Paul Robeson Eloise Greenfield

Paul Robeson by Eloise Greenfield, illus. George Ford. Before I even get to the book, I'll begin with the author. Whenever I say Eloise Greenfield name its filled with aww, reverence and thanks. The same goes for Virginia Hamilton and Faith Ringgold. I can't even imagine what these authors had to go through to get published. The least I could do is give them the respect they deserve. Now back to the book. Paul Robeson was orignally published in 1975 and awarded a Coretta Scott King Honor. It was re-released this year by LeeandLowBooks Before I read this I only thought of Paul Robeson as an singer/actor. I didn't realize he was a football player, lawyer and activist as well. The Communist Party is mentioned, this is the first time I've since this Party referenced in a children's book. Greenfield has written a wonderful biography about Paul Robeson. Its a great introduction to Robeson for all ages beginning at 6

The Other Mozart. Hugh Brewster Eric Velasquez

The Other Mozart: The Life of the Famous Chevalier de Saint-George by Hugh Brewster illus. by Eric Velasquez

This is the story of Joseph Bologne. Born in 1745 on the French Island, his mother, Nanon was a slave and his father George was wealthy planter from a well to do French family.


When Joseph Bologne was eight the three moved to Paris. George gave his son a title to fit in. When the three reached their new home - Joseph Bologne became the Chevalier de Saint -George.


He was a champion fencer and a celebrated violinst, conductor and composer.

" In 1769, Joseph became the first violinist of the largest orchestra in Paris. And three years later, the orchestra performed two violin concertos that he had composed. A newspaper review said that the Chevalier de Saint- George received "the most rapturous applause" - both for his playing and for his compositions. The next year, at the age of just twenty-four, Joseph became the orchestra's conductor"


"But the most famous composer in all of Europe was Franz- Josef Haydn. Musicians called him affectionately "Papa" Haydn. In 1785, Joseph traveled to Vienna to meet the great man. Two years later, Joseph conducted the firs performances of six symphonies that Haydn had composed especially for his orchestra. Today these are known as Haydn's "Paris" Symphonies. The fourth one is called La Reine (The Queen) as it was Marie Antoinette's favorite


Brewster includes fact about other prominent people during this time inculding Marie Antoinette, Mozart and Toussaint L'Ouverture. This inclusion can help a reader to cleary see time in which Chevalier de Saint- George lived. Velasquez illustrations are strong, delicate, detailed and gorgeous Velasquez takes the reader to another century with his artwork.

The author mentions the Revolution, the King and Queens beheading and the Reign of Terror that seized Paris.

"An extremist faction led by a man named Robespierre had seized control of France's revolutionary government. Robespierre saw traitors everywhere. Former aristocrats were particularly suspicious. For almost a year, Joesph shivered in a damp, cold cell"

Filled with facts and time lines, this is wonderful biography of a not so well known, accomplished figure in history.

This biography could be paired with
Paul Robeson by Eloise Greenfield Jill's review @ Rhapsodyinbooks or

The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights
by Russell Freedman

And for the first time I am linking to NonFiction Monday (finally)

Sunday Links

I am still trying to decide if Sunday Links will be a regular feature. Though when I think about it I don't have any regular feature. So you may see Sunday Links again or next time it could be Saturday Links.

Check out a few recent reviews of books for young readers with characters of color

Edi @ Crazy Quilts - He Forgot to Say Goodbye by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Laura @ Bib-Laura-graphy - One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia
April @ Good Books & Wine - Copper Sun by Sharon Draper
Casey@ Bookworm 4 Life - Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers
Tanita @ Finding Wonderland - 8th Grade SuperZero by Olugbemisola Rhuday -Perkovich
Mary Ann @ Great Kids Books - The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon
Mary Ann @ Great Kids Books - Bad New For Outlaws by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Ah Yuan @ Gal Novlety - 8th Grade SuperZero by Olugbemisola Rhuday -Perkovich
Jill @ Rhapsodyinbooks A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott

Not sure which review to click on first - let your mouse decide, or start with the blogger name you like the most, or the book you keep hearing about. If you keep hearing about the same book, there's a reason - it wants you.


Over at Book Smugglers there is a new monthly feature called Covers Matter - first up Whitewashing Its an excellent piece and its obvious a lot of research went into it. They touch on everything from recent YA cover issues to Gerard Depardieu playing Alexandre Dumas.

April of Good Books & Wine is compiling a list of Top 100 Young Adult Titles of all time. You have until March 17 to sumbit Nominate your top 5 YA titles.

Author Zetta Elliott's article @ The Huffinton Post - Demanding Diversity in Publishing

Jill of Rhapsodyinbooks has had some great post for Black History Month. Two of my favorites, the review of Blood Done Signed My Name by Timothy Tyson and the one on Nina Simone. If you have never read anything Jill's written on Paul Robeson, you are seriously missiong out.

The other day when I went over to A Fuse #8 Production and learned that author Tonya Hegamin was the 2010 Ezra Keats Award winner for Most Loved in All the World, I gave a little happy squeal.

Cozbi A. Cabrera is the illustrator of Most Loved in All the World. Hegamin and Cabrera were both featured in TheBrownbookshelf 28days later campaign.

Ali of Worducopia is hosting Diversity Roll Call this week. There's still time to do it.

The assignment is to do one of the following sometime in the next couple of weeks or so:

1) Take a look at the magazines or literary journals you read. If you don't read them, pick one up from the library just for the heck of it. Look at the ads, the photo spreads, the authors and subjects of the articles. Do people of color exist in the world this publication presents to its readers? How about gays, lesbians, or people with physical differences?

2) Do you know of a magazine or journal that does embrace diversity? Be it high brow or low brow, tell us about it. If you don't know of any, do a little digging. They've got to be out there.

Harlem Stomp Laban Carrick Hill

Harlem Stomp!: A Cultural History of the Harlem Renaissance by Laban Carrick Hill

The cover don't lie, this is a gorgeous book inside and out. Harlem Stomp is classified as childrens nonfiction, however its great for adults as well. Hill doesn't simply give us the Harlem Renasissance, she gives everything that lead up to it, beginning in 1905. Hill introduces Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois and his talented tenth. She tells of the beginnings of the NAACP in 1910. As with any book that deals with the history of race relations in this country, Harlem Stomp will make your heart swell sadness, anger, hope, and joy. It's filled with facts, photographs, paintings and the words and work of the Harlem Renaissance artists. The author highlights several artists, including Jean Toomer and Paul Robeson, Meta Warrick Fuller and Aaron Douglas. Harlem Stomp is a must for anyone who wants to learn more about the Harlem Renaissance. It was a 2004 National Book Award finalist.