Book Review # 7

Book: Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement

Author: Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrator: Ekua Holmes

Publisher: Dreamscape Media

Copyright Date: 2016

Lexile: 820

This is an absolutely beautiful illustrated picture book about the life of Fannie Lou Hamer. I

was not aware of Fannie Lou Hamer until about 4 years ago when I came across her speech

in a Congressional testimony through a video posted by the American Experience PBS

YouTube channel. I immediately looked her up after watching the clip of her speech but I found

out more about her through this book by Carole Boston Weatherford. And the illustrations by

Ekua Holmes are a perfect compliment to the images Weatherford's words create. It is no surprise

that Holmes was awarded a Caldecott honor and the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe award for

New talent for this debut work. It is well deserved. This is one of the best nonfiction picture books

I've ever read. I love the way the author has told Fannie Lou Hamer's story through free verse

poetry. She also has done a remarkable job of conveying these poems in the voice of Ms Hamer.

It's a beautifully told tale of an important figure in the Civil Rights Movement, someone more

people should know about.

Fannie Lou Hamer’s story starts with her birth in the Mississippi delta, the youngest of 20 children,
Fannie Lou had to drop out of school after sixth grade to work in the cotton fields. She married

Perry Hamer and adopted two daughters after being tricked into having an operation to prevent

her from being able to have children. In 1962, she attended her first voter registration meeting,

unaware that blacks even had the right to vote.

Within the year she was deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement, losing her job and her home

as a result. Imprisoned and badly beaten, she refused to give up her work, eventually becoming a
national spokesperson for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and addressing the 1964
Democratic National Convention about voter discrimination. Fannie Lou also worked to improve
conditions in Mississippi, organizing cotton pickers and starting a Head Start program. She died in

1977. There’s a lot of information in this book, and even older students may need some historical

context to understand all of Hamer’s contributions. But it can be read in a classroom or parents can

read it to their children to discuss it along with the today’s similar problems.

Book Review #6

Book: Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Author: Doreen Rappaport

Illustrator: Bryan Collier

Publisher: Hyperion Books

Copyright Date: 2001

Age Range: 5-8 years old

Lexile: 610

This biography is a beautifully illustrated look at the life and death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This book would be an excellent introduction of Dr. King to a group of children ranging in age

from 5-8 years old. The author, Doreen Rappaport is known for writing about a multicultural

history, where she focuses on not-yet-celebrated American as well as well-known figures.

Here are some other titles that Rappaport write that you could also read along with this title:

Helen’s Big World: The Life of Helen Keller

Abe’s Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln

Eleanor: Quiet No More

To Dare Mighty Things: The Life of Theodore Roosevelt

Elizabeth Started All the Trouble

Frederick’s Journey: The Life of Frederick Douglass

Freedom River (also illustrated by Bryan Collier)

When Martin was young and he saw signs that said, “Whites only”; his mother would tell him “you

are as good as anyone”. This encouragement from his mother would help Martin grow up to play

a great part in history during the Civil Rights Movement. Martin was also grew up listening to his

father at church preach which had a profound impact over him. He said, “When I grow up I’m going

to get big words, too”, and he did.

Black Americans protested for equal rights but white politicians ordered them to stop and when they
refused they were arrested. Eventually more Americans were listening and actually understanding

what was going on in the South. His words were hear all around the world as they listened to his

dream that all people around the world will one day treat each other as brothers and sisters no

matter the color of their skin.

The author uses a beautiful collage style that draws the reader in with his realistic images. She also

uses King’s original text from writing and speeches. This book is a great way to introduce a young

one to an historical figure and an important time in history.