Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Fueled by childhood memories of hearing the same Black History Month stories about the same people and events told the same way over and over, Smith sought to convey the importance and relevance of African American contributions and milestones in a fresh, engaging manner. Using a variety of creative techniques (rhymed couplets, free verse, eulogies, primary source documents, and others), complemented by rich, vibrant illustrations, this account, with an entry for each of the 28 days in February, briefly but effectively summarizes significant events and individuals from the Revolutionary War through modern day. Day 17 presents a poem about Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe that lobs words from line to line. Day 25 offers a countdown of 10 biographical facts about the lives of astronauts Guy Bluford and Mae Jemison. Smith's entries are brief enough to be shared daily during a Black History Month celebration, but they're also sufficiently compelling to read through in one sitting. Evans' buoyant and colorful illustrations have the look of cut-paper collage, and their expressive movement and joyfulness only add to the overall feeling of celebration. The book ends with the final day's exhortation: words of inspiration for young readers to make the most of every day. An inspiring, fresh take on a perennial topic.--McBroom, Kathleen Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In recognition of Black History Month, the creators of Black Jack offer 28 capsule tributes to African-American history and culture, spotlighting both celebrated and lesser-known figures, incidents, and legislation. Smith-who, in an introduction, discusses his own "love-hate relationship with Black History Month" and his concerns about "ignoring [black culture] the other eleven months" of the year-mingles narrative styles to suit his subjects. Eloquent prose passages eulogize Harriet Tubman and businesswoman and philanthropist Madam C.J. Walker, rhythmic free verse celebrates singer Marian Anderson, and energetic poems commemorate such athletes as Wilma Rudolph, Hank Aaron, and Arthur Ashe. Smith also provides relevant primary source material, including excerpts from the Dred Scott decision, Plessy v. Ferguson, and Brown v. Board of Education. Expressively evoking a range of time periods and personalities, Evans's bold, collagelike illustrations pull together penetrating portraits, symbolic backdrops, and dramatic silhouettes. Succinct biographical info, included throughout, further cements the value and utility of the project, both in and out of the classroom. Ages 4-10. Author's agent: Miriam Altshuler, Miriam Altshuler Literary Agency. Illustrator's agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (Jan.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-5-Smith tells readers in an author's note that he has "always had a love-hate relationship with Black History Month." Together with Evans, he presents 28 brief descriptions of crucial people or events in black history, ranging from 1770 to the present. Text formats include poetry, quotations, eulogies, and plays on numbers (a countdown recognizes astronauts Guion Bluford and Mae Jemison). The poetry stands out for its use of concrete form (the poem about tennis players Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe bounces across the page) and its wordplay (singer Marian Anderson's poem incorporates one of her best-known songs). Expanding on Evans's highly textured Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom (Roaring Brook, 2011) and other works, the collage-style art matches line and color palettes to the mood of each event (for example, Martin Luther King Jr. is shown speaking against a background of outward-expanding lines of yellows and oranges). The physical book sometimes becomes part of the illustration, as when the gutter separates a black family from a white one on the pages about the separate but equal doctrine, and the boundaries between words and pictures are sometimes blurred, as when Jackie Robinson literally hits words such as inequality and prejudice out of the park. A final 29th day challenges readers to make history for themselves, and a bibliography invites further exploration. Highly recommended as a reference book, an example of poetic forms, and a work of art.-Jill Ratzan, I. L. Peretz Community Jewish School, Somerset, NJ (c) Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
A big-hearted, wide-ranging compilation intended to bring Black History Month alive, this volume highlights twenty-eight notable people or events (one for each day of February), starting with Attucks and ending with Obama, then a look to the future. Poems and brief informational paragraphs (in small italicized type) are complemented by bold mixed-media illustrations in a busy design. A good starting place for children. Bib. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Three pivotal Supreme Court cases, one amendment, and 25 great men and women make for memorable entries. Smith opens the 28 days of Black History Month with Crispus Attucks, who was a slave and a patriot in Colonial Boston, and concludes with Barack Obama, the 44th president. Moving chronologically, he presents names from the armed forces, medicine, sports, performing arts, exploration, business and civil rights activism. The entries vary from poetry to prose, dramatically making the point that each is individually an important person or decision, vital to our understanding of African-American history. Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe are represented in a poem for two voices. Harriet Tubman and Madame C.J. Walker are eulogized. Marian Anderson's poem incorporates words from "My Country 'Tis of Thee." Malcolm X is honored with an acrostic poem centered on "By any means necessary." Nelson Mandela, the one international citizen, is accorded a chant. Brief paragraphs provide background notes. Day 29 is aimed at children, exhorting them to "add to history." Evans' digitally manipulated collage-and-oil artwork is brilliant, with bright colors and broad images that are powerful, poignant and heroic. Matthew Henson holds an American flag, Rosa Parks is in handcuffs, and the Little Rock Nine hold books while segregationists stand behind them with their fists raised. A stellar achievement for the whole yearnot just its shortest month. (author's note, bibliography) (Informational picture book/poetry. 4-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
