Reviews

The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones, Renée Watson

blackbibliophile's review

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5.0

Phenomenal illustrations and poems about the true history of how Blacks were stolen from their land. “Ours is no immigration story.” For too long others have misconstrued and lied about our narrative and we are taking it back and making the truth known.

Love. Resist. Persevere.

teeclecticreads's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring

5.0

mrsagostino_reads's review against another edition

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5.0

Beautifully written, powerful!

A powerful account with beautiful artwork. A moving history and perspective on a class project that many students wouldn’t even think twice about. An absolute MUST READ for all caregivers, teachers, and leaders of young minds.

autumnnfall's review

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5.0

Wow. This book was amazing. I feel like it should have won the 2022 Caldecott award. The illustrations are done in a painting type style. The cover of the book shows two people in the water and underneath the water you can see the outline of two other people swimming. The little girl at the start of the book is shown looking sad/lost and at the end she is happy. You can see that the characters in the story starting out are happy. They have big smiles on their faces. That is until they are taken from their home boarding a ship to a new land, where they are now owned by white people: the journey on the boat, you can see them counting by the days and the look of sadness and anger upon them. There is a part in the story that says “we are born on the water. We come from the people who refused to die”. That didn’t mean that they were literally born on the water, but that they became new people. Fighters for the ones who lost their life over people who had right to take them from their home. The illustrations show the characters working out on the fields for the white people, and above one you can see what he is dreaming of, a better future. This is an amazing book to show children about the history of slaves and how they were taken against their will to work and live in a country they don’t know for people who they don’t know and treat them awful. I would definitely read this to my students, particularly my 3rd-5th grade classes. Would be a great black history month book too!!

deblbrice's review

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5.0

This is a great book. You shouldn't discount it because it is a children's book.
It is much more than just a picture book.


#JennyGuyColvin

kalb0924's review

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5.0

Powerful words combined with absolutely gorgeous art.

sehaley's review

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5.0

This is an absolutely stunning lyrical picture book. Nickolas Smith’s artwork is phenomenal. Nicole Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson's brilliant poetry makes the story of this complex narrative accessible for all. Humanity is clearly centered at the heart of this text.

dianaeberhardt's review

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5.0

A moving, beautifully illustrated story

vfleming's review

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5.0

Read this to my students and they were captivated by it. It painted the picture of what it was like for before, during, and after slavery. Beautifully written. Excellent picture book.

kfarrellshigeta's review

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5.0

Should be required reading! I promise you’ll learn something new.