The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural: (Newbery Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Author Award, ALA Notable Children's Boo k) (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner)

Amazon.com

These 10 spine-tinglers range from straight-up ghost stories to eerie narratives. The tales in this winner of the 1993 Coretta Scott King Award depict racism, haunting and vengeance in a manner that can be read out loud around a campfire or savored privately, offering middle readers (fourth through eighth graders) thoughtful exposure to important, though frightening, historical themes. One tale, set in the segregated South of the 1940s, tells of a black man's ghost avenging his murder by a white klansman. McKissack's prose is smooth and understated, and its sense of foreboding is powerfully enhanced by Brian Pinkney's black-and-white scratch board illustrations.

Book Description

Illus. in black-and-white. With an extraordinary gift for suspense, McKissack brings us ten original spine-tingling tales inspired by African-American history and the mystery of that eerie half-hour before nightfall--the dark thirty.

Customer Reviews:

A really really great book.......2006-12-01

I love this book so much its really cool. I like the book because its a book thats I can understand. The book is scary in some ways and sad in someways too. Its about a girl who's parents get divorced. Then she starts working in a chicken coop when she gets older. When she starts working there she starts hearing a noise and, she hears the noise every week and she gets more terrified. Now I cant tell you the rest so you go read the rest of the book.

Excellent for either middle school readers or parental read-alouds.......2006-11-06

Excellent for either middle school readers or parental read-alouds with the family is a chilling gathering of supernatural folk stories in THE DARK-THIRTY: SOUTHERN TALES OF THE SUPERNATURAL. Black and white drawings by Brian Pinkney compliments a collection which offers tales inspired by African American history from slavery to 20th century time frames.

Sure to Withstand the Test of Time!.......2006-04-19

I first read this collection of short stories when I was in 4th grade. Now I'm a college student that's disecting this piece of literature for an M.D. dissertation!

This book is a terrific example of the power of words. The stories manage to be simple enough for a child to understand their deeper meanings, but also manage to cut to the core of any adult reader. The illustrations by Brian Pinkney do an excellent job of complementing the unique writing style of McKissack who does a stellar job at personalizing these supernatural tales.

Every once and a while, we all need to sit down with a cleverly written masterpiece. I strongly urge all of you out there to buy this book and absorb the knowledge it has within it.

the dark thirty .......2005-12-19

This book is about all types of things.IONLY GAVE THIS BOOK THREE STARS BECUASE IT HAD CREEPY THINGS IN IT.BUT IF YOU ARE ITERESTED IN HISTORY AND FOLK TALES PUT TOGATHER THEN YOU WOULD LIKE THIS BOOK. IN THE BEGINING OF THESE BOOKS ARE HISTORIC INFOMATION ABOUT THE 1900 HUNDREDS.THIS BOOK HAS SAD THINGS IN IT AND CREEPY.

THE BEST BOOK.......2005-12-19

The bark thirty is a good book I love the book. I give the book 5 stars because it is the best book I ever read. It is about 7 story's and it is old history story's of real people. I hope you like it to.

Jazz (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)

Average customer rating:

Lovely & Lively--a great teaching tool
A clarinet sassing its way through a Sunday-night sermon

Jazz (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)
Walter Dean Myers
Manufacturer: Holiday House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Gone Wild (Caldecott Honor Book)

ASIN: 0823415457

Book Description

From bebop to New Orleans, from ragtime to boogie, and every style in between, this collection of Walter Dean Myers’s energetic and engaging poems, accompanied by Christopher Myers’s bright and exhilarating paintings, celebrates different styles of the American art form, jazz. "Jazz" takes readers on a musical journey from jazz’s beginnings to the present day. Time line, glossary.

Customer Reviews:

Lovely & Lively--a great teaching tool.......2007-03-30

This book is a true find! I'm a teaching poet in the schools and this handsome book with its truly musical poetry helped me when teaching jazz--and jazz poetry-to elementary school kids. The sophisticated poems (some of which address separate elements of jazz including the different instruments) read rhythmically in a way that delights when read aloud! Highly recommended!

A clarinet sassing its way through a Sunday-night sermon.......2006-09-01

Okay. A bit of a confession here. Back in 2003 I wrote a review of "Blues Journey" in which I said many nice things including, "This is the book that took my breath away", which is fairly expansive even for me. Three years have now passed, and what father/son team Walter and Christopher Myers did for the blues they are doing now for jazz. Looking back on "Blues Journey", I realize that at the time this was not a book I was particularly good at understanding. I had the wherewithal to know that it was beautiful, but if you asked me the number of times I've thought about "Blues Journey" in this three year interim, the answer would be hardly at all. "Jazz" is different. I know it sounds unlikely, but I think this book has something its predecessor lacked. "Jazz" has a purpose, defined by its dedication ("To the children of New Orleans") and brought to searing sizzling life by both its author and its artist. No one can tell you after perusing this book that "Jazz" isn't hot as all get out.

An introduction. For two green pages we are given some facts before the fancy. What is jazz? Where are its roots? How did it grow, prosper, and come to flourish? Where is it today? That's a lot to slip into two little pages, but before you know it you've learned a fact or two and on you go to the poems. They echo what we've just discovered about the music itself. You're looking at a man, bare to the waist, beating out a rhythm on the drum just in front of him. Now it's a black silhouette of a piano player poised against a shifting deepening red background, lit from below. We're in New Orleans following a jazz funeral, then looking down on a charismatic keyboardist with a zoot suit of fine scarlet lines. Beautiful women croon to men curved over, above, and around their instruments. It's jazz, baby. With a glossary in the back and a timeline for kicks.

Right off the bat I'd like to thank Mr. Myers senior for explaining something to me in his lengthy two-page Introduction that I didn't even know I didn't know. The birth of jazz: how did it happen? The answer can be found in a small selection at the bottom of the first page. "Since so many black musicians were still not formally trained in reading musical notation, there had to be some way of knowing what the other players were going to do so that they could perform together". So they used common chord structures that would allow them to "stray from the melody" and come back to it howsoever they were inclined. You would think that your average twenty-eight-year-old American would have picked up this kind of information somewhere amongst their various meanderings. Not so much. To Mr. Walter then, a debt of gratitude.

Music related books for youth, be they picture books, novels, or comic books, have the awesomely difficult task of conveying an absent sense through words alone. Sometimes a picture might help, but it is the rhythm of the words that keep the toes tapping and throat humming. When this book began I wasn't quite in the right mind set. I read the poems the same way you might read something by Robert Frost or Emily Dickinson. But even my Neanderthal brain began to get into the swing of things when I encountered the poem, "Oh, Miss Kitty". It starts with a kind of blues refrain about the sweet Miss Kitty who's anything but small. Then the poem starts to get going. Without realizing it, your brain has suddenly started to add additional voices aside from the person "singing" the song. You read, "she's in love with the piano man" when suddenly words of a different color and font jump out of nowhere to say, "tickle them ivories, boy!". Who said that? To my mind, it's the jazz orchestra itself. And without even realizing it I'm hearing different voices, tones, rhythms, beats, and all with just the gentle prodding of Walter's words and some creative font use. Combine that with, what Joann Sfar in "Klezmer" called the, "silent melody of drawing", and you're as close as you'll ever get to fooling your ears through your eyes.

I also happen to think that Christopher Myers is getting better and better as the years go by. A quick glance at the publication page and we see that the illustrations were done, "by painting black ink on acetate and placing it over acrylic". I have no idea what that means. Fortunately, I don't need to. Christopher is pushing himself here, bringing to mind scenes of remarkable beauty. A bassist stands in the harsh white light, all white features against black shadows. I like Myers better when he presents his musicians rather than his dancers. For some reason, the swing dancers in "Jazz" seem to have less verve and pep than even the most soulful of saxophonists. Sometimes Christopher messes with you too. The poem "Sesssion II" about a slide trombone is coupled against the image of a man playing the drums. "Session I", begins with, "Bass thumping like death gone happy", but instead there's a horn player standing front and center. Still, jazz is an ensemble creation. You don't blame an instrument if it appears where you thought another might crop up. Some leniency is required.

Not too long ago I was with a group of librarians discussing "Jazz" at their leisure. It was the opinion of some that in spite of its picture book packaging, this is a teen book at its core. No violence or sexual references inspired such an assumption. It's just that "Jazz" has a kind of sophistication to it that children may not be accustomed to. I hear now the mighty roar of the masses saying something to the equivalent of, "Well GET them accustomed to it!". Why place this book in an area where teens will pooh-pooh it for its young packaging while the audience that might get something out of it finds it out of reach and inaccessible? And I agree with you there. Still, I would suggest that for those libraries savvy enough (savvy may equal rich in this case) to risk it, try putting "Jazz" in both areas. It won't speak to all the kids or all the teens, but sometimes "some" is just enough.

We all have our favorite jazz related picture books. Most were created by Chris Raschka ("Charlie Parker Played Be Bop", "Mysterious Thelonious", "John Coltrane's Giant Steps", amongst others) with others filtering in here and there. My favorite is "Jazz". No children's book, to my mind, has acknowledged the New Orleans hurricane tragedy yet. No children's book has had the chance. And while I am certain that "Jazz" was in production before the hurricane ever hit, Myers and son have tipped their hat to the city's brilliant musical past with just the right book. You'd be a fool to let yourself pass this one up.

The Road to Paris (Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books)

Average customer rating:

Okay
It was good, but it could have been better
Overcoming the stigma of being a biracial girl in a white town.
The Road to Paris
The long and winding road

The Road to Paris (Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books)
Nikki Grimes
Manufacturer: Putnam Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0399245375

Book Description

Paris has just moved in with the Lincoln family, and isn't thrilled to be in yet another foster home. She has a tough time trusting people, and she misses her brother, who's been sent to a boys' home. Over time, the Lincolns grow on Paris. But no matter how hard she tries to fit in, she can't ignore the feeling that she never will, especially in a town that's mostly white while she is half black. It isn't long before Paris has a big decision to make about where she truly belongs.

Nikki Grimes has created a portrait of a young girl who, in the midst of being shuffled back and forth between homes and realizing things about other people and the world around her, gradually embarks on the road to discovering herself.

Customer Reviews:

Okay.......2007-08-20

I found this one predictable and somewhat shallow. Also, a bit unrealistic, in the space of a couple of months, the alcoholic mother turns her life around, meets a man, marries and sets up a stable home with plenty of room for the two children she abandoned. The issues of racial prejudice and religion are handled completely without subtleness.

It was good, but it could have been better.......2007-03-26

I was slightly disappointed. After reading the great reviews I picked up this book. It got off to a very suspenseful start and then kind of stagnated. I felt like the author was going somewhere with it but then didn't. Paris' background is interesting. She is described as African-American, but with blonde hair; that in and of itself is unusual. The author, however, only touches on it briefly in her general description of Paris. I was left wondering if this young girl felt ostracized by both races and if she felt any kind of identity crisis. I also thought it a bit odd that she rarely thought about her Caucasian father who walked out on her family. I was also left wondering about her older half-brother and protector, Malcolm and if he ever had any awkward feelings about his mixed race sister. Since he was older and would have had more memories of Paris' father I wondered how he felt and if he harbored more resentment for their mother than Paris.

I also got the impression that the author tried to omit any references that might date this story; however, I found it dated by the absence of technology. Unfortunately, the foster care system is just as flawed today as it was then. I'm considering giving this book to a student of mine who is dealing with some similar issues.

Overcoming the stigma of being a biracial girl in a white town........2007-02-04

Nikki Grimes' THE ROAD TO PARIS tells of Paris, who has been moved from one mean foster family to another, never fitting. She expects no betters from her latest family the Lincolns - but they are different - perhaps even different enough to help her overcome the stigma of being a biracial girl in a white town.

The Road to Paris.......2006-10-24

Eight-year-old Paris Richmond barely remembers the white father who gave her blond hair; he left when she was four. The story goes that he hated owning up to a child with dark skin. Paris' ten-year-old brother, Malcolm, hadn't fared much better. His dad left when Malcolm was just a baby. But being father-less didn't mean that they ever accepted their mom's latest husband as any kind of substitute, so when he walks out, Paris and Malcolm are actually glad. Their mom, on the other hand, slips into depression and turns to alcohol for comfort. Things get so bad that their mom often abandons them to spend hours at the bar. That's when Child Services steps in, and Paris and Malcolm are shipped out to a foster home.

But life is hardly pleasant at the Boone house, and Paris knows it will never be home. After getting locked in the closet for days on end, punished for crimes the Boone daughter did, and then beaten black and blue, Malcolm and Paris know they have to get out of there. They run to the only family they have left, their grandmother.

Unfortunately, their grandmother is hardly glad to see them. According to her, she's raised her kids and now she's done. She contacts Child Services and new foster homes are considered---but this time they separate Paris and Malcolm.

Malcolm is Paris' strength, hope, protection and only source of love, and it tears her to pieces when they send him to a boys' home. Paris ends up in the suburbs, with a family by the name of Lincoln. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln have two boys of their own, plus a teenage girl fostering with them. She enters the old but comfortable house with trepidation; she holds no hope for her present or her future. But within a few weeks, she knows she's not with people like her mom or the Boones'. She has her own small, but cozy bedroom, and no one beats her or locks her in the closet. The Lincolns never coddle her, yet they make her feel welcome, accepted and safe with their acts of kindness. And when she goes to their church for the first time, she discovers amazing joy in the music, and happily joins the choir. She even uncovers faith in God that helps her through the anger she feels for her mom.

Even though she constantly misses her brother, she begins to feel she can call this place a home. She even made a friend at school. But then she gets a phone call from her mom---and her mom wants her back.

Ms. Nikki Grimes is an award-winning author, and her talent shows in her newest story, THE ROAD TO PARIS. Her life-like characters speak from the heart, and her expressive and colorful descriptions are perfectly presented through eight-year-old eyes. The story line moves smoothly and engagingly. Ms. Grimes is sure to see more writing awards in her future.

--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of Finding My Light and The Black Pond
--- Courtesy of www.kidsreads.com

The long and winding road.......2006-10-09

Here's a fun way to determine whether or not a book will make for a good discussion in either a classroom or a bookclub. First, read the book. Two possible choices now lay before you. If you finish the title and find yourself 100% perfectly clear on why every character performed as they did, that is not a good book for discussion. If, however, you do as I did with "The Road To Paris" and after finishing the book suddenly find yourself thinking and rethinking the book's ending in a vain attempt to determine whether it was happy or sad, then THAT, my friend, THAT book has incredible promise. All the great classic books, from "The Giver" to "Charlotte's Web" have that quality. Now "The Road To Paris" has it too, and I would not hesitate to thwap it soundly on the head with the CLASSIC stick. This is a good book. A good book that manages to talk about a serious, even depressing subject without dragging the reader down into the realms of misery. No small feat, to say the least.

"Ask Paris if a phone call can be deadly. She'll tell you. She learned the truth of it last night." For years, Paris and her older brother Malcolm have only had one another to count on. Though they've been taken from foster home to foster home, Paris can still remember and be hurt by the memory of their alcoholic mother. So when Malcolm and Paris escape the latest abusive home to stay with their grandmother, she's unprepared for the horror of being separated from Malcolm after all these years. Paris has been sent to live with the Lincolns, a kind family who've dealt with foster kids before. It takes a great deal of love and understanding on their part to break through Paris's wary shell so as to convince her that she is finally safe. But when a phone call comes from her real mother telling her she can come live with her again, Paris must decide what "home" really is.

Reviewers seldom comment on the length of a children's book, unless they happen to be dealing with a 700+ page fantasy tome (or, as the book industry calls them, "the norm"). I, however, would like to point out that "The Road To Paris" stands at a handsome 153 pages. From this length, we may understand that Nikki Grimes does not stand for overwrought flowery speech. Her language is remarkably beautiful, as much in what she doesn't say as in what she does. When, for example, you read right at the beginning that, "In the world of Paris Richmond, normal was rare, and rich", those words weigh heavy on the page. Descriptions abound and they aren't there to merely fill up space but to give the narrative itself a three-dimensional quality. There is a moment where Paris sees for the first time in her life her neighborhood buried until a thick covering of white powdery snow. "Paris thought it was a shame to disturb all that perfection, but she planted her bots into the snow, one step after another, creating a trail of fat footsteps even the man in the moon could see..."

Ms. Grimes also has the remarkable ability to preach without sounding preachy, if that makes any sense at all. In this book, Paris finds God. Early into her foster care stay with the Lincolns, her new foster brother David tells her that he combats fear by keeping "God in my pocket." Later, as Paris grows emotionally strong, she holds fast to her belief that God is with her, even in the most unpleasant of circumstances. Some authors wouldn't be able to write any of this without making the book into some kind of didactic sermon. Instead, Grimes balances out the good with the bad, allowing the reader the chance to decide for themselves whether or not Paris's faith with help or hurt her in the future.

Until I read this book the only Nikki Grimes title I'd ever read was her Coretta Scott King Award-winning, "Bronx Masquerade". Honestly, I didn't like "Bronx Masquerade" very much. I thought the characters used too much contemporary slang that would grow outdated very quickly, thereby making an otherwise well-written book a relic before its time. "The Road To Paris", in contrast, could not be more different. First of all, it's difficult to say when exactly this book takes place. It could be in the past or it could be next week. It features a foster care system that performs in a believable fashion, sometimes making a situation better (for Paris) and sometimes making a situation worse (for Malcolm). The language doesn't have a drop of soon-to-be-outdated slang anywhere, and nobody goes about yammering into the latest cell phone or iProduct. I hate to drag out that overused word "timeless" to describe "The Road To Paris" but the book leaves me with very little choice in the matter. How else am I going to describe a story that feels this real and, I know, will continue to do so for years to come?

Name five children's chapter books written by and about African-Americans in the year 2006. Go on. Name `em. If you can't do it, and I know that you can't, then we have a problem. Nikki Grimes is an amazing writer but publishers would do very well to know that she can't do it alone and she needs some company. If "The Road To Paris" doesn't find itself included on every single Best Children's Books of the Year list for 2006 then you'll know something is terribly awry. One of the smartest titles to come out this year, to say nothing of its bravery. I won't tell you the ending of this book, for obvious reasons, but a co-worker of mine recently commented that adults and children will have very different reactions to Paris's final decision. Consider this a great title for discussion and contemplation. A book worth remembering for a long time to come.

Standing Against the Wind (Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent. Author (Awards))

Average customer rating:

Standing Against the Wind (Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent. Author (Awards))
Traci L. Jones
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Hattie Big Sky

ASIN: 0374371741
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Book Description

Patrice Williams was happy living in Georgia with her grandmother, who called her “cocoa grandbaby.” Then her mother lured her to Chicago and ended up in jail. Now Patrice lives with her Auntie Mae, and her new nickname is “Puffy” – thanks to her giant poof of hair. But Patrice’s hair isn’t the only reason she sticks out: she cares about her grades and strives for the best. That’s why Monty Freeman, another eighth grader who lives in the building, asks Patrice to tutor his little brother. Even though Monty’s friends make Patrice uneasy, Monty himself is friendly, confident, and surprisingly smart. When he becomes her guardian angel, Patrice begins to think something stronger than friendship might be growing between them. Still, nothing will stop her from applying for a scholarship at prestigious Dogwood Academy – her ticket out of the project and a school populated by gangs and drug runners.

In her debut novel, Traci L. Jones presents a girl with grit she never knew she had, and a boy so inspired by her that he begins to take pride in his own abilities.

My Rows and Piles of Coins (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)

Average customer rating:

An exceptional tale of selflessness
Beautiful Pictures and Storyline

My Rows and Piles of Coins (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)
Tololwa M. Mollel
Manufacturer: Clarion Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Elizabeti's Doll (Elizabeti Series)
Mama Elizabeti
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Once Upon a Dime: A Math Adventure

ASIN: 0395751861

Book Description

"I emptied my secret money box, arranged the coins in piles and the piles in rows . . ." The market is full of wonderful things, but Saruni is saving his precious coins for a red and blue bicycle. How happy he will be when he can help his mother carry heavy loads to market on his very own bicycle-and how disappointed he is to discover that he hasn't saved nearly enough! Determination and generosity are at the heart of this satisfying tale, set in Tanzania and illustrated with glowing watercolors that capture the warmth of Saruni's family and the excitement of market day.

Customer Reviews:

An exceptional tale of selflessness.......2007-09-27

The young boy in this story shows exceptional selflessness and a touching concern for his mother's well-being when his dream is to get a bicycle so that he can help her carry their load of goods to market. Truly a wonderful storyline.

The illustrations are superb; not only do they accurately depict village life, but they are simply beautiful in their own right, and convey the emotion of the text, for example, the look on the father's face as the boy falls off the bicycle.

The familial love in this story is extraordinary, without being the least bit saccharine. A gem.

Beautiful Pictures and Storyline.......2000-04-04

This book is so beautifully illustrated and written. The story line of saving money for a desired purchase (a red and blue bike), took me back to my own childhood. Readers can feel the child's disappointment over not having enough money. As a wonderful addition, the child wants to save for a bike in order to help his mother carry her heavy loads. This was a truly enjoyable read.

Her Stories (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner)

Average customer rating:

Pretty Good
Not good for young girls
A beautiful compilation of African American folklore!
A wonderful collection for any girl OR boy
second cousins

Her Stories (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner)
Virginia Hamilton
Manufacturer: Blue Sky Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales
Cousins
Many Thousand Gone: African Americans from Slavery to Freedom
The Girl Who Spun Gold
Bluish (sig)

ASIN: 0590473700

Amazon.com

Virginia Hamilton, who previously won a Newbery Medal and a MacArthur Foundation grant, gives us 17 pugnacious and heroic female characters in a collection of tales that demonstrates the breadth of African-American cultural tradition. The characters in Her Stories, which won the 1996 Coretta Scott King Award, are strong, competent, and sometimes bigger than life, like the "coal black and tree tall" Annie Christmas. Drawn from a variety of sources, the tales in Her Stories have been crafted to blend together smoothly while remaining true to their original tone. Text and art are laid against a buff background in a stylish, oversize format, with a heavy binding built to stand up to the repeated use that's sure to come.

Book Description

Cammy Coleman's second cousins are in town for the big Coleman reunion, and their sophisticated New York City ways and family secrets threaten to change Cammy's world forever.

Customer Reviews:

Pretty Good.......2007-03-16

I thought Second Cousins was a decent book. I feel that Virgina Hamilton's writing is a little confusing, ending sentences that seem to make no sense whatsoever and everything seems to be happening at once. However, I thought this was a good sequel to another very good book, Cousins.

In this book, Cammy and Elodie have just passed a year of "living" after Cammy's first cousin, Patty Ann, drowned from saving Elodie during a horrific accident involving something called The Bluety. When Cammy and Elodie go to visit Cammy's father's house, they find two girls. One named Fractal and the other named GiGi, who are some of the relatives that come to visit for the family reunion. Things are very up and down for these girls. Cammy is jealous of Elodie at first, because she and GiGi seem to be having a blast and Elodie keeps trying to act just like GiGi. Cammy begins to befriend Fractal, but Cammy realises that times with Fractal can be like a rollercoaster. Sometimes Fractal seems like a teacher, patiently filling Cammy's brain with information, especially on computers. What Cammy doesn't know is there is a lot more to Fractal than she had ever thought.

Out of five stars, I rated this as a four. Although it wasn't my favorite book, because I thought it was a little confusing at times, I thought it was pretty good.

P.S. Whoever did that review before, you're not reviewing the right book, unless you are just reviewing Virginia Hamilton in general. Talking about creatures, evil and good characters, has nothing to do with this book. I'd suggest reading this book.

Not good for young girls.......2006-03-15

After reading the reviews, I rushed and bought the book. Now I'm planning to sell my copy, two days later. The book's content was inappropriate for my girls (4 and 7)

In the supernatural section, the pictures of evil spirits "boo hags" and ghosts are very frightening to young children. Also the endings of some of the stories are too sad and unresolved.

Children like to see the the "good guy" win or overcome at the end of a fairy tale. In some of these stories however, the good characters are shot and killed and nothing happens to the killer.......it's just ends like that. My oldest daughter looked sad and confused when the "cinderella" type character in the story "Mary Belle and The Mermaid" dies at the end of the story to join her dead mother.

If you have younger children (3-10) and are looking for nice books about African American girls, with a nice moral and ending try Talking Eggs by Souci, Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by Steptoe or Flossie the Fox by McKissack instead.

For animal tales with morals try, The Lion Storyteller Book Of Animal Tales by Bob Hartman.

If your dead set on owning "Her Stories" by Hamilton, make sure you read it at the library first before purchasing.

A beautiful compilation of African American folklore!.......2004-04-11

Note: This review refers to the book "Her Stories" and NOT "Second Cousins," though for some reason reviews of both books appear on both product pages.

"Her Stories" is a delightful collection of nineteen stories from African American culture, retold by award-winning author Virginia Hamilton. The stories are divided into five categories: Her Animal Tales, Her Fairy Tales, Her Supernatural, Her Folkways and Legends, and Her True Tales. Each story focuses on a female, African American protagonist, and is about 3-4 pages in length. Hamilton's writing is vivid and colorful, yet remains simple enough that younger readers should have no trouble. The stories would also be great to read aloud. While Hamilton has translated the tales into contemporary language for easier understanding, she leaves a few conventions from Creole, Gullah, and other forms of speech that are best read aloud for full effect.

The book is also a great study in African American literary and oral tradition, and is suitable for adults as well as children. Each story is followed by commentary from the author, providing the history of the tale, how it reflects African American heritage, explanation of any unusual aspects of the story, and any additional points of interest. Some of the stories are based in history, and others are entirely ficitonal. Some bear likenesses to more familiar tales as well - "Catskinella" is an alternative form of the popular Cinderella story, and "Little Girl and Buh Rabby," comes from the tradition of Brer Rabbit stories.

"Her Stories" is also beautifully illustrated, bringing out the best in each tale. At the end of the book Hamilton has included some reflections on her own childhood, and how her mother influenced her decision to compile stories about strong African American women. This book is perfect for anyone, young or old and of any culture, interested in reading traditional folklore.

A wonderful collection for any girl OR boy.......2003-07-07

Here is another fantastic anthology from Virginia Hamilton, the award-winning author of "House of Dies Drear" and "The People Could Fly". This volume, also featuring the wonderful illustrations of Leo & Diane Dillon, is an eye-opener for those only familiar with European folktales.

Hamilton's book is divided into five sections: (1) Her Animal Tales, (2) Her Fairy Tales, (3) Her Supernatural, (4) Her Folkways and Legends, and (5) Her True Tales. Each section contains an average of four stories, accompanied by informative and entertaining background historical data.

Young readers will love the author's prose and the illustrators' beautiful paintings. Older readers and parents will gain a greater appreciation for a culture that has been too long ignored.

These stories are as valid and fanciful as any of their more familiar European counterparts.

The book ends with a list of valuable resources where one can find other examples of African-American folklore.

second cousins.......2002-05-29

I gave this book a five star because i thought it was a real good book it was about these two girls who meet their second cousins when they wher going to Cammy dads house cause Cammy dad said that she could come over any time so they left the siwmming pool to go over there when they got there Cammy showed her all the rooms in the house but saved the best for last when they got to that room Cammy said here's my room and opened the door and found two girls in the beds so Cammy asked what are you doing here but the two girls got smart.So Cammy asked them whats their names is they said GiGi and Fractal then one girl got up and start dancing around Cammy started to get mad so she said come on El and they left.When they got home their mom said your second cousins are coming over for dinner and Cammy knew who her mom was talking about after that they got real close to each other.Yes i would recommend this good book to people.

Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)

Average customer rating:

Terrific Book on a Tough Subject
The last thing to fly out of Pandora's box

Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)
Mary Williams
Manufacturer: Lee & Low Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1584302321

Book Description

A young boy unites with thousands of other orphaned boys to walk to safety in a refugee camp in another country, after war destroys their villages in southern Sudan. Based on true events.

Customer Reviews:

Terrific Book on a Tough Subject.......2006-08-04

I was very pleased to find this book. I have been the ESOL teacher of several Sudan refugees and this book clearly explains the trip the people have taken to escape. The kids can't always fully explain to me their experience but I can often see what affect their background has on their current lives in the United States. I liked that there was a picture book with easy to read yet indepth writing. I will definitely have my two girls from Sudan read this book and discuss the book and compare it to their lives. Sudan refugees tend to be better than some other refugee groups at making the effort to live in safe neighborhoods and looking for good schools. Resettlement groups often put refugees from Africa in some bad neighborhoods. Sudan refugees often get themselves out of those situations. Education is also very important to many of them and it is common to find young Sudan men starting Community College and then pursuing Bachelor's Degrees. It is very difficult because they have lack of prior education and many educators believe they can't "do it". ESOL education is often limited to educators who are ESOL or Bilingual teachers, Administrators, Regular Ed and Special Ed teachers have no training so they see only inability and lost time. Adult ESL classes are often poorly funded with no requirement for certification in ESOL. The young adult people who make it, do it against the odds and with many people around them telling them that they can't. I'm glad there is a picture book to share their experiences with others and for the Sudan refugees to see their story in print.

The last thing to fly out of Pandora's box.......2006-02-16

A very difficult book to review. Not because the book was difficult to read, mind you. "Brothers In Hope" may be many things, but its story is certainly a thoughtfully paced tale. I liked the book fine. The illustrations were not of a style that I've ever really taken to, but that doesn't mean they weren't good. The problem with reviewing children's books is that you have to constantly separate your own personal preferences from the titles you look at. I'm not a fan of Chris Raschka's style either, but there was no denying that his book "The Hello Goodbye Window" was lovely. No, the reason I found this book so hard to review was its subject matter. Picture books that talk about difficult times, whether historical or current, have a tough road to travel. With this tale at her fingertips, Mary Williams has done the best she could with a mighty difficult bit of subject matter.

Garang is only eight when his family's Sudanese village is destroyed while he tends the cattle in the field. Not knowing where to turn or even where to go, he meets boys just like himself traveling down the road. All of them have lost their villages, much in the same way that Garang did, while tending their family's animals. We watch as the boy adopts little five-year-old Chuti Bol as his special companion and the two travel with the group from refugee camp to refugee camp. They met Tom, a relief worker who fights for the boys' education and rights. Even after reaching the first refugee camp the boys still have to run back and forth across the Sudan border to stay alive. As Garang and the boys finally make a home for themselves in Kenya the years pass. Tom finally comes back and informs everyone that the United States will start taking the boys in as refugees. The story is done but it is far from over. In her Afterword, Williams does not sugarcoat the challenges the boys still face in America. I appreciated that she mentioned that "Several communities of Lost Boys do not benefit from the resources and emotional support of committed volunteers". Still, the story she draws from their trials is a hopeful one and one that needs to be told.

In the back of the book is a map of Africa that shows the path the boys took in the story. Mary Williams herself, we learn via bookflap, has worked for such organizations as the International Rescue Committee and UNESCO. For a first book, she has a good grasp of narrative. Williams draws gentle comparisons between moments in Garang's life, tying them together without difficulty. The fact that he knew how to herd cattle accounts for his ability to herd young boys a little later. Williams is a little vague on some of the details, of course. We must assume that Garang is not actually real and that he is just a representative she created to stand in for other boys. If this is not the case, it is not mentioned in the book. It's a little difficult to believe that the 35 boys in his group never succumb to illness, drowning, or starvation in any way, but I figure Williams knew that the story was so harsh that a little lightening here and there couldn't hurt.

As I mentioned before, the illustrations of R. Gregory Christie are not a style that I particularly take to. But that's just me. Though I found his picture of Tom when old downright scary, I appreciate that he's found a form of illustration that works for him and illustrates his books accordingly. I have to say that I much preferred his work on books like "Richard Wright and the Library Card". I kind of wish he'd used that kind of drawing for this book rather than his current form. Ah well.

There are few books I can think to compare "Brothers In Hope" to. If you should read this book to a kid and you find that they would like to know what life was like for the brothers when they got to America, the closest equivalent I can think of is "The Color of Home" by Mary Hoffman. Of course, the people in that book are Somalian, not Sudanese. But the Somalians, like many Lost Boys, have often moved to cold climate regions in America like the Dakotas or Minnesota. The comparison is not entirely without merit. Still, "Brothers In Hope" is a rare fish. You won't find many books like it out there. Deserving of its praise.

Fortune's Bones: The Manumission Requiem (Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books)

Average customer rating:

Seeking one's Fortune
Fortune's remains the Mattatuck Museum

Fortune's Bones: The Manumission Requiem (Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books)
Marilyn Nelson
Manufacturer: Hand Print
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1932425128

Book Description

There is a skeleton on display in the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, Connecticut. It has been in the town for over 200 years. Over time, the bones became the subject of stories and speculation in Waterbury. In 1996 a group of community-based volunteers, working in collaboration with the museum staff, discovered that the bones were those of a slave named Fortune who had been owned by a local doctor. After Fortune's death, the doctor dissected the body, rendered the bones, and assembled the skeleton. A great deal is still not known about Fortune, but it is known that he was baptized, was married, and had four children. He died at about the age of 60, sometime after 1797. Marilyn Nelson was commissioned by the Mattatuck Museum and received a grant from the Connecticut Commission on the Arts to write a poem in commemoration of Fortune's life. The Manumission Requiem is that poem. Detailed notes and archival materials provide contextual information to enhance the reader's appreciation of the poem.

Customer Reviews:

Seeking one's Fortune.......2005-07-10

There are as many ways of honoring the long forgotten as there are ways of mucking that honor up. I came to "Fortune's Bones" with just a bit of trepidation, I admit. Though I knew author Marilyn Nelson had created this book to honor a man long dead in the best way she knew how, I was still recovering from a similar, and foul, title called, "Journey To the Bottomless Pit" which also came out in 2004. In both books, a man who was a slave during his lifetime is honored with a children's book of fiction. In "Journey", the book was a simplistic version of a complicated man's life. I prayed that "Fortune's Bones" would not be the same. Those prayers were answered tenfold. Marilyn Nelson tells the story of Fortune in a manner respectful of his life, then accompanies this retelling with a requiem written in his honor. Though I would have enjoyed further factual information on the topic, this is a worthy addition to any poetry collection or non-fiction collection, for children, teens, or grown adults, anywhere.

There once was a man named Fortune. Born a slave in the 1700s, he and his wife and his children all belonged to a Dr. Preserved Porter. Later tests on Fortune's bones show that his life was not an easy one. His back was once broken and though he had a healthy skeleton, he died at the age of 60. When he did, Dr. Porter took Fortune's death as an opportunity to study human anatomy. He removed Fortune's skeleton, tapped the bones, and made himself a complete human skeleton. Every bone was carefully marked and studied by Porter and his ancestors. Years later, Fortune's name was lost and the skeleton was mislabeled "Larry" and given to the Matttatuck Museum. In the 1990s historians did research on it and found Fortune's true name once again. Now the only question that remains is what to do with Fortune's bones. Do we bury them and put him to rest at long last, or do we learn more from them about 1700s slaves and slavery? The question remains unanswered, but author Marilyn Nelson has done what she can. In this book she writes a requiem in Fortune's memory. Filled with free verse poetry, a Kyrie of the Bones, and a Sanctus at the end, "Fortune's Bones" is a text of respect.

One of the many things I loved about this book was the fact that as an author/poet, Nelson tells us why she wrote what she did. One poem is entitled, "Not My Bones", in which Fortune states clearly, "I am not my body", to anyone who cares to listen. This phrase comes from the Vietnamese Buddhist leader Thich Nhat Hahn, a fact that could well have gone uncredited by a less careful author. Each poem in this book is accompanied by factual information pertaining to Fortune's story, along with photographs, papers, tapestries, maps, and other important documents of the period. As a whole these poems speak beautifully together, forming a single Requiem. I especially liked "Dinah's Lament" in which Fortune's wife speaks of the cruel injustice of being forced to dust the bones that once would, "hold me when I cried; to dust where his soft lips were, and his chest what curved its warm against my back at night". Nelson, the accomplished voice behind her other great book, "Carver: A Life In Poems", is at her best here.

Admittedly, there were aspects of this book left unspoken that I (and I'm sure others) would have liked to have heard more about. The book is a Requiem and doesn't dwell on the fascinating process scientists took to discover Fortune again. There's a small series of three pictures on one page that shows three stages of facial reconstruction of Fortune, taken from his bones. That's something that would have made for a fascinating story in and of itself. Or how did the researchers and historians eventually discover who Fortune really was? Who did they talk to? What did they read? Sadly, such information will have to wait for another book. It's not answered here.

"Fortune's Bones", will obviously be snatched up by any child and/or teen assigned to read a book of poems since it's a mere 32 pages altogether. This is a great good thing. In spite of its scant length, this is a title that will teach a lot of information to a lot of kids in a wonderfully stirring way. The poems are mindful of the past and give the greatest of respect to a man of whom we know so little. A wonderful publication

Fortune's remains the Mattatuck Museum.......2004-12-04

Fortune's skeleton is not on display. The exhibit about Fortune at the Mattatuck Museum includes a photographic illusion allowing visitors to see an image of Fortune's skeleton transform into a painting of Fortune as he may have looked in life. Fortune's actual bones have been carefully placed in archival museum storage, awaiting a community decision about whether to bury the remains or preserve them for future study.

Freedom River (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)

Average customer rating:

Freedom River
Freedom River
Worthy of a rating of more than 5 stars
A Powerful, Inspiring Story
An Historical & Artistic Treasure

Freedom River (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)
Doreen Rappaport
Manufacturer: Jump At The Sun
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Business | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0786803509
Release Date: 2000-07-24

Customer Reviews:

Freedom River.......2002-10-16

Doreen Rapport Freedom River; Illustration by Bryan Collier
14pp. ISBN 0-7868-0350-9.-ISBN 0-7868-1229-X (pbk.).-ISBN 0-7868-229-0 (lib.bdg.)
(Intermediate)

Freedom River is a true story, about getting from Kentucky to the free state Ohio. John Parker a former slave, and now a businessman of Ripely Ohio. John then helps a couple and their child escape being slaves to freedom. The freeing of these salves is taken place through out the year. Both the author and the illustrator work wonderfully together to make this book seem real. The text clearly goes along with the pictures. The illustration is remarkable, the pictures look like photographs. Bryan Collier uses a different technique for his illustrations, it looks as if the pictures are pieces of a puzzle arranged together. As you begin to read this book look closely at the faces of the people, you will see wavy lines, these lines represent the Ohio River. The color schemes really put things in perspective also, they are realistic colors. Through out this book, Doreen Rapport uses short phrases to describe the event that is taking place: Run. Run, Row. Row, Listen. Listen, Wait. Wait, Closer. Louder, Crawl. Crawl. This gives the reader insight to what is going on in the picture by just two word phrases. Another author that does this same technique is Under the Quilt of Night by Deborah Hopkinson. The ending of this story is really surprising, I but when thought about it makes sense. This book is just not about the freeing of slaves, but it is about doing what is right in life, helping others out. I recommend this book to adults and children in the intermediate level. An interesting addition to the end of the story is a historical note which explains in great detail about the life of John Parker.

Freedom River.......2002-10-16

Doreen Rapport Freedom River; Illustration by Bryan Collier
14pp. ISBN 0-7868-0350-9.-ISBN 0-7868-1229-X (pbk.).-ISBN 0-7868-229-0 (lib.bdg.)
(Intermediate)

Worthy of a rating of more than 5 stars.......2001-11-16

In the book, A Freedom River, the writing of Doreen Rappaport along with the illustrations of Bryan Collier together create a stunning retelling of one particular trip on the Underground Railroad. This is the story of a slave family escaping from the slave state of Kentucky to the free state of Ohio.
The book's uniqueness lies not in its topic, but rather in the characters. John Parker, this true story's hero, was not only a conductor on the Underground Railroad, but also an accomplished businessman from Ripley, Ohio. He was born a slave and worked to buy his freedom. He owned his own foundry, and employed both black and white individuals from both Ohio and Kentucky. He helped to make this book unique because he is not a well known conductor, but his impact on the Underground Railroad was just as great. It is said that he helped over 900 slaves escape to freedom during his lifetime.
A Freedom River draws the reader into the experience of the Underground Railroad. It masterfully pulls forth every imaginable emotion, as the characters must make choices that may end in the separation of families, death or freedom. The pace of the book along with large, bold directives, such as RUN, CRAWL, and LISTEN, create a feeling of breathlessness, much as if the reader too, were running for freedom.
The illustrations work hand in hand with the written word in order to create the overall experience of the book. The multi-textured collages with realistic faces add emotion and dept to the story. Wavy lives found throughout the illustrations deeply symbolize the river and its importance in the search for freedom.
This is a beautiful book and worthy of a rating of more than five stars. It could be successfully used with children from 1st to 6th grade. It is an excellent book for introducing and further understanding the Underground Railroad.

A Powerful, Inspiring Story.......2001-05-16

Before the Civil War, Kentucky was a slave state. But just 1000 feet across the Ohio River, Ohio was a free state. John Parker, was as a conductor on the Underground Railroad and helped hundreds of slaves cross that river to freedom. John was a unique individual, an ex-slave who learned to read and write and was able to buy his freedom and a successful Ohio businessman who employed both black and white workers. But he never forgot his slave roots and the terrible pain of being separated from his mother and sold when he was eight years old. Because of this, he risked and devoted his own life to helping slaves escape to safety in Ohio. Freedom River tells the story of one of John Parker's trips to Kentucky to rescue a family of three..... Doreen Rappaport has written a powerful and inspiring story of the courage and determination of one man to right the wrongs of slavery. Her eloquent text makes John Parker and this story come alive and is complimented by Bryan Collier's vivid illustrations that add a real sense of drama and urgency. Perfect for children 8-12, Freedom River is a wonderful introduction to the Underground Railroad and includes historical notes to enhance the story and augment discussion.

An Historical & Artistic Treasure.......2001-02-01

There are many retellings of those who risked their lives to free slaves, but this is surely one of the best. Parker would certainly be proud to have his story told with such fluid, yet vivid, text. Collier's illustrations are poignant, and his explanation of the symbolism he depicts adds an extra layer of richness to this treasure. This book is so much more than a biography. Enjoy it with the special children in your lives.

Thunder Rose (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)

Average customer rating:

Girls rule!
Wonderfully Written, A Classic!
a fun tall tale
Rave Review of Thunder Rose
Worth a second look

Thunder Rose (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)
Jerdine Nolen
Manufacturer: Silver Whistle
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0152164723

Book Description

On a dark night of howling rain and booming thunder, Jackson and Millicent MacGruder welcome a new baby girl into their lives. Imagine their surprise when she sits up, thanks them for bringing her into the world, and informs them that she's quite partial to the name Rose.
So begins the story of Thunder Rose, who drinks her milk straight from the cow and prefers the company of her bull, Tater, to any kitten or puppy. Rose is capturing outlaws by the time she's a teenager, but she always has time to find joy in a song. Jerdine Nolen and Kadir Nelson have created a tall tale--and a powerful new African American heroine--to delight readers of all ages.

Customer Reviews:

Girls rule!.......2007-10-04

Everyone knows Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill.......now here comes a hero from literature's Tall Tales for the girls in your life. Thunder Rose is fun, funny and exhibits true "girl power".

Wonderfully Written, A Classic!.......2007-09-23

My son and I really enjoyed this book. We were lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this book a couple of years ago at a NCTE conference. My son took it to class for "Book Day" and all the students enjoyed it too. What makes this book unique is that this is a tall tale about a young African American girl. It's a lesson to all children that heroes/heroines come in all sizes and colors!!

a fun tall tale.......2005-06-30

This is a good book for young children- especially young black girls. A strong heroine to breath fresh inspiration and courage to young minds. OK, and it's just fun to read and look at too!

Rave Review of Thunder Rose.......2005-02-10

Thunder Rose is a story of a young girl who displays characteristics that are bigger than life. The story starts with the reader finding out that Rose is born with the power of thunder and lightning coursing through her veins. This power gives her the ability to perform unimaginable tasks. For example, she is able to talk at the time of her birth, lift a cow my herself, twist scraps of metal with her bare hands, and stop a powerful tornado. Throughout the book there are on-going clues that allow the reader to see beyond the powers she displays on the outside to the person she is on the inside. The descriptive language and detailed illustrations keep the reader engaged and excited to reach the powerful ending.

Worth a second look.......2004-12-01

I disagree with E.Bird ... Thunder Rose is a gem! The story rises, falls and builds lyrically when read aloud to a young one (I think that actually reading the story out loud makes the difference). The strength of lightning and thunder in this young African-American cowgirl is inspiring, as are the illustrations. An excellent tall tale!

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