Here is a stunningly beautiful book consisting of portraits- in words and pictures-of twenty outstanding African-Americans. These profiles in fortitude and vision capture the essence of these remarkable men and women who changed their communities and their country. The individuals range from historical to contemporary figures and represent diverse fields of endeavor- from politics and the law to athletics, science, the arts, and more. Starting with the abolitionist Frederick Douglass and ending with Ben Carson, a noted surgeon, these portraits cover more than 150 years of American history.

For each individual, there is a three- page biography by the noted author Tonya Bolden and a striking portrait that captures not only the subject's likeness but is a work of art in itself. This is a book to inspire, to teach, or to display-and to make you reflect on what it really means to be a hero.
--Dutton Books 2003
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When the Supreme Court decision to desegregate public schools was handed down in 1954, the course of American history was forever changed. Brown v. Board of Education affected the life of every child in the United States and elicited emotions ranging from joy, relief, and gratitude to fear, anger, and resentment.

Here are personal reflections, stories, and poems from ten of today's most accomplished writers for children, all young people themselves at the time of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Included are pieces by Michael Cart, Jean Craighead George, Eloise Greenfield, Lois Lowry, Katherine Paterson, Isbmael Reed, Jerry Spinelli, Joyce Carol Thomas, Quincy Troupe, and Leona Nicholas Welch. Their collected experiences and viewpoints offer a multifaceted window into the world of 1954. With a compelling introduction by editor Joyce Carol Thomas and outstanding pastel artwork by Curtis James, this collection celebrates the hard-earned promise of equality in education.
--Jump At The Sun, Hyperion Books For Children 2003
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This treasure trove of lavishly illustrated stories comes from different regions in Africa. In "Anansi," an uproarious story from Ghana, the tables are turned on lazy Anansi. "The Boy Who Wanted the Moon," set in the Congo, explains why there are monkeys in the world. "Shansa Mutongo Shima," a thrilling story of the Tabura people from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reveals the dangers of judging by appearances. In "The Roof of Leaves," from the Congo, a married couple learns a lesson about anger and forgiveness. "The Wedding Basket," set in Nigeria, is a cautionary tale about taboos. In "The Talking Skull," from Cameroon, a foolish man learns too late the wisdom of keeping his mouth shut.

Each tale reflects the rhythms and cadences of the storyteller's muse. For her research, Donna Washington consulted as many written and oral sources as she could find. And award-winning artist James Ransome's stunning water-color paintings illuminate the diversity of the African people, clothing, architecture, landscape, and wildlife. Readers will discover that despite the variety, these stories about human foibles hold universal truths for everyone, everywhere.
--Amistad Press 2003
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In a reflective tribute to the African-American community of old, noted poet Ntozake Shange recalls her childhood home and the close-knit group of innovators that often gathered there. These men of vision, brought to life in the majestic paintings of artist Kadir Nelson, lived at a time when the color of their skin dictated where they could live, what schools they could attend, and even where they could sit on a bus or in a movie theater.

Yet in the face of this tremendous adversity, these dedicated souls and others like them not only demonstrated the importance of Black culture in America, but also helped issue in a movement that "changed the world." Their lives and their works inspire us to this day, and serve as a guide to how we approach the challenges of tomorrow.
--Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing 2004
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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is one of the most celebrated figures of the twentieth century. A crusader for nonviolent social justice he led African Americans in their demands for equality through peaceful protests during one of the most tumultuous times in recent history.

Set against key moments in the civil rights movement here is the story of the powerful, eloquent spiritual leader and his belief that nonviolence could be used to overcome racial discrimination.

Walter Dean Myers's moving narrative and Leonard Jenkins's compelling paintings convey a vivid and striking image of the man who moved American society closer to the ideals of freedom and fairness. Dr. King's dream that all Americans would be judged by their individual actions and character is one we still today.
--Amistad Press 2003
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Marshall Taylor could ride his bike forward, backward, even perched on the handlebars. When his stunts landed him a job at the famous Indiana bike shop Hay and Willits, folks were amazed that a thirteen-year-old black boy in 1891 could be such a crackerjack cyclist.

How little Marshall Taylor -- through dedication, undeniable talent, and daring speed -- transformed himself into the extraordinary Major Taylor is chronicled in this inspiring biography. Here is the story of a kid who turned pro at the age of eighteen, went on to win the world championship title just three years later, and battled racism and the odds to become a true American hero.
--Atheneum 2004
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Now, you've asked me, child, how I come to sew...
With these words, a grandmother begins to weave a story, going back generations to her old-timey grandfather's village in faraway Africa. There, as a boy, he learned to hunt and fish, to make ropes and nets and traps - and baskets so tightly woven they could hold the rain.

Even after being stolen away to a slave ship bound for the strange new land of America, he remembers the things he learned. Working in the rice fields of a plantation from "day clean to sun-go-red," he remembers-and passes these memories on to his children, as they do to their own children.

With powerful images, this story of the preservation of the art of the sweetgrass baskets of the South Carolina and Georgia Lowcountry spirals through time and expands in meaning until it becomes a triumphant song-one that tells a rich story of a craft, a culture, and a people.
--Melanie Kroupa Books/Farrar, Strauss and Giroux 2004
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This is a moving collection of excerpted writings (letters, speeches, poetry, novels, songs, and more) by famous African-Americans with thoughtful commentary on the authors, as well as the impact the writings have had on society. Benjamin Banneker. Dred Scott. Ida B. Wells Barnett. Marcus Garvey. Langston Hughes. Rosa Parks. Malcolm X. Toni Morrison. Lauryn Hill. These and many more are the people who have helped shape African-American culture throughout history.
--Scholastic 2003
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