They Lifted Their Voices

Women of distinction on an international, national, community or familial level achieve this designation by taking a stand.  They stand firm in their beliefs and in following their individual calling.  No challenge, large or small, deters them from their life-long pursuits.  They are an inspiration to many during their lives, and for those who follow in their paths.

During the recent Democratic presidential candidate process, one of the women who later withdrew is now running as the Democratic candidate for Vice-President.  Kamala Harris: Rooted In Justice (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, August 25, 2020) written by Nikki Grimes with illustrations by Laura Freeman looks at this accomplished woman's life from her birth to present day.  It gives readers a deeper understanding of how her beliefs and calling were shaped. 

Eve slammed the door when she

got home from first grade.

"Eve!" You know we don't slam doors

in this house," her mom said.

"What's going on?"

Eve is upset about an incident at school.  When asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she said she wanted to be President.  Another classmate, a boy, said girls can't be President.  

With this introduction, the mother begins the story of Kamala Harris.  During the narrative, from time to time, Eve and her mother converse about a word or an important event Kamala experiences.  We first learn of the meaning of Kamala's name.  The explanation of a lotus flower's beauty and roots is an apt comparison.

Kamala's mother was born in India and her father was born in Jamaica.  She was born in Oakland, California.  Even as a baby, yet unable to walk, Kamala was a part of her parent's involvement in seeking social equality.  She and her younger sister, Maya, learned the same lessons when visiting their maternal grandparents in Zambia when her grandfather was a diplomat.

When Kamala was seven her parents divorced.  From her new home in Berkeley she was bused to school at Thousand Oaks Elementary where she met students from diverse ethnic and social backgrounds. Her days were filled with studies, outside interests including evenings at a cultural center showcasing Black Americans in the arts and literature.  Kamala, her sister, and mother were deeply involved in their local church, the girls attending on Sundays when they did not visit their father.

When she was in middle school, Kamala's world took another turn when her mother got a job in Montreal, Canada.  Trading sun for snow was a huge shift.  Kamala returned to the states to attend college at Howard University where she won her first election.

Month after month, during her time at Howard University and in the subsequent years every choice, every career decision, lead Kamala Harris to her present place in politics as the second African American woman to be voted into the United States Senate.  Her focus, learned from her family, has been service for the people she represents. In less than two months, we will all see if her dedication will be amplified.

The literary technique of having Kamala Harris's story told through the conversation between a mother and her daughter is highly effective when used in the masterful hands of author Nikki Grimes.  Her careful research is obvious in the specific details she includes.  She takes readers step by step, using her gift with words, to build this distinctive woman's life layer by layer.  Here is a passage.

Once, when tiny Kamala was fussing,

her mother couldn't figure out

what was the matter.

"What do you want, little girl?" she asked.

"Freedom!" said Kamala,

and a waterfall of laughter

sputtered from her mother's mouth. 

The strength of Kamala Harris's character, the people who shaped her life, and her commitment to serving people and this country is depicted with excellence on the front, right, of the open and matching dust jacket and book case.  The design is eloquent in every respect, as are the color choices.  The text is raised.  

To the left, on the back, a much younger Kamala is seated at a neighbor's table, a red-and-white checkered tablecloth in front of her.  Her head is tilted as she listens to the woman (who we can't see) speak.  Behind her are portraits of famous African American woman and African face masks on the wall.  (This is a portion of an interior illustration.)

The opening and closing endpapers are a bright yellow.  On the title page a younger Kamala Harris, wearing a backpack, is headed to her home.  Two signs in the yard display the title and subtitle.  

These illustrations by Laura Freeman rendered digitally are bold, rich, and warm.  They are double-page pictures and single-page pictures, edge to edge.  Our focus is always maintained by the vivid depictions of Kamala, regardless of her age or the setting in which she finds herself.  Laura Freeman has portrayed her so well, we expect her to come to life at any moment.  If we pause at each illustration, we can see the individual elements included which are all a part of who Kamala Harris is today.  

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is at the beginning of the book.  It is when Eve's mother is starting the story of Kamala Harris's life.  Across two pages is a collage of large lotus flowers, left to right, among teal water with floating smaller lotus flowers and pads.  In the first large lotus flower is baby Kamala grasping a small lotus blossom.  In the second large flower is little girl Kamala, eyes closed, as she smells a larger lotus blossom she holds in both hands.  On the other side of the gutter, a much older Kamala, among large lotus petals, is studying.  This leads us to present day Kamala.  She fills nearly half of the right side, smiling, and with her eyes wide open.  The lotus pattern is overlaid on her clothing.

This woman has left her mark in each portion of her life which is clearly defined in Kamala Harris: Rooted In Justice written by Nikki Grimes with illustrations by Laura Freeman.  Each time you read this title; your respect continues to grow for her commitment to her calling.  You are inspired.  At the close of the book is a timeline of significant occurrences in her life.  A small list of sources is included.  You'll want to have a copy of this book in your professional and personal collections.

To learn more about Nikki Grimes and Laura Freeman and their other work, please follow the link attached to their names to access their websites.  Nikki Grimes has accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.  Laura Freeman has an account on Instagram.  The cover reveal for this book was hosted by Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries, John Schumacher, at Watch. Connect. Read.  I believe you will enjoy the conversation between Nikki Grimes and John Schumacher.  At the publisher's website you can view multiple interior images, several of which are my favorites.

This next woman's words still ring with clarity in the music she made.  You can't read or hear her name without one of her songs keeping you company throughout the day in your mind.  You might find yourself humming one of her tunes.  Her voice, like her persona, is larger than life.

As the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame her place in the world of music is forever etched in history.  R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, August 25, 2020) written by Carole Boston Weatherford with art by Frank Morrison is a tribute in words and art to the power of a single person to effect change for the greater good on a worldwide scale.  Even at this moment, I can hear her singing. 

B-L-E-S-S-E-D

Cradled by the church, rocked by an ebony sea,

Aretha says a little prayer each night on bended knee.

This introductory sentence is the first of fifteen single hyphenated words followed by one or two explanatory sentences. We learn of the strong foundation of faith present in Aretha's life.  We learn of the family's move to Detroit where the parents and children lift their voices in Gospel song.

Aretha's parents separate, but her musical talent soars.  She is a gifted pianist, playing by ear.  She also listens to her father's voice in the fight for equality across the spectrum.  

At the age of fourteen, Aretha records her first album.  Her father knows true talent when he hears it, a voice able to span 

three-plus octaves.

This woman is not only a strength in the world of music, but a source of power in the civil rights movement.  She gives concerts for free to raise funds.  A moment everyone will remember is her singing of "My Country 'Tis of Thee" at President Barack Obama's inauguration.  Throughout her life Aretha Franklin returns to the foundation from which she rose, deep in her religious beliefs, the Queen of Soul, using her gift from God.

The manner in which author Carole Boston Weatherford unfolds her appreciation for Aretha Franklin in this narrative is akin to a call and response.  A single definitive word is presented, followed by a factual, but lyrical rhyming description. Only twice during this book does she break this cadence to use quoted phrases.  Here is another passage.

G-I-F-T-E-D

Young, gifted, black, Aretha hears a melody.

Then she plays the tune by ear---plinking perfectly.

You cannot help but gasp, at least inwardly, if not aloud, when you view the opened dust jacket of this book.  Artist Frank Morrison displays Aretha Franklin young, vibrant, and definitely a queen from left to right in a majestic depiction.  Her feathered coat, continuing over the spine, barely flows past (on the left) her hand holding a microphone.  In a word, this is beautiful.  The single word main title is raised in gold foil.

On the book case on a canvas of rich, golden brown, orange, and red is a child on the front.  Her lovely, black hair frames her smiling face.  In both her hands she holds an album reading:

QUEEN OF SOUL

with the face of a singing Aretha above the words.

On the opening endpapers is a collage, as if we are looking down, of album covers, records and a record player.  Two people, one a child, and the other older are holding albums.  On the closing endpapers is the image from the book case.

These illustrations rendered in oil paint by Frank Morrison are stunning.  Across the title page is a double-page picture of a pink Cadillac from fins to front.  With a page turn the verso and dedication pages feature Aretha and her siblings playing a game of hide-and-seek at their home in Tennessee.  

Each of the following double-page images are glorious paintings portraying significant portions of her life story.  We see these occasions from multiple perspectives, as observers or participants.  The range of real emotions on the people's faces increases the very personal points of view.  With his artwork, Frank Morrison takes us completely into the experience.

One of my many, many favorite paintings is for the passage above noted.  We are looking directly down on a young Aretha Franklin.  At the top of the page, the piano keyboard extends from edge to edge.  Aretha's fingers are placed on the left and right side of her body on the keys.  We see her arms, elbows lifted, coming from the sleeves of her yellow dress.  We see the skirt of her dress spread out over her legs as she sits on a black bench.  All we see of her face is the top of her head.  The floor is wide-boards and wooden.  Along the lower edge of the image is a fringed, red patterned rug.  It's like we've stepped back in time.

This ode in pure poetic perfection enhanced by powerful paintings will be read and treasured for years to come.  In R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul written by Carole Boston Weatherford with art by Frank Morrison we get informative glimpses into greatness.  At the close of the book there is an author's note which further informs readers.  There is also a list of Chart-Toppers: Aretha Franklin's Biggest Hits.  I highly recommend this title for your professional and personal bookshelves.  You might want to pair this title with A Voice Named Aretha written by Katheryn Russell-Brown with illustrations by Laura Freeman.

To discover more about Carole Boston Weatherford and Frank Morrison and their other work, please follow the link attached to their names to access their websites.  Carole Boston Weatherford has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Frank Morrison has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  At the publisher's website you can view the entire dust jacket, back to front.

Be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy hosted by educator Alyson Beecher to view the other titles selected this week by participants in the 2020 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.