D Is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet (Alphabet-Arts & Culture)
A is for abolitionists. P for politics. R for roots. X for Malcolm X. Each letter is presented on a double-page spread with a four-line poem; a long, informative historical note; and a beautiful watercolor painting that evokes the period and people. The historical sequence isn't chronological, but each page includes plenty of discussion material. True to each time period, the stirring illustrations, many in sepia tones with occasional bright colors, are packed with emotion, from the close-up of a woman stitching a beautiful quilt at home to the overview of the famous March on Washington. The unforgettable painting of the Great Migration evokes old photos of a family leaving home, unsure but brave and looking forward. An excellent reference list includes up-to-date books and Web sites. Rochman, Hazel--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.