We Wait for the Sun

by Katie McCabe, Raissa Figueroa (Illustrator)

Overview

A beautiful and uplifting non-fiction picture book from Katie McCabe and trailblazing civil rights lawyer and activist Dovey Johnson Roundtree, We Wait for the Sun.

In the hour before dawn, Dovey Mae and Grandma Rachel step into the cool, damp night on a secret mission: to find the sweetest, ripest blackberries that grow deep in the woods.

But the nighttime holds a thousand sounds—and a thousand shadows—and Dovey Mae is frightened of the dark. But with the fierce and fearless Grandma Rachel at her side, the woods turn magical, and berry picking becomes an enchanting adventure that ends with the beauty and power of the sunrise.

A cherished memory from Dovey Johnson Roundtree’s childhood, this magical experience speaks to the joy that pulsed through her life, even under the shadow of Jim Crow. With Grandma Rachel’s lessons as her guiding light, Dovey Mae would go on to become a trailblazer of the civil rights movement—fighting for justice and equality in the military, the courtroom, and the church. With warm, vibrant illustrations from Raissa Figueroa, We Wait for the Sun is a resonant, beautiful story told through one exquisite page turn after another.

A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book of 2021
Evanston Public Library 101 Great Books for Kids List of 2021

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250229021
Publisher:	Roaring Brook Press
Publication date:	02/09/2021
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	137,595
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD840L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Dovey Johnson Roundtree was an attorney and minister who was one of the first women to be commissioned an Army officer and who helped win a landmark case banning segregation in interstate bus travel. She died in 2018 at the age of 104.

Katie McCabe is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in the Washingtonian Magazine, Baltimore Magazine, and Reader's Digest, among others. Her National Magazine Award–winning article on black medical legend Vivien Thomas was the basis for the HBO film Something the Lord Made, winner of three Emmys and a 2005 Peabody award.

Raissa Figueroa is a children's book illustrator and overall art lover based out of San Diego, California. She loves taking early morning walks through her neighborhood to greet the sun before it rises with her dog, Ghost, to gather inspiration from the beauty of nature that surrounds us. She is also the illustrator of Sophie and the Little Star, written by Amber Hendricks.

Editorial Reviews

★ 12/07/2020

Adapted from U.S. attorney Roundtree’s 2019 adult autobiography, Mighty Justice, which was cowritten with McCabe, this posthumous picture book spotlights one of Roundtree’s favorite midsummer memories: harvesting blackberries before dawn with her beloved grandmother, who “imbued her with the certainty of her self-worth.” Thoughtful imagery lush with sensory detail (“her hand as it grazes a bush and comes back with the first berry of the day, frosted with dew”) pairs seamlessly with atmospheric, luminous digital illustrations by Figueroa as young Roundtree walks through the dark with Grandma Rachel, seeking berries with fellow Black women. This is a poignant glimpse into the childhood of a storied civil rights luminary, simultaneously serving as a testament to the love between caretaker and child and a soothing, nature-based meditation. Back matter includes a powerful author’s note, biographical information on both Roundtree and her maternal grandmother, a timeline of their lives, and a bibliography. Ages 4–8. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"[A]n ode to ancestral Black courage and joy."—Shelf Awareness

"With nighttime scenes bathed in deep purples and a final scene of daybreak in golden hues, this touching tale successfully conveys special moments of hushed expectation and quiet exhilaration between a child and her strong, loving adult. Makes magic out of a true moment, as the best picture books do." —Kirkus Reviews, starred Review

"This is a poignant glimpse into the childhood of a storied civil rights luminary, simultaneously serving as a testament to the love between caretaker and child and a soothing, nature-based meditation." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Absolutely captivating; a first purchase for picture book collections. This peek into the childhood of a groundbreaking civil rights activist is an excellent choice for Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Grandparents Day, or any time of the year." —School Library Journal, starred review

"Recalling a memorable moment of natural beauty, the tale is told simply and directly, underscoring the authenticity of the narrative and the warmth of the main characters’ mutual affection. In the engaging, lyrical illustrations, Figueroa makes good use of deep, soft, subtle colors in the night scenes and startlingly bright hues at dawn. [A] beautiful picture book. —Booklist, starred review

"[I]nfused with the warm satisfaction many children experience (or wish they could experience) in the company of a favorite relative, for whose attention and affection they—at least temporarily—don’t need to compete. —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB)

"Figueroa's stunning illustrations, many of which depict a view from above the woodland scenes, illuminate the landscape, the diligent work of the women, and the lessons Dovey learns from her loving grandmother, which feed her tenacity and determination as an adult. Inspiring and exquisitely illustrated, this well-researched true story will spark conversations that prompt young readers to learn more about Roundtree." —Horn Book

From the Publisher

★ 03/12/2021

K-Gr 2—This luminous picture book introduces young readers to civil rights pioneer Dovey Johnson Roundtree through a pivotal moment in her childhood. Adapted from Roundtree's autobiography, young Dovey narrates the experience of accompanying her grandmother and other neighborhood ladies on a pre-dawn berry-picking expedition. The spellbinding text evokes a strong sense of place and mood, drawing the reader in with a quiet sense of wonder. Roundtree's telling conveys the sense of a sacred tradition being passed from generation to generation, and lovingly illuminates the precious bond between a grandparent and grandchild. The illustrations match the enthralling quality of the narrative. The darkness of the forest setting is painted in rich, velvety shades of blue and purple that melt into soft lavender tones as dawn approaches, ultimately leading to a breathtaking moment when the sun finally rises and the scene is bathed in gold. While the story itself offers only a brief glimpse at Roundtree's formative years, an extensive author's note and timeline fills in the details of her life and accomplishments. Fittingly, the back matter also highlights Rachel Bryant Graham, the grandmother who was such an influential figure in Roundtree's life. VERDICT Absolutely captivating; a first purchase for picture book collections. This peek into the childhood of a groundbreaking civil rights activist is an excellent choice for Black History Month, Women's History Month, Grandparents Day, or any time of the year.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Lib., CA

School Library Journal

★ 2020-11-18
Adapted from Roundtree and McCabe’s book for adults, Mighty Justice (2019), a powerful episode from the childhood of the real-life activist is presented as an adventure.

Dovey Mae and Grandma Rachel slip out of the house in the hour before dawn, when “the midsummer night is dark and cool.” They walk toward the woods to pick blackberries, and the girl thinks they are the only ones awake in the world—but, quietly, more women join their “silent march, [their] secret mission, [their] berry picking.” Her grandma teaches her to walk in the dark. They follow the birds and stay close together. They taste, and they pick, and soon enough, they watch together as the sky turns colors, and the sun rises to usher in the day. With nighttime scenes bathed in deep purples and a final scene of daybreak in golden hues, this touching tale successfully conveys special moments of hushed expectation and quiet exhilaration between a child and her strong, loving adult. Reading co-author McCabe’s note about the story behind the girl, Dovey Mae Johnson Roundtree, and her grandmother, Rachel Graham, will make the story even more significant. At a time when domestic terrorism against African Americans was rampant, here was a relationship in which a young Black girl felt safe. The aftermatter details the importance of that relationship on Roundtree’s later work as a civil rights attorney. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 67.5% of actual size.)

Makes magic out of a true moment, as the best picture books do. (timeline, bibliography) (Picture book/memoir. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews