Freedom Over Me
By Ashley Bryan
Antheneum Books for Young Readers, 2016, Picture Book
Here is one of this year's Newbery Honor books. Bryan was inspired to write the book when she found a list of items to be auctioned at an 1828 estate sale that included eleven slaves. The 20 free-verse poems in the book describe the slaves hopes and fears, what they were proud of and whom they loved. The poems are illustrated with bright watercolor and ink drawings, superimposed on reproductions of historical documents related to the slave trade. This is a great introduction for children to a dark part of American history and a good choice to celebrate Black History Month.
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