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bickie's review against another edition
5.0
Narrative story of Frederick Douglass's life, focused on the time period between learning to read with Mrs. Auld to the passage of the 13th Amendment. Includes details about his thinking and resistance, including his fighting back against the "slave breaker" Edward Covey. Also includes details about how he escaped from Maryland to New York, highlights about the impact of his impactful speeches and storytelling, discussion of his speech at Seneca Falls, and a spread about his interaction with abolitionist John Brown. Text includes well-placed quotation marks such as around "owned" and "property" when describing enslaved people's relationships to their enslavers.
Cooper's illustrations nearly all center Douglass, and in many of them, he is the largest figure. In others, such as when he is talking with John Brown, he is depicted as an equal, considering what John Brown was saying.
Too much text for most read-aloud opportunities, but an excellent book for individual or group study.
Cooper's illustrations nearly all center Douglass, and in many of them, he is the largest figure. In others, such as when he is talking with John Brown, he is depicted as an equal, considering what John Brown was saying.
Too much text for most read-aloud opportunities, but an excellent book for individual or group study.
readwithpassion's review against another edition
5.0
We bought this book in 2017 when it first came out, and we read it again and again and again. My kids love to listen and learn about one of the most brilliant people to have ever lived. His story is incredibly inspiring. Even as a young boy, Douglass defied the world and never took no as an answer. The details of his story within this book show children (and adults) that they must push for what is right and commit to changing the world for the better. This book belongs in every classroom (and not just relegated to the classroom library). It should be shared collectively and purposefully with kids.
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=21437 (available after July 7, 2020)
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=21437 (available after July 7, 2020)
molly_dettmann's review against another edition
5.0
Great children's book about Frederick Douglass. The soft illustrations are beautiful to look at, but do not take away from the hard life Douglass lived and all he went through as a slave and then an advocate for slaves. I didn't know about how he spoke up for women's rights. I think this a great way to introduce children to an amazing figure in our American history.
mattyb's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.75
libraryrobin's review against another edition
4.0
An engaging biography of the celebrated historic figure. Great illustrations, interesting details, and well-paced narrative. Excellent.
antlersantlers's review against another edition
4.0
This is a nice picture book level biography of Frederick Douglass. What really astonishes me is that Floyd Cooper has never won any Caldecott award of any kind! His illustrations are so soft, almost ethereal. This is yet another in a long line of really beautifully illustrated books by Mr. Cooper.
libscote's review against another edition
4.0
The illustrations in this one are stunning. It is a good first look at Douglass's life for kids. Myers didn't disappoint. Coopers illustrations are incredible.
ericaereads's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful illustrations support Walter Dean Myers's text and create a poignancy to Frederick Douglass's story that will move readers of all ages. The only thing that kept this from being a five star review was that the layout, font, and color choice was at times difficult to read.
maidmarianlib's review against another edition
5.0
The illustrations in this book are magnificent, the story is powerfully told.
erine's review against another edition
4.0
My only complaint is at the end. There is a transcript of a document signed by Hugh Auld officially freeing Frederick Douglass. There is no mention of how Douglass, who escaped and was apparently living as a fugitive, came by this document, and I can only imagine that it is a fascinating story.
I think the entire book can be summed up by its last sentence: "His voice, born in the soft tones of the slave population, truly became a lion's roar." The story itself follows a muted beginning, and then picks up apace as Douglass gains confidence and ideas and agency and he seizes opportunities that come his way. A truly inspiring story, and I am so glad to be able to agree that "Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody who’s done an amazing job and is getting recognized more and more."
I think the entire book can be summed up by its last sentence: "His voice, born in the soft tones of the slave population, truly became a lion's roar." The story itself follows a muted beginning, and then picks up apace as Douglass gains confidence and ideas and agency and he seizes opportunities that come his way. A truly inspiring story, and I am so glad to be able to agree that "Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody who’s done an amazing job and is getting recognized more and more."