Lesa Cline-Ransome (Before She was Harriet), James Ransome (Be a King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream and You), and Carole Boston Weatherford (Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library) read from and discuss their historical picture books for children, which tell important stories of African-American heroes in the Civil Rights and social justice movements.
Why should you attend?
“This striking reverse chronology opens with a regal portrait of an elderly Harriet Tubman, after which the Ransomes chart her decades of work in pursuit of equality. [Lesa Cline-Ransome’s] incisive free verse emphasize[s] Tubman’s bravery in the face of a multitude of dangers. James Ransome’s watercolor portraits imbue Tubman with a steely determination—at every age—in lush scenes often set against blazing summer skies and blue, moonlit nights. Beyond its recognition of all that Tubman accomplished, the book serves as a powerful reminder of how all children carry within them the potential for greatness.” —Publishers Weekly
“While the book is accessible as an inspiring primer on social justice and taking action, it also challenges more sophisticated readers to make connections between the art, the text, Dr. King’s life, the civil rights movement at large, and the continuing struggle to affect change…. This book is sure to spark discussion and empower readers of all ages.” —School Library Journal
This event is part of the 2018 Virginia Festival of the Book. A full schedule of events is available here.