Coretta Scott King Winners and Honor Books
Trombone Shorty
Andrews, T. ( 2015). Trombone Shorty. Abrams Books For Young Readers.
This autobiography by Troy Andrews, or "Trombone Shorty", tells of his love for music, New Orleans, and how he became the musician he is today. Andrews begins with his childhood in New Orleans, where in his neighborhood he could hear music night and day. He tells of the parades during Mardi Gras where he loved to watch the brass band musicians play in the streets. He looked up to his big brother, James, who played the trumpet and had his own band. He tells of playing with his neighborhood friends in the afternoon and pretending they had real instruments. When he finally did get his own trombone, he took it everywhere and played all the time. He soon got the nickname " Trombone Shorty" because the trombone was bigger than he was. Later on, his brother than asked him to join his band. With lots of practice and some good luck, Andrews went on to start his own band, travel the world making music, and even played in the New Orleans Jazz Festival. He says that even though he has traveled the world, he always comes home to New Orleans, and help out the younger musicians, just like his brother did for him.
Andrews tells his story with love and passion for jazz, music, and his hometown of New Orleans. The author's note at the end tells of how he got his start in music, how he worked hard, and practiced everyday to become the famous musician he is today. It includes pictures of his childhood with his trombone, marching down the street of his neighborhood and on stage with Bo Diddley. This is a great book to teach determination and hard work pay off in the end.
Beautiful Blackbird
Bryan, Ashley. ( 2003). Beautiful Blackbird. Atheneum Books.
In this African folktale, all the birds were colored in red, yellow, pink, and other colors of the rainbow. Only Blackbird had any black on him. At the bird festival, all the colorful birds agree that Blackbird was the most beautiful of all. All the other birds want to have some black too. They ask Blackbird if he will paint some black onto them and Blackbird agrees. He starts with the dove and gives him black rings around his neck. He adds stripes and dots to the other birds too. Blackbird tells the birds that "color on the outside is not what's on the inside." In the end, Blackbird has shared some black to each of the other birds.
The message of this book is to appreciate who you are. Blackbird was happy just the way he was. Though he shared his black, he shared the message that we can change the outside, but you are the same on the inside. Bryan's colorful book and rhyming, sing-song type writing is a great read-aloud that will be enjoyed by children.
Just Us Women
Caines, J. ( 1982). Just Us Women. NY: Harper Trophy.
This picture book is about a little girl and her Aunt Martha's car trip to North Carolina. It is just the two of them with "no boys and no men", and they can take their time exploring along the way. They can stop when they please, walk in the rain, and "mosey down the back roads" as much as they want. They enjoy spending time together doing just what they please.
This is a story of a special bond between a girl and her favorite aunt. It shares the importance of taking your time to slow down and enjoy spending time with someone you love. They aren't worried about time limits, but savor the time for "girl talk" and enjoying the moment.
When I Am Old with You
Johnson, A. ( 1990).When I Am Old with You. NY: Orchard Books.
A story of the special relationship between a grandfather and his grandchild. The grandchild tells of all the things they enjoy doing together, from fishing, playing cards, to a trip to the ocean together. He states, "when I am old with you", but in reality, they enjoy good times together now.
This story shares the special bond that grandparents share with their grandchildren. It's a special kind of love, where sharing simple experiences together is all that is needed for a good time. The illustrations are beautiful watercolors that portrays the happiness and joy the grandchild has spending time his grandfather.
Goin' Someplace Special
McKissack, P. ( 2001). Goin' Someplace Special. Atheneum Books.
Set in the South in the 1950's, 'Tricia Ann, a young African American girl, wants to venture off by herself to her special place without the safety of her grandmother. Reluctantly, her grandmother says yes. Along the way, she encounters all of the reminders of segregation and Jim Crow laws. She first experiences it on the bus, where she has to sit in the "colored section". Then at the park, when she wants to sit on a bench, it says "whites only". At the Southland Hotel, she is told by the manger that " no colored people are allowed". She runs away to the walled garden where an old lady, Blooming Mary tells her to listen to the voice of her grandmother. She hears the voice of her grandmother's wise voice telling her she is a person, she is somebody, to keep going and not to quit. 'Tricia Ann finally arrives to her someplace special, the library, a place she knows she is welcomed.
This book is a reminder of the injustices so many African Americans in the South had to face daily. The author tells at the end how this book was taken from her own childhood in Nashville. She tells that segregation was all over the city, except for one place, the public library. McKissack goes on to tell how the downtown library was her special place, because it was a place where blacks were welcomed and there were no Jim Crow signs separating blacks and whites. This is a great book to teach children that all people should be treated with respect and dignity, no matter the color of their skin.
Josephine
The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker
Powell, P. ( 2014). Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker. Chronicle Books.
This is a fascinating biography of Josephine Baker's life filled with beautiful artwork throughout. The author begins with her early life in St. Louis as a poor girl who spent much of her childhood working with her mother cleaning, washing laundry, and helping with her younger siblings. Even when she was a young child, she loved to danced and visit the theater. She started her carrier early, and at the age of thirteen left home to join a dancing troupe. The book tells of all of her adventures as a performer, until finally, she made it to New York, but she still experienced the pain of racial hatred and injustice to African Americans. Soon she was discovered by a white lady that took her to Paris, where she became a star. But through all of her life, she wanted nothing more than to be accepted in America, and finally at the age of sixty-seven, she performed at Carnegie Hall.
This is a book filled with interesting facts about Josephine Baker's life. The author writes in a poetic way that is fun and informative. The book also teaches of the injustices so many African Americans went through in America. It is inspiring to see this performer never gave up on her dreams. Josephine persuaded her love of dancing and performing her entire life. It will inspire young children to never give up on their dreams.
Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Rappaport, D. ( 2001). Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. NY: Scholastic.
This biography of Dr. King tells of his life's work of peaceful protest and fighting back with love, not violence. It begins with his life as a child and his dream of using big words like his father and the Bible taught him. The text then goes on to tell of his fight as a minister to help end segregation in the South, from the marches and protests, to the March on Washington. The author then tells of the tragic ending to his life in Memphis. Throughout the book, the author uses inspiring quotes from Dr. King, and that his dream and "big words" are still alive today.
This is a beautifully written book about Dr. King's life of service for all Americans. His words and message of peace and equality are still as relevant today as it was in the fifties and sixties. The use of his quotes throughout the book are powerful and timeless. The illustrator, Bryan Collier, uses powerful images from Dr. King's life. He also includes multi-colored stain glass panels, which he says symbolizes multi races. This is a version of Dr. King's life who's message will stay with you.
Tar Beach
Ringgold, Faith. (1991). Tar Beach. NY: Crown Publishers.
A young girl, Cassie Louise Lightfoot, imagines flying in the sky of her neighborhood, Harlem, on warm nights in the 1930's. Tar Beach, or the apartment rooftop, is the place of picnics, adults playing cards, and imagination of flying free above the city. She imagines flying over the George Washington Bridge, the Union building, and other places in her neighborhood at night. She dreams of a easier life for her parents, where her daddy is rich, her mommy can sleep late , and they can have ice cream every night for dessert.
Ringgold's story is part autobiographical and part fictional narrative. She remembers her own childhood memories of spending hot summer nights on the rooftop of her apartment building. The book also references the injustices that African Americans faced, such as being unable to join the Union. Cassie's flying represents freedom from discrimination and the right to be free. It also includes wonderful illustrations with quilt boarding the pictures. A great book to share about dreaming of flying and being free!
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
An African Tale
Steptoe, J. ( 1987). Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters. NY: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Book.
Mufaro has two beautiful daughters, Manyara and Nyasha. Manyara is ill-tempered, selfish, and unhappy. Nyasha is kind and hard-working. She keeps a small garden in which she sings sweetly to the small garden snake, Nyoka, that lives there. One day the king announces that he is looking for a wife, so Mufaro and his two daughters begin their journey to the great city to meet the king. Along the way, the girls are tested by the king in disguise. Manyara is approached by a hungry boy who begs for food, but Manyara refuses to give him any food. She is then warned by an old woman not to laugh at the trees, but she did not heed her warnings. Nyasha is also approached by the boy, and she shares a yam with him. She gives sunflower seeds to the old woman, and appreciates the beauty of the city. When they arrive at the king's palace, Manyara is greeted by a monster. But, Nyasha is greeted by the garden snake, Nyoka. Nyoka then turns into the king, and tells her that he was in fact the hungry boy and the old woman. He knows she is worthy to be queen and asks for Nyasha's hand in marriage.
This is an African version of the Cinderella story set in the country of Zimbabwe. The moral of the tale is that kindness is rewarded over greed and unkindness. The illustrations are beautifully painted with the plants, animals, and people of Zimbabwe. This is a folktale with a timeless message that should be shared with your child.
Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea
Thomas, J. ( 1993). Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea. Harper Collins.
This is a collection of poems about an African American girl and her family. She is proud of her heritage, her family, and the challenges they have endured as African Americans. Many of the poems use the topic of broomwheat tea as a metaphor for the good and bad times we all experience in life.
The author uses many poetic devices such as imagery, personification, and metaphors throughout the poems about the lives of African Americans. She uses phrases such as " Children kissed long ago by the sun", and "I was nourished by father sun" as a reference for the girls skin. Some of the poems are joyful and full of hope, and others are sad , just like life itself. A nice collection of poems to share together.
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