it invites readers to reflect on their own childhood memories as well as on the similarities and differences between their families and Jacqueline’s family. This first person memoir also celebrates diversity in the accounts where Jacqueline interacts with the Hispanic culture and the Jehovah’s Witnesses faith. As for the illustrations in this book, the two family trees and black and white photographs of herself and her relatives from both sides of her family are accurate portrayals of African American culture in regards to physical characteristics. Through these illustrations, readers are able to easily follow along with the author as she shares personal details about her life and her family.

 

 D. Review Excerpts

Kirkus Reviews: “Woodson cherishes her memories and shares them with a graceful lyricism; her lovingly wrought vignettes of country and city streets will linger long after the page is turned.”

The Horn Book: “A memoir-in-verse so immediate that readers will feel they are experiencing the author’s childhood right along with her.”

Publishers Weekly: “The writer’s passion for stories and storytelling permeates the memoir.”

 

 E. Connections

Check out other books by Jacqueline Woodson:

ANOTHER BROOKLYN: A NOVEL. ISBN 978-0062359988

HUSH. ISBN 978-0142415511

LOCOMOTION. ISBN 978-0142415528

 

A. Bibliography

Bryan, Ashley. BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD. New York, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2003. ISBN 978-0689847318

 

B.  Plot Summary

Long ago, Blackbird was voted the most beautiful bird in the forest. The other birds, who were colored red, yellow, blue, and green, were so envious that they begged Blackbird to paint their feathers with a touch of black so they could be beautiful too. Although Blackbird warns them that true beauty comes from within, the other birds persist and soon each is given a ring of black around their neck or a dot of black on their wings markings that detail birds to this very day. Coretta Scott King Award-winner Ashley Bryan's adaptation of a tale from the Ila-speaking people of Zambia resonates both with rhythm and the tale's universal meanings -- appreciating one's heritage and discovering the beauty within. His cut-paper artwork is a joy.

 

C.  Critical Analysis 

The story is a Zambian tale, and the setting is a lake surrounded by trees in Africa and the characters are birds of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Only two birds are named which are Ringdove and Blackbird. Ringdove is the bird who calls all the birds from all over to meet for a festival and is the first to plead Blackbird for a bit of his blackening. Blackbird is the only black bird of all the birds in the gathering and is admired for his unique blackness. All the other birds with distinct characteristics and attributes interact with Blackbird by singing him praises and asking also for some of his blackening. Although the story is not rich in cultural details, it does include two cultural markers. In the story, the blackless birds dance the Beak and Wing Dance, the Show Claws Dance, the Sun-Up Dance, and the Sun-Down Dance. Since the bird dances are illustrated with the birds circling around Blackbird, it is a cultural marker of African culture because this form of dance is at times seen in some traditional African dances. Another cultural marker in the story is the use of rhymes and sound effects that produce rhythm, which usually accompany African dances.

The theme is a celebration of diversity, uniqueness, and individual beauty, the story invites readers to reflect in-depth and value their own inner beauty and differentness. The illustrations in this book correlate well with the theme of the story because they are colorfully appealing with bright and bold colors. The cutouts of the birds are all the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, and black, which once again stresses the message that different is beautiful. The illustrations are also accurate portrayals of African culture because the environment is depicted with cutouts of trees and a lake and the dances are pictured with the birds dancing around in a circle like traditional African dances.

D. Review Excerpts

School Library Journal: “This unusual and little-known pourquoi tale may supplement larger collections and serves as a thoughtful and entertaining addition to units on self-esteem.”

Publishers Weekly: “Bryan’s lilting and magical language is infectious.”

Booklist: “Ready-made for participative storytelling.”

 

E. Connections

Check out these other books by Ashley Bryan:

CAN’T SCARE ME! ISBN 978-1442476578

THE NIGHT HAS EARS: AFRICAN PROVERBS. ISBN 978-0689824272

WHO BUILT THE STABLE? A NATIVITY POEM. ISBN 978-1442409347

 

A. Bibliography

Williams-Garcia, R. (2011). ONE CRAZY SUMMER. Quill Tree Books.

ISBN 978-0060760885

 

 

B.  Plot Summary

In the summer of 1968, after traveling from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to spend a month with the mother they barely know, eleven-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters arrive to a cold welcome as they discover that their mother, a dedicated poet and printer, is resentful of the intrusion of their visit and wants them to attend a nearby Black Panther summer camp.

 

C.  Critical Analysis 

One Crazy Summer is told from the first-person point of view of Delphine who is the oldest of the three sisters. She is dependable and takes care of her sisters taking on the motherly role for the girls. This book is about family, hope, and love. The girls stick together and are there for each other.  Even when met with adversity, the girls hold their heads high and act right.  They are rejected by their mother, but they hope to know her somehow. 

Williams-Garcia’s style articulately illustrates a child’s perspective growing up during a time where there is racial tension.  This book has an authenticity that would parallel some of the issues we are having today.  In the Acknowledgements, Williams-Garcia wrote that she “read books, articles, and interviews that cover this period.  I specifically could not have felt the climate of the times from the Black Panther accounts and perspective without David Hilliard’s The Blank Panther Intercommunal News Service.”

I really enjoyed this book because it was a story about children coping with change.  If anyone has ever had a tumultuous relationship with their mother, the book will grab their heart and twist a little.

 

 

D. Review Excerpts

Kirkus Review: Each girl has a distinct response to her motherless state, and Williams-Garcia provides details that make each characterization crystal clear. The depiction of the time is well done, and while the girls are caught up in the difficulties of adults, their resilience is celebrated and energetically told with writing that snaps off the page.

 

School Library Journal: “With memorable characters (all three girls have engaging, strong voices) and a powerful story, this is a book well worth reading and rereading.”

 

 

E. Connections

Readers who enjoyed this book may also enjoy:

 

McKissack, P. & Pinkney, J. GOIN’ SOMEPLACE SPECIAL.  ISBN 978-0689818851

 

Hoffman, M. AMAZING GRACE. ISBN 978-0803710405

 

Crews, D. BIGMAMA’S.  ISBN 978-0688158422

 

Multicultural/International Literature

A. Bibliography 

Tak, Bibi Dumon.  2013. SOLDIER BEAR. Ill. by Philip Hopman. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Book for Young Readers. ISBN 9780802854360.

 

B.  Plot Summary

Set during the tumultuous backdrop of World War II, Soldier Bear is the true story of Voytek -- the bear cub rescued and raised by Polish soldiers.  The orphaned bear became not only their mascot, charming everyone and inspiring his fellow soldiers through their fight for freedom, but a symbol of peace for everyone who met him.

 

C.  Critical Analysis  

Dutch author Bibi Dumon Tak tells the true story of an Iranian brown bear destined to become a famous war hero.  In her book Soldier Bear, Tak weaves a mesmerizing tale of the famous five-hundred-pound bear Wojtek, who served as “Private” for the Polish army during World War II.  Wojtek -- named “Voytek” (the phonetic spelling of his name) in Soldier Bear -- not only served as a beloved companion to the Polish soldiers who found him, but went so far as fulfilling “duties,” such as carrying ammunition boxes weighing over one hundred pounds.

 Although some soldiers who “found” Voytek are fictional, most details in the book Soldier Bear remain accurate: after being adopted by the Polish soldiers, this famous bear traveled with them from Iran to Egypt, and then Italy.  Although Voytek received his ration of food, Voytek especially loved drinking water, beer, and even smoked and ate cigarettes during his time of service.  Whenever his presence was questioned, the other soldiers often argued that Voytek was, pardon the pun, a bear necessity; he was, after all, one of their only sources of emotional support and, often, entertainment.  Voytek was, inasmuch as Polish values were concerned, simply “family” to the soldiers who needed him just as much as he needed them.   

Managing to win most people over eventually, Voytek even became the inspiration for his 22nd Company’s trademark, which depicted him carefully carrying ammunition boxes.

 Despite the overall lightheartedness of Soldier Bear, it also contains some dark moments that inevitably show its young readers how war is undeniably violent, and that loss is inevitable.  For example, one of the fictional characters, Stanislav, admonishes his friend and fellow soldier Lolek: “If you’d been five minutes earlier, the soldiers might be alive now but if you’d been just one minute earlier, bits of you would be hanging in the trees, just like those other two soldiers, and they’d have been trying to work out which bits belonged to which soldier.”  Furthermore, Soldier Bear does not spare young readers from learning about the deaths of Voytek’s frenemy monkey Kaska and her baby -- something that the author presents as a fact that is tragic but must be accepted.  When World War II came to an end and everyone was being sent home, Voytek was eventually given to the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland -- a heart wrenching moment sure to bring tears to readers’ eyes. 

War, love, laughter, loss -- all these can be found in Bibi Dumon Tak’s Soldier Bear.  It is the story of a bear whose name meant “happy warrior,” and whose loyalty and friendship meant so much to the Polish soldiers he helped during World War II.     

 

D. Review Excerpts 

Kirkus: “Funny, fresh and heartwarming, it doesn't ignore the horrors of war but concentrates on the joy of having an animal friend, albeit a difficult one.”

 

School Library Journal: “Kids are sure to fall in love with this bear while being gently introduced to war and being touched by the message of peace.”

 

E. Connections

More books about Wojtek:

 

Ascherson, Neal. WOJTEK THE BEAR: POLISH WAR HERO. ISBN 978-1843410652

 

Cutchin, James A. ONCE A HERO: THE STORY OF PRIVATE WOJTEK BEAR WWII SOLDIER. ISBN 978-1478762898

 

Orr, Aileen. WOJTEK THE BEAR: POLISH WAR HERO. ISBN 978-1841588452

 

Robertson, Jenny. WOJTEK: WAR HERO BEAR. ISBN 978-1780272276

 

 

 

 

A.  Bibliography  

Fox, M., & Horacek, J. (2017). GOOD NIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT. Lindfield, N.S.W.: Scholastic Australia. ISBN 978-0545533706

B. Plot Summary 

In this adorable tale we follow Skinny Doug the babysitter as he tells Bonnie and Ben endless nursery rhymes!  These have been passed down and around for many decades if not centuries. After each nursery rhyme they enjoy it so much they ask to hear it again, but Skinny Doug just tells them a new rhyme until finally it is time for bed!

 

C.  Critical Analysis 

Aside from the authors being from Australia, there aren’t many cultural markers that are seen. The characters appear to be caucasian with brown and blonde hair.  Nose and fingertips are unrealistically pointy and skin tone seems unmatched. 

The representation of the characters seems modern in their clothes, interactions and home. In the nursery rhyme Pat-O-Cake the characters are dressed in a tall hat, long coat, dress with bow, hats and a tie.  This seemed appropriate for the era of the given nursery rhyme.  

The bedding of the children’s bed appears to be a patchwork pattern.  There are also traditional toys illustrated such as bicycles and figurines, but with a closer look it seems that the small figures are characters from the nursery rhymes Skinny Doug tells the children.  

D. Review Excerpts 

Good Reads: Another perfect picture book from the creators of the best selling classic "Where is the Green Sheep?"  Bonnie and Ben have a favorite babysitter whose much loved nursery rhymes ensure a wonderful, whimsical world before bedtime

Publishers Weekly: This is one of those sneaky stories that starts out slight and unsurprising but is over far too soon. Fox combines the power of repetition with a lead character—a cool babysitter named Skinny Doug—who acts as a Scheherazade of nursery rhymes. His two charges immediately imagine themselves as players or spectators in the familiar rhymes: sitting in a yellow roadster (with Skinny Doug in the driver’s seat), they watch the little piggy run down a hill saying, “Wee, wee, wee, wee,” all the way home. Both enthralled and sensing a way to delay bedtime, the kids demand repeat performances (“ ‘We love it! We love it!’ said Bonnie and Ben./ ‘How does it go? Will you say it again?’ ”), only to discover that Skinny Doug always has a new tale up his striped sleeve. Horacek, Fox’s collaborator on the Where Is the Green Sheep?, has again found a text ideal for her naïf watercolor and ink cartoons. The pictures’ visual directness and goofy playfulness capture the spirit of the timeless rhymes and the enviable relationship between the lanky storyteller and his adoring audience. Ages 3–5. 

E. Connections  

Look for these other books about bedtime or sleeping for young readers:

Brown, Margaret. GOOD NIGHT MOON. ISBN 978-0694003617

Wood, Audrey. THE NAPPING HOUSE. ISBN 978-0152567088

Fox, Mem. TIME FOR BED. ISBN 978-0152010669

 

A.  Bibliography  

Lam, T. (2020). THE PAPER BOAT: A REFUGEE STORY. Owlkids. ISBN 978-1771473637

B. Plot Summary 

Lam draws parallel stories in this wordless book. A Vietnamese family follows a colony of ants through tall grass, past terrifying soldiers, to their rescue boat. The ants, too, survive their perilous paper boat journey. The muted palette depicts a journey of courage and survival.

 

C.  Critical Analysis 

This powerful picture book is a wordless recreation via metaphor of the author's family's journey from Vietnam to Canada at the end of the Vietnam War. Only two at the time, Thao Lam remembers little of the events themselves, but has taken her mother's story and crafted it beautifully for this children's book.

Working in her preferred mixed-media/collage art style, she tells the tale of a Vietnamese family forced to flee their homeland by boat, merging seamlessly with the tale of ants also embarking on a perilous journey using a paper boat her mother folded to keep her quiet and entertained while hiding from military brutality. The ants have a hard time out on the open water, beset by heat, birds, hunger and storms. So it is almost magical when the ants make their way to safety, just as Ms Lam's family does, finally settling in beautiful urban Canada.

D. Review Excerpts 

Booklist: "Each panel is so detailed that readers will want to linger over them all, admiring Lam’s craft even while being immersed in emotions. A tender tribute to the author’s parents and to all refugees who survive and thrive despite enormous odds."

Publishers Weekly: "Crisply cut paper represents intricate domestic scenes and just as skillfully conveys suspense... in this story of bravery and resilience."

E. Connections  

Look for these other children’s books and refugees and immigration:

Sanna, Francesca. THE JOURNEY. ISBN 798-1909263994

Meddour, Wendy. LUBNA AND PEBBLE. ISBN 978-0525554165

Van, Muon Thi. WISHES. ISBN 978-1338305890

Bibliography:

Matti, Truus. MISTER ORANGE. Brooklyn, Enchanted Lion Books, 2012. ISBN 

978-1592701230

 

Plot Summary:

Translated from Dutch, this book is about a young delivery boy who takes over a grocery delivery route after his eldest brother, Albie, leaves to fight in World War II. Through letters from Albie and his interactions with artist Mister Orange, Linus Muller learns the devastating effects war has on families and victims as well as the importance of having an optimistic view of the future.

 

Critical Analysis: 

Mister Orange is a coming-of-age story in which the protagonist quickly grows up and learns the brutal realities of war. All of the characters in Mister Orange are culturally accurate in regards to physical characteristics, socio-economic statuses, and emotional attributes and authentically represent the people in New York City during World War II. Linus, the main character in the story, is relatable and accurately represents a teenage middle child who reads comic books and looks up to his oldest brother. Having two older brothers and three younger siblings, Linus wears hand-me-downs, which is common in large low-income families, and helps his family deliver groceries after his oldest brother, Albie, takes off to war. Linus, like most young teenagers, experiences a range of emotions throughout the story: pride that his oldest brother is off at war, anger that Albie never mentioned the outcome of the prank in his letter to the family, fear that his brother may not come home alive, sadness over the loss of a dear friend, and jubilation when his family receives news from the Department of War. Even though this book is historical fiction, one of the characters, Mister Orange, is based on an actual person, artist Piet Mondrain. His portrayal in this book is also authentic and reflects the distinct cultural experiences, realities, and worldviews that World War II immigrants experienced at that time. Mister Orange’s interactions with Linus are also culturally authentic in that Mister Orange obviously has an accent, his real name is difficult to pronounce, and he teaches Linus that both he and Albie are fighting for the future and the freedom to think and express oneself, which the Nazis fear.

In regards to the setting, the story is set in New York City in the year 1943. Some cultural markers that are consistent with this historical time period are grocery delivery services using carts, letter writing, blue and gold stars displayed on windows, Nazi references, Action Comics and Superman references, Snow White references, Boogie-Woogie music, and war references such as trenches, trench foot, and grenades. Although this story celebrates diversity by providing insight to a refugee’s worldview, it also brings to light the common bonds in humanity, which are to protect the freedom to think, and invites readers to reflect on their freedoms. Even though there are only four illustrations in the entire book, the black and white illustrations of Linus and Mister Orange add to the story. The last illustration of Mister Orange’s residence and his diamond-shaped painting is as captivating as Linus describes in the story. Furthermore, this concluding illustration befittingly introduces an informative section detailing the life of the real Mister Orange, Piet Mondrain, and his incomplete work, Victory Boogie-Woogie.

 

Review Excerpts:

Publishers Weekly:  “It’s a quiet novel, but a deeply touching one.”

 

Kirkus Reviews: “A poignant story of art, growth, and loss.”

 

 

Connections:

Related books with young characters during World War II:

 

Frank, Anne. THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL. ISBN 978-0553296983

 

Bradley, Kimberly. THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE. ISBN 978-0142402511

 

Lowry, Lois. NUMBER THE STARS. ISBN 978-0547577098