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Summary
Summary
Poetry by African American Children Illustrated by Gregory Christie When children are encouraged to celebrate their lives - their joys, their influences, their hopes - the results are pure poetry. Honest, wise and inspiring, each of the twenty poems in this dazzling collection resounds with the unique rhythms of life as seen through the eyes of black children. F/c illustrations. Ages 4-8.
Author Notes
Davida Adedjouma is a writer, actor and teacher. She is the author of Last Summer, a collection of short stories, and the recipient of numerous literary awards and fellowships. Born in Chicago, she now lives in New York City. This is her first picture book.
R. Gregory Christie received his fine arts degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and has illustrated several books for LEE & LOW (see titles to the right). A three time recipient of the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award, Christie lives in Brooklyn, New York. You can see more of his work at www.gas-art.com
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4A collection of poems by 20 children between the ages of 6 and 14, with introductory notes by Lucille Clifton. Christie interprets the selections with passionate (though somewhat scary in their expressive distortion) acrylic-and-pencil illustrations that could stand alone as a lively introduction to modern art. The poems were created during a community workshop designed to "introduce children to the techniques of image and metaphor, narrative and dialogue, and then set them free to explore their own lives, feelings and imaginations." Occasionally these goals are reached, as when Thelma Louise Lee writes of "my brothertrying to wash dishes/and metalking too much, me hitting/my cousin (not meaning to, really),/me playing basketball and/calling all the shots." However most of the short poems, printed with boldface emphasizing certain words (Black, family, freedom) lack original imagery and come across as slogans rather than as personal voices. Facilitators of "everybody's an author" writing classes seeking a range of examples may be interested in purchasing The Palm of My Heart. Stronger writing and a broader range of topics can be found in June Jordan and Terri Bush's Voice of the Children (Holt, 1970; o.p.)Karen MacDonald, Teaticket Elementary School, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Introduction by Lucille Clifton. This collection celebrating the beauty of being black exudes the pride, positive self-esteem, and the uninhibited creative expression of twenty inner-city children ages eight to fourteen. Illustrations in warm brown and orange shades reflect the tone and subject matter of the poems and combine sophisticated, almost surreal, human forms with childlike drawings of background details. From HORN BOOK 1996, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A collection of works, subtitled ``Poetry by African American Children,'' that showcases an exciting new artist whose style is unique and fully realized. The 20 pieces that Adedjouma gathered from writing workshops are not poems but thoughts, musings, and statements occasionally infused by a poetical phrase or notion. The themes are arranged seamlessly, and the selections are life-affirming, brimming with self-awareness, and written in a celebration of African American culture. The real story here is the glorious art by picture-book newcomer Christie, who displays a fine-arts sensibility that is incorporated into his illustrations, looking as if the influence of African art has been distilled through Klee and Picasso in the 1920s, with a touch of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Yet Christie's art remains all his own. Elongated limbs and abstract backgrounds emphasize the skill of his portraiture, drawing viewers to the astoundingly accomplished painting of individual faces. His interpretations of the text elevate its feeble nature and allow every page and double-spread to convey a distinct story, mood, or tribute to the culture. With an introduction by Lucille Clifton. (Picture book. 4-8)
Booklist Review
Ages 6^-10. These 20 poems, the product of a writing workshop for children, express pride and joy in the black experience. Most of the pieces are very short, but their brevity does not dilute the potency of the heartfelt messages delivered in that direct way children have. Christie's long, angular images are reminiscent of Masai warriors with long graceful necks, wearing pride in their postures. The acrylic-and-pen renderings never outpace the simple, humble passages that reflect children who have discovered the power of the written word and their own inner strength. --Denia Hester
