Beth Anderson, Children's Writer

Happy New Year!  As we make resolutions for the new year, this Perfect Picture Book Friday recommendation has the power to inspire us all to take action to make the world a better place.

Please come back next week when debut author Monica Clark-Robinson shares her process of “Mining for Heart.”

Title: Let the Children March

Written by: Monica Clark-Robinson

Illustrated by: Frank Morrison

Houghton Miflin Harcourt, 2018
Release date: Jan. 2, 2018

Suitable for ages: 6-9 years

Themes/topics: civil rights, making a difference, U.S. History

Opening:
1963
Birmingham, Alabama
I couldn’t play on the same playground as the white kids.
I couldn’t go to their schools.
I couldn’t drink from their water fountains.
There were so many things I couldn’t do.

Brief synopsis (from barnesandnoble.com)
In 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, thousands of African American children volunteered to march for their civil rights after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak. They protested the laws that kept black people separate from white people. Facing fear, hate, and danger, these children used their voices to change the world. Frank Morrison’s emotive oil-on-canvas paintings bring this historical event to life, while Monica Clark-Robinson’s moving and poetic words document this remarkable time.

Activities and Resources:
• What problems do you see around you? What can you do to make a difference? Generate a list of things kids can do. Take action!
• Historical photographs: Use freeze-frame or tableau activities to speak or write using varied points of view. (older children)  Here are two resource sites:           https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/teaching-strategies/bringing-history-life 
 http://www.theteachertoolkit.com/index.php/tool/tableau

Why I like this book:
What a great story to empower children and let them know they, too, can play a role in making the world a better place! This resolute and lyrical text marches us through a critical time and showcases the importance of community. The first-person narration lets readers experience the children’s perspective in the midst of a life-changing event. The illustrations are gorgeous, filled with emotion, and provide interesting viewpoints.

Next week: “Mining for Heart” with Monica Clark-Robinson

Click HERE to see more 2018 picture books from debut authors and illustrators.

Visit author Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Books for a plethora of picture books listed by title and topic/theme, each with teacher/parent activities and resources.