Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas by Gwendolyn Hooks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book showed up on a list of children’s books for Black History Month. I recognized it from a book that had been recommended to me, Partners of the Heart, by Vivien Thomas.
This book would be great for older children. There a lot of information in it, and most likely wouldn’t keep a younger child’s attention. I enjoyed it, though, and look forward to reading the autobiography in the future.
Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this little adventure. I have been working on reading the whole series of the author’s books, and Peter’s adventures are fun. I enjoy how Peter always gets distracted partway through whatever he’s working on.
I think that a child would enjoy this story and the illustrations, too.
Ezra Jack Keats: A Biography with Illustrations by Dean Engel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up as part of the series of Ezra Jack Keats children’s books that I was reading. I was expecting it to be a children’s book, but it wasn’t really. It told the story of Ezra Jack Keats from childhood to death. It’s really too long to be a children’s book, but it was written like one.
I am glad I read the book, and I will be working my way through more of the books that feature the artist’s work.
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book very much. The characters were so much fun and I loved getting to know them. I wasn’t too thrilled about how suddenly the transitions in the book were made, but I do understand that at least one of them needed to be, in order for the story to move on.
I do think that the story is worth reading. I found that it is about finding your people who become your family. It was a mostly fun read that went by quickly.
The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I picked this up as part of the list of children’s black history month books. I found it very preachy compared to other books about Ruby Bridges, including the book she wrote herself. I didn’t enjoy the book much, especially since the story doesn’t seem to match any of the other stories about Ruby Bridges.
I, Too, Am America by Langston Hughes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wonderful illustrations to go with powerful words! It gets you thinking. It’s billed as a children’s book, but the words are for everyone.
Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up To Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I picked this up because of a list of children’s books for black history month. I don’t know a lot about Malcom X, unfortunately, so I’m trying to learn. This book would be great for an older child. The author writes well about her father’s upbringing, but it would most likely go over a young child’s head. I feel this was a good place to start in my search for information.
