A Child's Introduction to African American History: The Experiences, People, and Events That Shaped Our Country

by Jabari Asim, Lynn Gaines (Illustrator)

Overview

This illustrated introduction to African American history goes beyond what's taught in the classroom giving young readers a more comprehensive look at this timely and important topic.

Author Jabari Asim chronicles the story of African Americans from the slave trader through the American Revolution and the Civil War to the Tuskegee experiments, the Civil Rights movement, the election of Barack Obama. Sections throughout highlight the contribution of African Americans to the arts, music, literature, culture, sports and more. Lives of inspiring African American artists, inventors, and politicians including Harriet Tubman, Langston Hughes, Oprah Winfrey, Louis Armstrong, Serena Williams, are featured as well.

Following in the tradition of Black Dog's best-selling Child's Introduction books, which include The Story of the Orchestra and A Child's Introduction to the Night Sky, A Child's Introduction to African American History includes 120 charming illustrations that bring the people and events to life. The book also features interactive projects that kids can do on their own or with their guardians including recipes and crafts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316441834
Publisher:	Running Press Book Publishers
Publication date:	01/02/2018
Series:	A Child's Introduction Series
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
File size:	107 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Jabari Asim is the author of several adult and children's books, including Preaching to the Chickens which was named one of the NYT Best Illustrated Books of 2016 and Fifty Cents and a Dream-an NAACP Image Award Nominee, CCBC Choice, School Library JournalEditor's Choice, and Kirkus Best Book. He is an associate professor at Emerson College in Boston and executive editor of The Crisis, the magazine of the NAACP. He recently was honored with a Guggenheim Fellowship. He lives in Newton, Massachusetts.
Lynn Gaines is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art and has been illustrating greeting cards for more than 20 years. She lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband, mother, and two crazy cats. This is her first picture book.

Editorial Reviews

12/11/2017
Asim (Preaching to the Chickens) thoroughly explores influential events, political and social movements, and individuals in African-American history, beginning with the ugly legacy of slavery: “African Americans are the only ethnic group whose ancestors were brought to this country against their will.” Moving forward in time, Asim discusses topics that include abolitionism, the Harlem Renaissance, and the civil rights movement; highlights African-American activists, artists, and athletes; and contextualizes events such as the airing of the 1977 miniseries Roots and the Los Angeles riots. A closing section carries readers into the 21st century with Hurricane Katrina, the election of Barack Obama to the presidency, and Black Lives Matter. Newcomer Gaines’s portraits are often stiff and awkward, but Asim’s thoughtful, wide-ranging commentary makes this a useful and accessible resource. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Joy Harris, Joy Harris Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

01/01/2018
Gr 3 Up—An amazing amount of information is packed into this compendium of African American history. In addition to the larger chronological narrative, the book also features short biographies of famous leaders, artists, and athletes. Key issues, events, and concepts are explored succinctly. Asim explains in a straightforward manner what lynching is and covers other injustices imposed upon Black Americans, including the destruction of towns and wrongfully conducted medical experiments. Each topic is set off by a bold title with plenty of white space and an abundance of decorative borders and colorful illustrations to keep the information from becoming too overwhelming. It's the kind of book that can be browsed at random or read straight through. The work includes a comprehensive index and a pull-out time line. VERDICT A comprehensive introduction to African American history and a solid purchase for nonfiction collections.—Maggie Chase, Boise State University, ID

School Library Journal

Asim’s fact-filled account begins with a question in Dion Graham’s smooth tones: What is African-American history? Listeners are then presented with a history that starts with the slave trade and encompasses the Middle Passage, the Civil War, and the Civil Rights era on its way to the election of Barack Obama and the Black Lives Matter movement. Included is information about the places, voyages, entertainment, sports, and politics of the times. Graham’s rich voice draws listeners into his recounting, while managing to seamlessly integrate the book’s many separate “Get to Know” profiles of individual trailblazers, athletes, and entertainers. A marriage of quality writing and narration makes this an audiobook that should find a wide audience. E.J.F. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2018 - AudioFile

Asim’s fact-filled account begins with a question in Dion Graham’s smooth tones: What is African-American history? Listeners are then presented with a history that starts with the slave trade and encompasses the Middle Passage, the Civil War, and the Civil Rights era on its way to the election of Barack Obama and the Black Lives Matter movement. Included is information about the places, voyages, entertainment, sports, and politics of the times. Graham’s rich voice draws listeners into his recounting, while managing to seamlessly integrate the book’s many separate “Get to Know” profiles of individual trailblazers, athletes, and entertainers. A marriage of quality writing and narration makes this an audiobook that should find a wide audience. E.J.F. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2018 - AudioFile