Palm of My Heart : Poetry by African American Children

by Davida Adedjouma (Editor)

A collection of poems written by Afro-American children celebrating what it means to be Black

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, Childrens, African American

32 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 1996

Reviews

[Bethany Pollock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection pf poems written by children.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black stride? It's:
the arch of my back
the curve of my spine
the way I stand
and my stance is
pride

Oh this book. It will bring a tear to your eye and give you hope. The poems in this book are small but they are mighty.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

1997 CSKing Illustrator Honor

finally...a CSK with decent poetry!

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful book of poetry written by African American students born in the 1980s, celebrating their heritage, their diversity, and their likenesses to everyone. Each poem struck a chord with me, but I especially liked the one in which the student noted how his family members helped change the course of our American landscape....from his great-uncle helping blacks to get the right to vote to his grandmother voting for the first time at the age of 80.

[Maizie Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a book filled with poetry by African Americans children. This book was very well written and well illustrated as well. I really liked how this book had corresponding illustrations to go with the poems. This is definitely a book I would have in my classroom library.

[Deborah]

"Aren't we lovely in our variety?" asks Lucille Clifton in her introduction to this gorgeously illustrated collection of children's poetry. "And lucky too!"

[Jennie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading the creative and insightful poetry created by these young African American children. However, I was actually quite disturbed by the grim and downright creepy illustrations that accompanied them.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

a heartfelt and moving collection

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely short poems by children about black pride. The kids were all upper elementary age when the book was published. They're now in their late twenties/

[Paula Hollohan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful student-written poetry. So much self-knowledge. Writing example to model self awareness. Interesting addition to elementary library. K-6.

[Tracy Ralston · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful illustrations and sweet words from children

[GPPL Youth]

https://swanlibs.ent.sirsi.net/client...

[Erik D]

Children’s poetry anthology
Adedjouma, Davida The Palm of My Heart: Poetry by African American Children (1996) . Illustrated by Gregory Christie
This anthology of 20 poems was collected by Adedjouma during a children’s poetry workshop. The book reviewed was softcover and had a wonderfully illustrated and colorful cover. The poems contained in this collection are wonderfully written from the perspective of African American children. Many enjoy a familiar rhythmic tempo and sometimes a lively refrain. Each poem details what “blackness” and being “black” means to these children as well as their experiences, and the trials and tribulations of young inner-city African American children. This anthology serves to give young children an opportunity to voice their feelings about their experience and does nothing short of creating something a little bit magical. Christie’s amazing paintings adorn the pages of this book. His art gives visual life to the words of the children’s poems and add an extra dimension to this assemblage. The back cover of the book includes bios of each of the child authors. Including this information adds a depth to each author’s words that might not be fully appreciated without it. This book is the winner of the Correta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award and would make a fantastic edition to any primary school library or classroom. Target audience: ages 4-8.