A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Pinkney, Gloria Jean. 1992. Back Home. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780803711686
B. PLOT SUMMARY
Ernestine felt the warm southern sand of North Carolina and knew she was home at last. As Aunt Beula, Uncle June, and Cousin Jack show her around the family farm, she is immerged into the beauty and liveliness of country life. Memories are shared and made as each new day brings a treasure that she soon will not forget.
C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Gloria Jean Pinkney based this beautiful story on her own experiences growing up in Lumberton, North Carolina. While reading the book you can sense the love and fondness Ernestine, the eight year old protagonist, has for the land. In the story she describes how she studies the country side, takes off her shoes and wiggles her toes in the soft warm sand, and eagerly helps out all she can around the farm. One day upon visiting the abandoned farmhouse she was born in, she instantly knows she’ll be back to fix it up and live there. This story clearly communicates the power and connection her soul has to its home land.
Cultural Markers:
Within the story many era and cultural markers are exemplified through the use of language. Such as, “I do declare,” “we think it only fitting that you get to know your kinfolk,” and “you do tickle me so.” I also enjoyed when Ernestine’s Aunt requests, “Come here, chile…and give your Aunt Beula some sugar!” The vivid lyrical text of love, family unity, and fellowship add to the beauty of the book. The text also hints that the story was set in yesteryear. Ernestine traveled by train using an old fashioned satchel as luggage, they look through grandmama’s ole steamer trunk for some clothes to wear, and she was wearing a pinafore to visit the family. The characters names were somewhat definable to the African American culture. Grandma was named Zulah and Ernestines aunt was named Beula. The notations of food can be linked to country life with comments such as “the sweet scent of freshly baked biscuits,” and “can peaches in the kitchen.” The story made me yearn for the joy of a family reunion in the countryside filled with memories to last a lifetime.
Pinkney, Gloria Jean. 1992. Back Home. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780803711686
B. PLOT SUMMARY
Ernestine felt the warm southern sand of North Carolina and knew she was home at last. As Aunt Beula, Uncle June, and Cousin Jack show her around the family farm, she is immerged into the beauty and liveliness of country life. Memories are shared and made as each new day brings a treasure that she soon will not forget.
C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Gloria Jean Pinkney based this beautiful story on her own experiences growing up in Lumberton, North Carolina. While reading the book you can sense the love and fondness Ernestine, the eight year old protagonist, has for the land. In the story she describes how she studies the country side, takes off her shoes and wiggles her toes in the soft warm sand, and eagerly helps out all she can around the farm. One day upon visiting the abandoned farmhouse she was born in, she instantly knows she’ll be back to fix it up and live there. This story clearly communicates the power and connection her soul has to its home land.
Cultural Markers:
Within the story many era and cultural markers are exemplified through the use of language. Such as, “I do declare,” “we think it only fitting that you get to know your kinfolk,” and “you do tickle me so.” I also enjoyed when Ernestine’s Aunt requests, “Come here, chile…and give your Aunt Beula some sugar!” The vivid lyrical text of love, family unity, and fellowship add to the beauty of the book. The text also hints that the story was set in yesteryear. Ernestine traveled by train using an old fashioned satchel as luggage, they look through grandmama’s ole steamer trunk for some clothes to wear, and she was wearing a pinafore to visit the family. The characters names were somewhat definable to the African American culture. Grandma was named Zulah and Ernestines aunt was named Beula. The notations of food can be linked to country life with comments such as “the sweet scent of freshly baked biscuits,” and “can peaches in the kitchen.” The story made me yearn for the joy of a family reunion in the countryside filled with memories to last a lifetime.
Illustrations:
Jerry Pinkney beautifully complimented the pages of this story with watercolor images. I took note of how he painted the children with brown skin, curly hair, running barefoot throughout the farm. He drew the casualness of farm life with images of the children in overalls unbuttoned on one side. He then depicts the life of reverence for their faith as the bells toll from the church and they leave dressed in their Sunday best. The illustrations demonstrate the tenderness and fondness in the eyes of the cousins as they begin to bond with one another. Jerry Pinkney has brought to life not only character details but the era that they lived in. He noted the colorful carpet bag satchel Ernestine used, the beautiful red old fashioned farm truck they rode around in, and picket fences. His illustrations bring the text alive and make you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time to simpler days gone by.
D. REVIEW EXCEPTS
School Library Journal: Back Home draws on personal history and celebrates the lives of an African-American family.
Publishers Weekly: This semiautobiographical story follows an African-American girl from "up North" as she visits her relatives in North Carolina.
E. CONNECTIONS
*Have students compare city life to country life.
*Have students then compare life of today to that of Ernestine’s.
*Discuss why the author chose to name the story “BACK HOME.”
Other stories by Gloria Jean Pinkney:
The Sunday Outing. ISBN 9780803711983
In the Forest of Your Remembrance. ISBN 0803726430
LOCOMOTION
A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Woodson, Jacqueline. 2004. LOCOMOTION. New York, NY: G.P. Putman Sons. ISBN 9780142401491
B. PLOT SUMMARY
Eleven year old Lonnie has experienced the cruelty that life sometimes brings. His parents have passed away in a fire; he now lives in foster care with Aunt Edna, and is separated from his sister Lily. Lonnie Collins Motion, or as his mother called him “Locomotion,” journals a series of free verse poems that will introduce you to his world before and during the affects of the fire.
C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Woodson has written a Coretta Scott King Award Honor book that features verse poetry. Within the story the young protagonist, Lonnie, journals all thoughts that come into his head. Unfortunately, he is haunted by the reoccurring thoughts of fire, smelling smoke, and blackened windows. Putting those thoughts behind him he enjoys going to the drugstore to smell the honeysuckle perfume that reminds him of his mama. Locomotion is resilient. His struggles have made him strong. His mother even stated, “My big little baby boy not even two months old and already a survivor.” A survivor he is. He has endured the most excruciating heart ache a child can go through; the loss of his mother and his father to a fire. He now lives in foster care with Miss Edna and his sister Lily is in foster care with another family. The story unravels as he deals with his struggles to find the strength to believe that as Miss Edna says, “Its gonna be o.k.”
Cultural Markers:
At first as I read the book I was so drawn into the story that aside from knowing he was black, I didn’t pay attention to the cultural markers. As I examined the novel more closely, I found markers that demonstrate the African American heritage of our protagonist, Locomotion. He understands that the color of his skin makes him different. He notes in one poem how on T.V. everything is white. Yet his teacher asks, “What has race got to do with it?” Locomotion goes on to state that his teacher, Ms. Marcus, “Don’t understand some things.” Things like my brown, brown arm. Maybe it’s that if you’re white you can’t see all the whiteness around you.” He definably understands that his skin color does make a difference in the world he lives in. This difference is confirmed when his teacher whispers that his friend has sickle cell anemia, a common disease among African Americans. As the story progresses the language to notate his culture is distinct such as: You one of us now; Hey Dog, (that’s how you call your boys); and Na, the Nets ain’t nothing. The author chose to use cultural names such as, Miss Edna, Lamont, and LaTenya. Each detailed notation adds to the feel of the book. Yet the story has a universal theme that the reader can connect with which is one of resilience and strength. It speaks of strength that can be found within which will help you rise above your circumstances.
D. REVIEW EXCEPTS
Coretta Scott King Award Honor Book
Horn Book: Named for the sixties dance hit "Locomotion," Lonnie Collins Motion writes poems that aptly contain, just as the song says, "a little bit of rhythm / And a lotta soul." The accessible form of this narrative will attract readers; Woodson's finely crafted story of heartbreak and hope won't let them go.
School Library Journal: The author places the characters in nearly unbearable circumstances, then lets incredible human resiliency shine through.
Publishers Weekly: The kinetic energy of the aptly named Locomotion (the nickname of Lonnie Collins Motion) permeates the 60 poems that tell his sad yet hopeful story.
E. CONNECTIONS
* Discuss the term resilience and what it means.
*Discuss the meaning of Locomotion’s statement, “Maybe it’s that if you’re white you can’t see all the whiteness around you.”
*Develop a list of popular terms used to denote friends such as Locomotions term “Hey Dog!”
*Other books by Jacqueline Woodson:
Feathers. ISBN 9780142411988
After Tupac and D Foster. ISBN 9780399246548
Peace, Locomotion. ISBN 9780399246555
Woodson, Jacqueline. 2004. LOCOMOTION. New York, NY: G.P. Putman Sons. ISBN 9780142401491
B. PLOT SUMMARY
Eleven year old Lonnie has experienced the cruelty that life sometimes brings. His parents have passed away in a fire; he now lives in foster care with Aunt Edna, and is separated from his sister Lily. Lonnie Collins Motion, or as his mother called him “Locomotion,” journals a series of free verse poems that will introduce you to his world before and during the affects of the fire.
C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Woodson has written a Coretta Scott King Award Honor book that features verse poetry. Within the story the young protagonist, Lonnie, journals all thoughts that come into his head. Unfortunately, he is haunted by the reoccurring thoughts of fire, smelling smoke, and blackened windows. Putting those thoughts behind him he enjoys going to the drugstore to smell the honeysuckle perfume that reminds him of his mama. Locomotion is resilient. His struggles have made him strong. His mother even stated, “My big little baby boy not even two months old and already a survivor.” A survivor he is. He has endured the most excruciating heart ache a child can go through; the loss of his mother and his father to a fire. He now lives in foster care with Miss Edna and his sister Lily is in foster care with another family. The story unravels as he deals with his struggles to find the strength to believe that as Miss Edna says, “Its gonna be o.k.”
Cultural Markers:
At first as I read the book I was so drawn into the story that aside from knowing he was black, I didn’t pay attention to the cultural markers. As I examined the novel more closely, I found markers that demonstrate the African American heritage of our protagonist, Locomotion. He understands that the color of his skin makes him different. He notes in one poem how on T.V. everything is white. Yet his teacher asks, “What has race got to do with it?” Locomotion goes on to state that his teacher, Ms. Marcus, “Don’t understand some things.” Things like my brown, brown arm. Maybe it’s that if you’re white you can’t see all the whiteness around you.” He definably understands that his skin color does make a difference in the world he lives in. This difference is confirmed when his teacher whispers that his friend has sickle cell anemia, a common disease among African Americans. As the story progresses the language to notate his culture is distinct such as: You one of us now; Hey Dog, (that’s how you call your boys); and Na, the Nets ain’t nothing. The author chose to use cultural names such as, Miss Edna, Lamont, and LaTenya. Each detailed notation adds to the feel of the book. Yet the story has a universal theme that the reader can connect with which is one of resilience and strength. It speaks of strength that can be found within which will help you rise above your circumstances.
D. REVIEW EXCEPTS
Coretta Scott King Award Honor Book
Horn Book: Named for the sixties dance hit "Locomotion," Lonnie Collins Motion writes poems that aptly contain, just as the song says, "a little bit of rhythm / And a lotta soul." The accessible form of this narrative will attract readers; Woodson's finely crafted story of heartbreak and hope won't let them go.
School Library Journal: The author places the characters in nearly unbearable circumstances, then lets incredible human resiliency shine through.
Publishers Weekly: The kinetic energy of the aptly named Locomotion (the nickname of Lonnie Collins Motion) permeates the 60 poems that tell his sad yet hopeful story.
E. CONNECTIONS
* Discuss the term resilience and what it means.
*Discuss the meaning of Locomotion’s statement, “Maybe it’s that if you’re white you can’t see all the whiteness around you.”
*Develop a list of popular terms used to denote friends such as Locomotions term “Hey Dog!”
*Other books by Jacqueline Woodson:
Feathers. ISBN 9780142411988
After Tupac and D Foster. ISBN 9780399246548
Peace, Locomotion. ISBN 9780399246555
ABC: AFRICAN AMERICAN POETRY
A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bryan, Ashley. 1997. ABC of African American Poetry. New York, NY: Atheneum Books fro Young Readers.
B. PLOT SUMMARY
Ashley Bryan’s ABC of African American Poetry is a Coretta Scott King award winning compilation of sample poems that capture the essence and spirit of fellow African American poets. Poets included in the book are those such as Langston Hughes, Eloise Greenfield, and Nikki Giovanni. It is an A-Z look at twenty five verses and illustrations that together inspire, ignite, and celebrate the joy of poetry.
C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Ashley Bryan has beautifully composed a book of poetry that celebrates the essence of African Americans. In this Coretta Scott King award winning poetry book, he meticulously selected snapshots of poetry that describe the soul, heart, and imagery of not only his culture, but the world we live in. For example the poem for the letter E states:
Each man
a string on the harp
doing its own destiny
no one pushing
no one behind
each man
the end
and the beginning
of harmony by: Henry Dumas
Cultural Markers:
The poems selected are each written by an African American poet. Most poems have distinct cultural themes that resonate the heart and soul of African Americans and their experiences. For instance: One poem describes the heart-strings of Freedom. Another poem celebrates the essence of a Black girl. A couple of the poems discuss Harriet Tubman, some are spiritual, and others celebrate music such as JazZ. Each addresses specific cultural aspect. I especially loved “O:”
The Old of our people
are the elders of the race
and must be listened to,
must be looked after,
must be given meaningful work,
must be loved and cared for,
must be treated with highest respect.
the elders of the race
are the reason we are here. By: Haki Madhubuti
This poem celebrates our ancestry. It moved me to honor in thought, my family relatives who have come before me and sacrificed for me to be where I am today. The book truly reflects the love for the African American culture. It is a compilation of poems that any reader will enjoy reading. It will engage their thoughts, minds, and sense of belonging.
Illustrations:
Ashley Bryan beautifully captures each poem through his tempera and gouache illustrations. He exemplifies their heritage by using various shades of black to represent the color of their skin. He distinguishes the African American features by illustrating large bright eyes filled with wonder, pronounced noses, and full lips that speak and sing of their message. Each page is filled with vibrant colors, lines of emotion, the beauty of family, and the joy of the soul. I especially loved the illustration for the “calling black people” letter U. This illustration depicts the cultural family in different shades of brown. Each illustration is unique, each one a necessary part of the whole. Ashley Bryan has captured the essence of his culture as each page sings lively with color the joy of his people.
D. REVIEW EXCEPTS
Coretta Scott King Award
School Library Journal: While the format and the lively illustrations mark this as a children's book, the pleasure that both word and picture will give to involved adults will enhance the shared experience.
Amazon.com Review: Award-winning children's book author and former teacher Ashley Bryan has simply hit upon a straightforward way to present the work of his favorite African American poets: he uses a letter of each poem to organize the 25 excerpts and one African American spiritual.
E. CONNECTIONS
*Compose a class ABC poetry book with each student assigned a letter to write their own poem that celebrates their culture.
*Discuss the illustrations. How do they make you feel?
*Pick one poet from within the book and do a poet study about their life and read other works by the same poet.
Other books by Ashley Bryan:
Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals. ISBN 9780689847325
The Night Has Ears: African Proverbs. ISBN 9780689824272
Bryan, Ashley. 1997. ABC of African American Poetry. New York, NY: Atheneum Books fro Young Readers.
B. PLOT SUMMARY
Ashley Bryan’s ABC of African American Poetry is a Coretta Scott King award winning compilation of sample poems that capture the essence and spirit of fellow African American poets. Poets included in the book are those such as Langston Hughes, Eloise Greenfield, and Nikki Giovanni. It is an A-Z look at twenty five verses and illustrations that together inspire, ignite, and celebrate the joy of poetry.
C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Ashley Bryan has beautifully composed a book of poetry that celebrates the essence of African Americans. In this Coretta Scott King award winning poetry book, he meticulously selected snapshots of poetry that describe the soul, heart, and imagery of not only his culture, but the world we live in. For example the poem for the letter E states:
Each man
a string on the harp
doing its own destiny
no one pushing
no one behind
each man
the end
and the beginning
of harmony by: Henry Dumas
Cultural Markers:
The poems selected are each written by an African American poet. Most poems have distinct cultural themes that resonate the heart and soul of African Americans and their experiences. For instance: One poem describes the heart-strings of Freedom. Another poem celebrates the essence of a Black girl. A couple of the poems discuss Harriet Tubman, some are spiritual, and others celebrate music such as JazZ. Each addresses specific cultural aspect. I especially loved “O:”
The Old of our people
are the elders of the race
and must be listened to,
must be looked after,
must be given meaningful work,
must be loved and cared for,
must be treated with highest respect.
the elders of the race
are the reason we are here. By: Haki Madhubuti
This poem celebrates our ancestry. It moved me to honor in thought, my family relatives who have come before me and sacrificed for me to be where I am today. The book truly reflects the love for the African American culture. It is a compilation of poems that any reader will enjoy reading. It will engage their thoughts, minds, and sense of belonging.
Illustrations:
Ashley Bryan beautifully captures each poem through his tempera and gouache illustrations. He exemplifies their heritage by using various shades of black to represent the color of their skin. He distinguishes the African American features by illustrating large bright eyes filled with wonder, pronounced noses, and full lips that speak and sing of their message. Each page is filled with vibrant colors, lines of emotion, the beauty of family, and the joy of the soul. I especially loved the illustration for the “calling black people” letter U. This illustration depicts the cultural family in different shades of brown. Each illustration is unique, each one a necessary part of the whole. Ashley Bryan has captured the essence of his culture as each page sings lively with color the joy of his people.
D. REVIEW EXCEPTS
Coretta Scott King Award
School Library Journal: While the format and the lively illustrations mark this as a children's book, the pleasure that both word and picture will give to involved adults will enhance the shared experience.
Amazon.com Review: Award-winning children's book author and former teacher Ashley Bryan has simply hit upon a straightforward way to present the work of his favorite African American poets: he uses a letter of each poem to organize the 25 excerpts and one African American spiritual.
E. CONNECTIONS
*Compose a class ABC poetry book with each student assigned a letter to write their own poem that celebrates their culture.
*Discuss the illustrations. How do they make you feel?
*Pick one poet from within the book and do a poet study about their life and read other works by the same poet.
Other books by Ashley Bryan:
Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals. ISBN 9780689847325
The Night Has Ears: African Proverbs. ISBN 9780689824272
Beautiful Blackbird. ISBN 9780689847318
