Freedom Like Sunlight

by J. Patrick Lewis, John Thompson (Illustrator)

Presents poems and brief biographical notes about such well-known African-Americans as Arthur Ashe, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Martin Luther King Jr., Satchel Paige, Rosa Parks, Jesse Owens, Marian Anderson, Malcolm X, Wilma Rudolph, and Billie Holiday.

Genres: Poetry, African American, Picture Books, Historical Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

About the author

J. Patrick Lewis is the current Children's Poet Laureate. He has written more than seventy children's books, including Once Upon a Tomb: Gravely Humorous Verses. J. Patrick Lewis lives in Ohio.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of poems written by J. Patrick Lewis about 13 inspiring Black Americans. From Harriet Tubman, to Jesse Owns, to Martin Luther King, each person is treated with such reverence and care. The poems teach a lesson and show the love that the poet has for each person. At the end of the book the poet has included biographical information on each of the 13 subjects of his poems. It turns this book into an informational text as well as a collection of poetry celebrating this important Black Americans. The illustrations are a series of painted portraits that are simply stunning. They add depth to the poems and are filled with emotion.

I would use this at every grade level and accompany them with a history of each person or even a research assignment for each person. Then I would ask the students, after they have completed their research, to write their own poem. If the students are younger, I would ask them to do their own illustrations. This book could be used in English or in social studies class or even as a bridge between the classes, it presents a great opportunity for co-teaching between the subjects. I also love that it is empowering for children of color to see themselves represented in positive literature. It would be good for Black History Month or a civil rights unit, or simply as a featured poet for the month.

[Elizabeth Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to the J. Patrick Lewis book, When Thunder Comes. But the poems are less abstract. In many ways rather than abstract illuding to the event(s) that made the person a civil rights hero, it is more directly explained. Includes poems about Harriet Tubman, MLK Jr., Billie Holliday, and others.

I could see reading the MLK Jr. or Rosa Parks poems with my students.
The Harriet Tubman poem would pair nicely with the book Unspoken: A Story From the Underground Railroad.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Thompson’s illustrations of Malcolm X’s mug shots on front and back covers were what first pulled me to this book, along with being Lewis’s poetry. Both creators are masterful here. Thompson’s photographic-quality or based images capture the reality of each figures character and struggle. He includes double-page illustrations for Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. Biographical nites at the end are a thoughtful addition.

[Emilie Elkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Marian Anderson - Baby Contralto

She brushed
Her voice
Across the air
In colors
Not seen
Anywhere.

In colors
Beautiful
And strong,
She brushed
The air...
And painted song."

[Justice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A splendid collection of poems about some of the most influential people in American History!

[Rachel Lee]

I liked the short poems that were like bibliographies of the prominent character's lives.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book of poems written for young people. They are all biographical/tribute poems to African American leaders written by one author (who I believe is white). There are several different styles of poems. I really liked the art in the book. The artist is John Thompson and he created excellent paintings for each hero featured in the book. My favorite poem in the book is for Jesse Owens, 1936 Olympic Gold medalist.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was pretty awesome. The poetry is simple yet thought provoking. Each poem tells the stories of various African Americans of note. Though they're all famous in their respective fields there were a few that I've never seen mentioned before. I was glad to learn of them and their accomplishments. It's poetry so this is a short read. Still, each poem allows for contemplation and reflection.

[Alison Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of poetry about famous African American figures in history is fantastic. J. Patrick Lewis writes with emotion and elegance. His ability to use words to convey both feeling and meaning is masterful.

[Joycetho1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this was a good poem book. I used it for a project on Rosa Parks. I liked the poems in the book. They were descriptive, and full of information. The poems were all about African american history. I would reccomend this book to all readers.

[Karelle Royal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
Brilliant compilation of poems about well-known African Amercans.

-poetry
-African American history
-perserverance

[Dotty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love these poems! So descriptive of the people and the descriptions of the people at the end of the book are cool. Plan to read this aloud tomorrow during Advisory for MLK Day.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a great book for teachers as it contains poems about famous black Americans that students could analyze and then research to see if their analysis was right.

[WKWyverns]

4W heard this book talk first.