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What Members Thought
Nov 27, 2016
Barbara
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
civil-rights,
community,
human-trafficking,
cooking,
friendship,
emotions,
history,
resilience,
nbgs2017,
families
Memorable mixed media illustrations filled with movement provide an appropriate showcase for the poetic ruminations of the author who describes the drudgery of each day for slaves prior to the Civil War. In rhyming couplets, she details the work that fills the hours of the week as these men and women looked forward to Sunday, the one day that provided them with respite from their labors. On Sunday afternoons, slaves and free blacks living in or near New Orleans would head to Congo Square where t
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great illustrations. The forward ad author's note help give the needed background information to understand the rhyming text.
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Comparing this to other recent books, this one develops a much better way to approach the complexity of slavery.
Jan 28, 2017
Jennifer
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
american-history,
yellow-picture,
2017,
poetry,
nonfiction,
african-american,
library-copy,
music,
reviewed,
north-america
Trust Carole Boston Weatherford to thread the needle of showing joy in the lives of enslaved people alongside the immorality of the system oppressing them. As a teacher, I can't launch into the worst of our history with a young child, but I desperately want something age-appropriate to add to the familiar, uplifting (and too-often sanitized) stories of Tubman, Colvin, King, and others. As much as I love holding up our heroes, I also want something that allows students to gain empathy for people
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May 04, 2016
Natalie Harvey
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
african-american,
nonfiction,
child-lit,
picture-book,
historical,
poetry,
rhyme,
nc-author,
2016-favorites
When a 6 year-old asks you what slavery means, this is what you read together.
I did not know the story of Congo Square before. It seemed like the Foreword and the Author's Note were a bit repetitive. I liked the texture of the cover and the broad strokes of color. Some of the poems seemed a big sing-songy to me. (maybe I was hoping for something more like New Orleans jazz)
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Phenomenal! Every school library should own.
Beautiful nonfiction poem about the one-half day that blacks, free and enslaved, in New Orleans would congregate to trade, sell, play music, and dance. With two couplets per page and artwork reminiscent of folk art, the struggle of the enslaved lives, and the power of the hope and joy they got from a few hours off, ring out loud and clear. Additional explanatory and historical context is provided both at front and back of book.
This is a picture book. Again, it was ok for a picture book and interesting, but I do t think it belongs in the battle of the books by school library journal. Those books are supposed to be middle grade and YA.
Aug 29, 2016
Karen
marked it as to-read
Sep 08, 2016
Julie
added it
Oct 09, 2016
Sarah
added it
