Climbing Lincoln's Steps: The African American Journey
Gr 2-5–This attractive, accessible title uses the Lincoln Memorial as a vehicle to outline the history of the Civil Rights Movement from the Emancipation Proclamation to Dr. King's “I Have a Dream” speech to the 2008 presidential election. Other pivotal moments include world-renowned singer Marian Anderson's 1939 performance at the memorial when she was barred from singing at Constitution Hall. Slade explains in clear, descriptive prose how the memorial “was created from twenty-eight smaller pieces carved out of white marble.” Bootman's realistic watercolor spreads are striking; one of them features portraits of several accomplished African-Americans, including Toni Morrison, Mae Jemison, Colin Powell, and Oprah Winfrey. “Change. It happens slowly. One small step at a time,” is the refrain that echoes repeatedly along with the “Pitter-patter….Click, click, click….Clomp, clomp” of the children, women, and men who climb the steps of the iconic structure. An afterword asks youngsters, “Can you help make change happen?” and describes the steps taken by Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Jackie Robinson, and Rosa Parks. A time line that begins with Douglass's escape from slavery highlights some African-American “firsts.”Barbara Auerbach, PS 217, Brooklyn, NY© Copyright 2010.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.