Tuskegee Airmen Story, The
K-Gr. 3. After two African American children find their grandfather's World War II uniform and medals, their grandmother encourages them to ask him about the war. He tells them about his experiences in the Tuskegee Airmen fighter group, the difficulties of living in a segregated society, and how the African Americans' contribution helped win the war abroad and the war against segregation at home. The authors, who also wroteBlack Knights: The Story of the Tuskegee Airmen(2001) for adults, undoubtedly know their subject, though the presentation here is somewhat stilted. The fictional framework, with its sometimes-contrived questions adds little; however, the grandfather's narrative does a good job of explaining who the Tuskegee Airmen were and what they achieved. Similarly, the paintings of the children and grandparents that illustrate the present-day story are more stilted than those showing the Tuskegee Airmen and their world. Apparently the only book on this subject accessible to young children, this will be a useful addition to many school and public library collections.Carolyn PhelanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved