Climbing Lincoln's Steps: The African American Journey

by Suzanne Slade, Colin Bootman (Illustrator)

Change. It happens slowly.

One

      small

             step

                   at a

                         time.

Important moments in African American history have occurred at the Lincoln Marian Anderson's concert in 1939; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous speech in 1963; and a visit in 2009 from the first black president and his family. This book interweaves these key events with the story of black Americans' struggle for equality.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, African American

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2010

About the author

Sibert honoree author of more than 150 books for chlldren.

Reviews

[QNPoohBear]

This is a positive, uplifting story about African Americans' fight for equality from slavery to the Obamas. It does not say systemic racism exists. It only discusses the past and how we have moved forward as a country since slavery. There's Marion Anderson, who through her singing "lifted the country to new heights of understanding - that skill and talent have nothing to do with the color of a person's skin."; Martin Luther King, who's dream that inspired a nation "Minds opened. Attitudes changes. People united." The book briefly mentions the end of Jim Crow and the Voting Rights Act. Change happens slowly, one step at a time. It profiles changemakers, historic firsts like Toni Morrison, Mae Jemison, Oprah Winfrey, Arthur Ashe, etc. in the back, plus there is a timeline from 1838 (Frederick Douglass) to 2009 (Obama)

While it portrays Lincoln as a hero and grossly over simplifies the complexities of Lincoln and the war, the rest is good. It acknowledges that change was slow to come and not everyone embraced it, people eventually realized everyone needs equal rights. While we know the fight isn't over, this story is optimistic and represents the hope of the Obama era.

I knew all this information but for a kid who does not yet know any of it, this is an interesting factual book for young readers. It would be a good jumping off place for a report or for a curious mind to want to learn more.

The lovely illustrations are realistic and I easily identified the people portrayed in the story.

[Alexis Ramirez]

Climbing Lincoln’s Steps takes the reader on a written journey through African American history that occurred at the Lincoln Memorial. Some of the monumental events Suzanne Slade mentions in the book include: Marian Anderson's concert in 1939, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous speech in 1963, and a visit in 2009 from the first black president and his family. The struggle for African American equality is a fight that is still occurring even today. I believe students should learn about the past and present obstacles experienced by African Americans. Furthermore, Abraham Lincoln is a major historical figure pictured in this book who played an important role in working towards the abolishment of slavery.

[wildct2003]

Mostly good info; the start of the book overly simplified Lincoln’s position on slavery and what his actions accomplished

[Faloni ©]

Happy Birthday to my sercret crush :) Happy Birthday to my Sercert crush 😻 https://usapp.fieldagent.net/applinks...

[Ashley Hill]

APA: Slade, S. (2010). Climbing Lincoln’s step: The African American journey. Albert Whitman & Co.
Citation by: Ashley Hill

Type of Reference: Almanac

Call Number: 305.800973

Description: This is a picture book that shows the history of the civil rights movement, leaders of the movement, starting with Lincoln and moving to President Obama.

Relevance and Relationship: This is a relevant piece of work for the school library to help students learn about the struggle for civil rights and how much or country has changed overtime, especially since it is up to date with our first African-American President, President Obama.

Purpose: This book outlines the history of the civil rights movement and focuses on leaders of the movement. It is a picture book meant to teach younger readers.

Validity: This book covers several pieces of information with the publisher being in operation since the early 1900’s.

Format: This is a picture book with words used as well. Illustrations are part of the presentation as well.

Arrangement and Presentation: The information is presented in chronological order from Lincoln to present times with President Obama.

Diversity: This selection meets the diverse needs of the school library with the large African American population that is present.

Professional Review: Rochman, H. (2010, Sept. 15). Booklist review: Climbing Lincoln’s steps: The African American Journey. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Climbin...

[L11-Sharri Moses]

This is a beautifully illustrated book with snapshots of history showing important steps made toward equality with text and watercolor illustrations. The illustrations convey emotions of fear, determination and joy. The first page shows slaves working in the fields and talks about how Lincoln wanted to end slavery. It shows the civil war, the statue made of Abraham Lincoln in 1914, Marian Anderson singing at the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King’s speech on the Lincoln steps, pictures of other prominent African Americans, and the last two page spread is of the First Family (the Obama’s) visiting the Lincoln Memorial. This book could be used with students in grades 2-5. I think I would even read it to my kindergarteners because the pictures are so inspiring. We could read it when we are learning about Abraham Lincoln and during Black History month. Students could choose one of the prominent African Americans in this book and learn more about them. They could read Nikki Grimes book Barack Obama: Son of Promise Child of Hope. Another good book about Martin Luther King Jr. is Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Martin Luther King Jr. written by Doreen Rappaport. When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson by Pam Munuz Ryan is another great book to learn more about Marian Anderson. They could also read more about Abraham Lincoln and read the book written by Doreen Rappaport Abe’s Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln.

[Clawrence]

Book Title: Climbing Mr. Lincoln’s Steps: The African American Journey by William Joyce

Short Description of the Book: Slade travels through history as she describes slavery, the civil rights movement, and, finally, the election of Barack Obama.

FOCUS: Narrative Features I would Use in a Mini-Lesson:
• Use words that show, rather than tell, the story: Repeat a phrase over and over to showcase the connectivity of each of the events in the story. “Pitter-patter,” “click, click, click,” and “clomp, clomp” are all used multiple times within the tale.
• Logical sequence: Slade uses small moments in history as a vehicle to portray the change in American history over time.
TEACH: CCSS Connection: W.5.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
1. Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
2. Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description, and pacing, to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
3. Use a variety of transitional words, phrases, and clauses to manage the sequence of events.
4. Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.
5. Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.

[Clara]

Why I LOVE it! : This beautiful picture book is stock full of reasons to love it. The story of it takes a step at a time to c change the world and then have short biographical essays for many important people in the war for civil rights is brilliant. The illustrations are gorgeous and epic. There is a page in the back with a time line on it for how far African-Americans have come and who were most instrumental in changing America with a sentence of how they did it. At every page, there is significant information about the African-American journey, No one reading this book will be left unchanged. This book is stock full of information brought in a child friendly manner. Slade has a repeating phrase, “Change. It happens slowly. One small step at a time.” And she combines three important people in the journey for equal rights with the Lincoln Memorial. The story is rich in its levels.

And as Beth Stillborn says “Every Friday, bloggers join together to share picture book reviews and resources, thanks to author Susanna Leonard Hill’s brainchild, “Perfect Picture Book Fridays.” Susanna then adds the books (and links to the reviews) to a comprehensive listing by subject on her blog. Find the entire listing at her “Perfect Picture Books.”

Thanks

[Libby.dorger]

A history of Abraham Lincoln’s efforts through the Civil War and the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation introduces readers to the Lincoln Memorial and the inspiration he ignited in American history. This book sets the stage in Washington D.C. when African American opera singer Marian Anderson sang “My country tis of thee…” in front of the Lincoln Memorial and it rang through the radio into homes across the United States. But, as the book describes, the country is not yet united. It then sets the stage for Martin Luther King, Jr. to make his famous speech in front of the memorial. The book describes civil rights laws being passed and other influential African Americans of the last few decades. Finally, is shows the Obama family in front of Lincoln’s memorial remembering the long journey and the hope for change.

[Cara Byrne]

"Standing together, the [Obama] family remembers America's long journey. They remember the people who came before them, those who bravely pressed on and stepped forward for change."

This book provides historical information about American history and African American achievement. It's a book that largely omits the violent racism of America's history - instead painting presidents like Lincoln and Roosevelt as continuously supportive of equal rights for African Americans. There are some well-written lines, especially as children "pitter patter" on the steps of the Lincoln memorial in different decades, and the illustrations by gifted Trinidad-born artist Colin Bootman are beautiful. The ending with the Obamas is quite nice.

[Darlene Andre]

Change, it happens slowly
one
small
step
at a
time

I love this repeating line as the reader travels through history from the Civil War to the Whitehouse of today.
This is a great mentor non-fiction text.

[Shannon]

Big ideas, but not terribly engaging. I thought my kids would be all over this book because we've been studying people who stand up for what they believe in, but they were unimpressed. I gave it an extra star because the text is perfect for 3rd graders and up to use as reference material for a nonfiction project.

[Jillian]

A nice - if sanitized - glimpse at the American Civil Rights movement, broken down into a few snapshots centered on the Lincoln Memorial. I liked the repetition of the "pitter patter, click click click, clomp clomp" in each era, and the ending definitely made me smile.
I also learned something new from this book - I hadn't heard of Andrew Young previously.

[Zachary Alcorn]

This book goes through many great moments on Lincolns steps. It really shows how far we have came as a country. This gives the family hope to ever give up because if their ancestors did, where would they be today. Just a great historical book through African American history.

[Edward Sullivan]

Links between African American history and the Lincoln Memorial.

[Amy]

Very interesting!

[Mary Ann]

A very interesting look at the Civil Rights Movement as viewed through the Lincoln Memorial!

[Elizabeth]

Shares some of the struggles that African Americans went through to get equality and how Abraham Lincoln is the person to thank for these changes because he still inspires us.

[Shawn Elswick]

This book describes all of the memorable things that were done by the Lincoln Memorial. This book was full of good information and was very informative.

[Terry]

Read. Not reviewed.