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MR. WILLIAMS

Name: MR. WILLIAMS
Author: Karen Barbour
ISBN: 0-8050-6773-6

by Karen Barbour & illustrated by Karen Barbour ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2005

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Mr. J.W. Williams grew up in rural Louisiana during the Depression. He tells of his large family surviving by hard work, faith and love. Each family member contributed, including the horses and mules. But there is also storytelling of traditional folktales and mouthwatering home cooking using the foods produced on the farm. There is a sense of the rhythm of the seasons filled with sights, sounds, smell and touch. As an African-American of his time, he could not escape the fear that accompanied the ugliness of bigotry, but he does not allow it to sour the loving remembrances. In an author’s note, Balfour explains that she has attempted to faithfully adhere to the stories she heard directly from Mr. Williams. The wonderful folk art–style gouache-and-ink illustrations are filled with lovely color and perfectly match the simplicity of the text. What a delightful way to show young readers “how it was back then.” (Picture book/nonfiction. 6-10)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005

ISBN: 0-8050-6773-6

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Henry Holt

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2005

Categories:

CHILDREN'S BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR

- BOOK REVIEW
AFRICAN AMERICAN POETRY
edited by Arnold Rampersad ; Marcellus Blount ; illustrated by Karen Barbour

- BOOK REVIEW
YOU WERE LOVED BEFORE YOU WERE BORN
by Eve Bunting & illustrated by Karen Barbour

- BOOK REVIEW
LET'S TALK ABOUT RACE
by Julius Lester & illustrated by Karen Barbour

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THE AMAZING AGE OF JOHN ROY LYNCH

by Chris Barton ; illustrated by Don Tate ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2015

A picture book worth reading about a historical figure worth remembering.

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An honestly told biography of an important politician whose name every American should know.

Published while the United States has its first African-American president, this story of John Roy Lynch, the first African-American speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives, lays bare the long and arduous path black Americans have walked to obtain equality. The title’s first three words—“The Amazing Age”—emphasize how many more freedoms African-Americans had during Reconstruction than for decades afterward. Barton and Tate do not shy away from honest depictions of slavery, floggings, the Ku Klux Klan, Jim Crow laws, or the various means of intimidation that whites employed to prevent blacks from voting and living lives equal to those of whites. Like President Barack Obama, Lynch was of biracial descent; born to an enslaved mother and an Irish father, he did not know hard labor until his slave mistress asked him a question that he answered honestly. Freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, Lynch had a long and varied career that points to his resilience and perseverance. Tate’s bright watercolor illustrations often belie the harshness of what takes place within them; though this sometimes creates a visual conflict, it may also make the book more palatable for young readers unaware of the violence African-Americans have suffered than fully graphic images would. A historical note, timeline, author’s and illustrator’s notes, bibliography and map are appended.

A picture book worth reading about a historical figure worth remembering. (Picture book biography. 7-10)

Pub Date: April 1, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-8028-5379-0

Page Count: 50

Publisher: Eerdmans

Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2015

Categories:

CHILDREN'S BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR

- BOOK REVIEW
GLITTER EVERYWHERE!
by Chris Barton ; illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat

- BOOK REVIEW
MOVING FORWARD
by Chris Barton ; illustrated by Steffi Walthall

- BOOK REVIEW
SISTER, BROTHER, FAMILY
by Willie Nelson & Bobbie Nelson with Chris Barton ; illustrated by Kyung Eun Han

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REACHING FOR THE MOON

by Buzz Aldrin & illustrated by Wendell Minor ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2005

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In first-person voice, Aldrin highlights points from his childhood that led to his dream of being an astronaut and making the historic moon landing. Coincidental details like his mother’s maiden name, “Moon,” and his favorite movie hero, the “Lone Ranger,” suggest clues to his destiny. After West Point, he joined the Air Force because “he wanted to fly more than anything.” Minor’s usual beautiful and realistic illustrations effectively convey spatial perspectives and movement, adding depth to the narrative. However, the cover design and type layout are confusing, indicative of a biography instead of an autobiography—a brief intro could have clarified it. Aldrin’s message in an author’s note avows, “If you set your sights high, you may accomplish more than you ever dreamed.” Pair this with Don Brown’s One Giant Step for a child’s-eye view on space exploration. (Flight/space exploration chronology) (Picture book/biography. 6-9)