Becoming Billie Holiday by Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. Weatherford and Cooper have combined their talents in a fascinating book about the life of Billie Holiday. The singer's life is told through 100 narrative poems that describe her life from birth until age 25. Born out of wedlock, her early years included rape, prostitution, drugs and more. The writing is strong and the powerful illustrations provide a feel for the times. The end pages list brief biographies of other musicians, a bibliography and a list of recordings. It is easy to see why this title won so many awards (CSK Honor, ALA's Best Books for YA's, etc). The mature content would make it appropriate for grade 8 and up so we need to discuss whether or not it is appropriate for our K-8 list. Your thoughts?

Blacker the Berry by Joyce Carol Thomas

This book of poetry is beautifully illustrated by Floyd Cooper. Told through the voices of African-American children, these twelve poems depict the skin colors of each individual (e.g. cranberry red for a child with Irish ancestors). It is easy to see why this is a CSK Author Honor book and a CSK Illustrator Award winner. Cooper's illustrations realistically portray the varied skin tones ending with a two-page spread of laughing, smiling children.

The final lines in the poem, Cranberry Red reinforce the theme of identity:

When we measure who we are
We don't leave anybody out
We count who we are
And add all who came before us

The way we figure it
We're just great

This title could be used to teach poetry, Black History month, identity, and acceptance.

We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson

Beautiful oil paintings, based on photographs from the Negro League Baseball Museum grace at least every other page of this collection of stories about “lost heroes” of our national game. Following a forward by Hank Aaron, cleverly labeled “Innings,” tell the story from Negro League’s beginnings in the 1920s through “Extra Innings,” the end of the Negro Leagues from 1946 until the League’s last day in 1960. Included in the back: lists of Negro Leaguers who made it to the Major Leagues and Negro Leaguers in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, a bibliography and filmography, numerous endnotes, and a 3-page index.