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papas-mark
A man casts his ballot on the first Election Day on which African Americans were allowed to vote.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
October 2, 2019
This book takes place a few years after the Civil War. At this time, slavery had been abolished and it was the first year that African Americans could vote. This was a big deal for everyone in the community. Simms' father would be voting for the first time, and Simms was more than excited. Simms father, Samuel T. could not write his name, but Simms was determined to teach him. Simms wanted his father to be able to write his name perfectly on his ballot. Samuel T. denied Simms help many times, until the day before the election. Finally, he took his son's help and learned how to write his name and was able to sign his ballot for the first time.
I would use this book for older children while learning about the hardships African Americans had to overcome. This book shows that there are so many other obstacles to freedom. While slavery may have been "abolished" constitutionally, it was far from over. African Americans were still denied of many civil rights. Through this book we see some of the steps they took. Papa was now able to vote, but still couldn't write his name. This could be used to bring awareness to the ideas that they were not even given the right to an education. Overall, this book could be used to tie in multicultural literature with a history lesson.
I would use this book for older children while learning about the hardships African Americans had to overcome. This book shows that there are so many other obstacles to freedom. While slavery may have been "abolished" constitutionally, it was far from over. African Americans were still denied of many civil rights. Through this book we see some of the steps they took. Papa was now able to vote, but still couldn't write his name. This could be used to bring awareness to the ideas that they were not even given the right to an education. Overall, this book could be used to tie in multicultural literature with a history lesson.
February 26, 2015
Personal Reaction:
This book tells the story of an African American who finally gets the chance to vote. The only obstacle he faces are the literacy tests that white males who were against equal rights enacted to prevent African Americans from voting. The father finally learns to read and write thanks to his son who taught him so that he could be one of the first African American men to vote in the south. I really enjoyed the history and the story in this book. It taught not only about the common African Americans' struggle to vote for the first time, but also touched on the theme of the importance of knowledge and writing. The detailed illustrations help the reader imagine what times were like during this time and really makes this book a great picture book.
Purposes:
This picture book would be great for a 2nd-4th grade classroom. By doing a read aloud with this book, you could have discussions at different parts in the story about some of the questionable sentence structure that represents the time that this book is portraying. The vocabulary throughout the story is a little different as well. The father at one point calls his first writing attempt, chicken scratch. As a teacher you would have to explain to the class that this was a saying at that time. There is actually some really good figurative language where similes are used ("The wind howled like a blare of bugles"). In the author's note, it goes into more detail about the 13th amendment (Abolition) and the 15th amendment (right to vote for African Americans). This would be a great refreshment for a teacher so that they could build lessons that formulate discussions which could evolve into a research project over African American history. This would be a great read right before a time of voting or in February during Black History Month.
This book tells the story of an African American who finally gets the chance to vote. The only obstacle he faces are the literacy tests that white males who were against equal rights enacted to prevent African Americans from voting. The father finally learns to read and write thanks to his son who taught him so that he could be one of the first African American men to vote in the south. I really enjoyed the history and the story in this book. It taught not only about the common African Americans' struggle to vote for the first time, but also touched on the theme of the importance of knowledge and writing. The detailed illustrations help the reader imagine what times were like during this time and really makes this book a great picture book.
Purposes:
This picture book would be great for a 2nd-4th grade classroom. By doing a read aloud with this book, you could have discussions at different parts in the story about some of the questionable sentence structure that represents the time that this book is portraying. The vocabulary throughout the story is a little different as well. The father at one point calls his first writing attempt, chicken scratch. As a teacher you would have to explain to the class that this was a saying at that time. There is actually some really good figurative language where similes are used ("The wind howled like a blare of bugles"). In the author's note, it goes into more detail about the 13th amendment (Abolition) and the 15th amendment (right to vote for African Americans). This would be a great refreshment for a teacher so that they could build lessons that formulate discussions which could evolve into a research project over African American history. This would be a great read right before a time of voting or in February during Black History Month.
September 10, 2020
This is the story of a Black American man, Samuel T. Blow, which is living in Lamar County in the Deep South of the United States. The man cannot read or write and desires to vote in the upcoming election for the first time. His son, Simms, helps him to write his name so that he does not have to make an “X”, his mark, on the ballot.
This story builds upon the fact that in the United States, Blacks were not allowed to vote in the American South. Although racism is a factor in the story, “Some folks don’t want us colored voting”, there are characters in the story that are not Black that are willing to take the journey with Samuel and encourage him to vote. The illustrations help to carry the story along. There is a blend of single and double-page illustrations. They show a father that, although illiterate, is willing to learn and pave the way for his son to have a better future. There is an Author’s Note that discusses the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments and how it was not until 1965 when the Voting Rights Act was passed by the Supreme Court to remove obstacles to allow blacks the right to vote.
I would use this book when it is time to vote. This story can help kids to understand the importance of voting and how it is a privilege that many men and women fought for us to have. I would also use it with 7-9 year old to give a visual and a story of the 13th – 15th Amendments.
This story builds upon the fact that in the United States, Blacks were not allowed to vote in the American South. Although racism is a factor in the story, “Some folks don’t want us colored voting”, there are characters in the story that are not Black that are willing to take the journey with Samuel and encourage him to vote. The illustrations help to carry the story along. There is a blend of single and double-page illustrations. They show a father that, although illiterate, is willing to learn and pave the way for his son to have a better future. There is an Author’s Note that discusses the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments and how it was not until 1965 when the Voting Rights Act was passed by the Supreme Court to remove obstacles to allow blacks the right to vote.
I would use this book when it is time to vote. This story can help kids to understand the importance of voting and how it is a privilege that many men and women fought for us to have. I would also use it with 7-9 year old to give a visual and a story of the 13th – 15th Amendments.
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February 15, 2016"Papa's Mark" is an African-American literature piece that discusses several importance social issues of slavery and the struggle for freedom. A young boy, Simms, wants to teach his father how to write his name in order to be considered literate in Lamar County. Lamar County is one of the first to allow African-Amiercans to vote and citizens must be able to write their name rather than just putting a "x"as their signature. This would be a great source of literature to use for Black History month or even a social studies unit on slavery. The boy Simms is teaching the parent how to read and write and some students might be able to relate to this, if their own parents are not able to read and write either. It also promotes the power that comes from education, which could be inspiration for any struggling reader/writers in the classroom.
April 17, 2014
This book tells the story of one of the First African Americans to vote after the passage of the fourteenth amendment. Simms, the man's son, teaches him to write his name so that he can sign for his ballot.
I like the use of the following similes: " The wind howled like a blare of bugles. The flags flapped like snare drums". These symbolize the African Americans going to vote as men going to fight for what they believe in.
The oil paintings by Colin Bootman are realistic with a blurred quality in places. This makes me think of the story as something that happened long ago in the past. They have a simple beauty for a simpler time.
I like the use of the following similes: " The wind howled like a blare of bugles. The flags flapped like snare drums". These symbolize the African Americans going to vote as men going to fight for what they believe in.
The oil paintings by Colin Bootman are realistic with a blurred quality in places. This makes me think of the story as something that happened long ago in the past. They have a simple beauty for a simpler time.
June 27, 2008
This story addresses what election day is like for a black man able to vote for the first time. It's a wonderful educational tool to discuss history, voting and literacy.
It's touching to see Simms teach his father to write his name, and could be a good discussion for children who are also just learning to write.
I think it addresses not just the importance of voting, but also what risks early voters faced, and what they went through to do it (driving hours to the polls.) There's a difference between having the right to vote, and having it be enforced and accessible.
It's touching to see Simms teach his father to write his name, and could be a good discussion for children who are also just learning to write.
I think it addresses not just the importance of voting, but also what risks early voters faced, and what they went through to do it (driving hours to the polls.) There's a difference between having the right to vote, and having it be enforced and accessible.
October 27, 2008
Simms always manages to read for his father but his father really wants to learn to write his own name when he votes in the first election in which black men were able to vote. Every night Simms writes his father's name clearly, but when he wakes up his father's attempts to write look like chicken scratches. Finally on Election Day Papa is able to write his own name instead of just his "mark," an X. A kind storekeeper supports the black voters, who are worried about white opposition, in a twist on the story The Friendship, by Mildred Taylor.
January 27, 2017
This is a great story about some of the struggle African Americans first went through to vote. I wish the author had given a little bit more detail about the "trouble" the men were talking about. I'm not sure if she figured school-aged kids would already have learned about this, so she didn't need to go into it, or if she thought it would be too heavy/scary for her audience, or if she just didn't feel the need in the story to give more details. But overall the story is great. Simms is a really engaging character and a good role model for all future voters.
November 7, 2008
Although this is in a picture book format, the content is very grown up. It is a story about a young boy who teaches his father how to sign his name so that he can vote with pride in the Presidential election, instead of using his X to sign his name. This book would be a great way to talk about how women didn't have the right to vote and a teacher could build on this book to include who gets to vote today.
April 15, 2014
"Papa's Mark" is about an African American man who's young son helps him learn how to write his name so that when he goes to vote instead of putting a X by his name he can write his name. This story not only can introduce how voting was at that time in America but also that it does not matter how old you are. If you want to learn something or do something you can be successful. "Papa's Mark" is a great book to read aloud. The illustrations and text are wonderful.
April 16, 2009
This book educates children in a lot of different ways. It provides information about history, about racial equality, about education and about the importance of the civic duty of voting. The impressionistic drawings are very well done but I just wish that the text was a little bit better written. Some sentences seem random and irrelevant.
June 17, 2016
I love historical fiction books that describe historic events in a realistic way and this book does just that. It is the story of the first black men to vote and one father's journey as his son teaches him to write his name instead of the customary x. This book would be a great addition to american history curriculum or just a fun read for father's day.
December 5, 2017
Battle-Lavert, G. Ill: Bootman, C. (2003) Papa's mark. New York: Holiday House.
I LOVED this book! It was about how blacks were going to get the opportunity to vote and they were scared, but his papa was not scared. He had a goal of voting some day and being able to write his own name. It is a story about he struggles with that, but his son teaches him how to write.
I LOVED this book! It was about how blacks were going to get the opportunity to vote and they were scared, but his papa was not scared. He had a goal of voting some day and being able to write his own name. It is a story about he struggles with that, but his son teaches him how to write.
April 14, 2012
I like how in this book a boy is showing his dad how to write so he will be able to vote in elections. It is a great way to show how voting and elections looked in the past when African Americans were not able to vote. It can give students some history on voting.
February 10, 2015
I didn't really like his book. It is meant for an older grade level, someone old enough to learn about civil rights. I thought it was a little confusing, and that kids wouldn't really enjoy it. The vocabulary was confusing even for me to read, it was a little hard to follow.
January 30, 2009
Right to vote. For older readers
February 2, 2011
Simms helps his father learn to write his name in time to vote. Simms' enthusiasm for blacks voting encourages other black men to join in voting despite the risk to themselves and their families.
May 27, 2012
Simms's patience and pluck not only help his father learn to make his mark on the voting ballot in his county, but also encourages other men to stand up and claim their right as well.
November 8, 2012
This one is more geared toward slightly older children. 8+
July 26, 2013
Great for right to vote and learning to write
January 18, 2014
This book doesn't underestimate the power of young children. This child helped his father learn how to write and through learning that he was able to vote.
April 27, 2014
Great book for teaching black history and the right to vote.
April 28, 2014
"Freedom don't come easy," said Papa. "My papa taught me that." A slice of history showing a little of what it was like in the South when Blacks first won the right to vote.
June 7, 2016
Very good! Will enlighten the beginning reader whose sense of history has not been keenly developed or learned.
February 8, 2018
This book was a good way to show students how they can make a difference, even in the lives of their own family.
March 1, 2018
Interesting book we read in class. Could be used during black history month or to coincide with learning history or diversity. It also showed the importance of getting the right to vote.
July 9, 2018
7/9/18 Read with Naomi
November 8, 2021
The story “Papa’s Mark” by Gwendolyn Battle-Lavert is about a young African American boy named Simms who goes with his father to vote. Simms notices that his father does now know how to write due to the fact that his father signs each ballot with an “X” rather than with a signature. Problems arise when white people do not want Black men to vote in the elections, but Simms decides that he wants to take a stand against what the white people think. Simms takes a stand by creating posters that represent the need for black men to vote in the elections and while Simms is doing so, his father begins learning how to write properly with the help of Simms. On the day of the next election, Simms and his father attempted to get the other Black men in the community to go with them to vote and eventually the black men went with them. When they got to town, white men challenged them to vote and make a smear joke about his fathers signature, Simms spoke up about his father being able to sign his own name and it shocked the white people. This book would be perfect for a unit on diversity or during black history month.
June 8, 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction
Grade Level: Primary/Middle Grades (2-6)
Voting is very important if people want to change the way things are ran in a city or country. In this story, Little Simms teaches his father to write his name. This would be the first time a Black man could legally vote and Little Simms knew it was important. Papa was not allowed to learn to write so he would only make an "X" for his signature. Youth today do not understand what a privilege it is to be able to vote. If the USA is to continue to grow, everyone must do their part and vote. This would be a great book to read for Social Studies during an election year.
Grade Level: Primary/Middle Grades (2-6)
Voting is very important if people want to change the way things are ran in a city or country. In this story, Little Simms teaches his father to write his name. This would be the first time a Black man could legally vote and Little Simms knew it was important. Papa was not allowed to learn to write so he would only make an "X" for his signature. Youth today do not understand what a privilege it is to be able to vote. If the USA is to continue to grow, everyone must do their part and vote. This would be a great book to read for Social Studies during an election year.
July 22, 2023
I just picked this off the display shelf at the library to read. Really gorgeous realistic artwork. The story was all right. Basically a kid's dad has his first chance to vote now that Black people have been given the right, but he can't sign his name, so he practises. (He can vote without it, it seems, it's a matter of pride though - especially for his son.) The book sets up some potential conflict but it's quickly defused. I wholeheartedly support its message though, that voting is important and barriers to voting should be taken down and not put up.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews