John Henry by Julius Lester

John Henry, by Julius Lester, is larger than life in this adaptation of the African-American folk tale. The tale has warmth, humor, and unlimited energy. The author's use of personification makes the story flow with imagery. Even the youngest of listeners can feel the warm, loving hug from rainbow! The character of John Henry is so developed that when his hammer RINGGGGs the reader feels it vibrate through their soul. And when John Henry falls to the ground a gasp is heard from all that are listening.

Jerry Pinkney's illustrations are rich with the colors of the earth. They are true to the story and add to the beauty. They are a feast to the eyes. Once the story is complete, then the reader can return to the illustrations and devour every little detail of the gorgeous watercolors!

Other books by Julius Lester;

Othello: A Novel, To Be A Slave, How Mny Spots Does A Leopard Have and Other Tales, Do Lord Remember Me, And All Wounds Forgiven, Let's Talk About Race, Long Journey Home: Stories From Black History, Sam and the Tigers, The Tales of Uncle Remus, and many more.

Rosa, Caldecott Honor, Coreta Scott King Award

Rosa, Caldecott Honor, Coretta Scott King Award, is the personal story of Rosa Parks's stand against segregation. The story introduces us to Rosa, a seamstress, her husband, a barber, and her mother who was just getting over the flu. The story then quickly moves to her famous refusal to give up her seat on the bus. This refusal begins the Women's Political Caucus call to boycott riding the buses, the Brown v. Board of Education, the aftermath of the murder of Emmett Till, and Martin Luther King, Jr, becoming the spokesperson for the civil rights movement.

I felt many of the illustrations, by Bryan Collier, were too angular, but the backgrounds were very detailed and reflected the mood of the time. I enjoyed the background information given about Mrs. Parks and how they interwove details from this time in history to connect to Mrs. Parks.