Utilizing a variety of literary forms, writing techniques, and illustrative styles, these recently published books convey information in a powerful and personal manner, making history accessible—and enticing—to young readers.
Charles R. Smith Jr. acknowledges his “love-hate relationship with Black History Month” in an author’s note, then brings the topic to life by showcasing the “variety of accomplishments black people have achieved” through the centuries and right up to the present time. 28 Days: Moments in Black History that Changed the World (Roaring Brook/Neal Porter, Jan. 2015; Gr 2-6) presents a month’s worth of astutely chosen milestones, beginning in 1770 with courageous Crispus Attucks standing firm against gun-hefting British soldiers at the Boston Massacre (Day 1) and culminating with Barack Obama’s inauguration as the first black president in 2009 (Day 28). Single- and double-page entries include a clear expository statement, eloquently interpretive text, and historical background notes. Smith utilizes poetry, free verse, and eulogy to telegraph the essence of each individual and his or her triumph.
An acrostic vivifies Matthew Henson (“Maripahluk, [an Inuit name meaning] ‘the kind one’/Adventurous/Tenacious/Teacher/Historic/Educated/World Traveler”). A tribute to Rosa Parks encapsulates her quiet valor with a resounding refrain (with “tired feet and courage in her eyes…Rosa sat, so others could rise”). Athletes Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe are introduced with a poem incorporating the back-and-forth cadence and layout of a tennis match. Readers meet such fascinating individuals as Robert Smalls, a slave who commandeered a Confederate ship and delivered it to Union hands in 1862; pioneering heart surgeon Daniel Hale Williams; World War I Harlem Hellfighter and hero, Henry Johnson; and politician Shirley Chisholm.
Shimmering with bright hues and vibrant brush-stroked textures, Shane W. Evans’s* stunning paintings add to each account’s mood and meaning. Both intriguing and inspiring, this unique book’s content and artful presentation provide opportunity for contemplation and conversation, further research, and creative writing opportunities—during February and throughout the year.
Written by Hester Bass and illustrated by E. B. Lewis, Seeds of Freedom: The Peaceful Integration of Huntsville, Alabama (Candlewick, Jan. 2015; Gr 2-5) tells a perhaps lesser-known story about the civil rights movement. The book opens in 1962 with an unforgettable representation of segregation: a neatly dressed African American girl, seated on a wooden chair in a store, holding a paper with traced outlines of her feet because she would not be allowed to try on shoes.
Though Huntsville, nicknamed “Rocket City” for its close connection to the U.S. space program, had “escaped the violence that…divided some cities into black and white,” there were still “invisible lines not to be crossed.” The well-written text describes how change was brought about through months of peaceable protests (including the release of helium balloons bearing rolled-up notes supporting freedom, another indelible image), economic pressure, and behind-the-scenes meetings, efforts that slowly blossomed into the peaceful integration of businesses, and, eventually, schools.
Making good use of the title metaphor, Bass does an excellent job of acknowledging difficulties—and harrowing events in other parts of the South—and work still to be done, while also emphasizing the “nonviolence and dignity, and cooperation and courage” of a community that carefully nurtured freedom, from seeds gently sown to “sweet fruit.” Lewis’s lovely, realistic paintings depict time and place, underscoring both the steely determination and soaring hopefulness of ordinary people dedicated to initiating change. Both informative and rousing, this book is a solid choice for studies of the civil rights movement and more generalized discussion of peaceful protest and the effectiveness of grass-roots efforts.
Ann Turner’s 
My Name is Truth (Harper, Jan. 2015; Gr 2-5) introduces the life of human rights advocate Sojourner Truth, born into slavery in New York in 1797 as Isabella Baumfree. The heart-stirring narrative is written in a forthright yet lyrical first-person voice, a literary device that melds with James Ransome’s poignantly expressive paintings to depict significant moments with intimacy, immediacy, and emotional impact.
Isabella describes 11 siblings “sold off one by one/like horses for work;” the harsh beatings, backbreaking labor, and degrading treatment endured under slavery; her escape when a master broke his promise to free her (“I owned myself now”); finding a “welcome” with a sympathetic family (“had anyone ever said that word/to me before?”). Her courage and steadfast faith shine through as she builds a life, finds her calling as a preacher, and chooses her own name and destiny (“now I am Sojourner because I travel far and long/to tell the news of God’s truth”). Speaking with a voice “like/a blanket on a fretful baby/then at times…like Gabriel’s trumpet,” Truth’s fiery words changed minds and hearts. Turner supports this excellent read aloud with an appended account of her subject’s life that fills in background details.
Basing her fictionalized text on historical research, Nikki Grimes imagines a meeting between two extraordinary women. In Chasing Freedom: The Life Journeys of Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony (Scholastic/Orchard, Jan. 2015; Gr 3-6), the famed Underground Railroad conductor and well-known suffragette sit down before a 1904 women’s rights convention to share tea and stories from their pasts.
Alternating between the two subjects, illustrated spreads highlight specific accomplishments and important historical events, reveal the unexpected ways the lives of these activists intersected (for example, both had a close connection to militant abolitionist John Brown and the happenings at Harpers Ferry), and draw out commonalities. The fictional dialogue resonates with the two women’s deep religious convictions, unwavering dedication to their calling, and willingness to risk personal safety for the good of others.
Michele Wood’s outstanding full-page folk-style paintings, inspired by American patchwork quilt designs and African motif patterns, are visually majestic and emotionally poignant. Words and images harmonize to bring these women, their work, and their times to life. Clearly written endnotes provide additional factual background about the featured individuals and happenings, providing a springboard for further study.
Students can focus on one of the individuals, events, historical movements, or themes introduced in one or more of these books and identify what makes this particular moment in history important, quoting from the texts and/or describing the featured artwork to support their points. They can utilize a scene from one of the books as a starting point for further research and take a deeper look at particular incidents or life accomplishments by consulting additional resources. Students can analyze the various creative approaches the authors and illustrators of these books employ, discuss literary devices, and examine the different techniques used to convey information; taking inspiration from these outstanding titles, they can also research and create their own works of history-based fictionalized stories, self-portraits, poems, and art.
*Coming up net month in Curriculum Connections: A tribute to Shane Evans.