Sunday, October 23, 2016

My Name is James Madison Hemings by Jonah Winter - ADVISABLE

Winter, Jonah My Name is James Madison Hemings, illustrated by Terry Widener.  PICTURE BOOK.  Schwatrz & Wade (Random), 2016.  $18.

James Hemings was a slave on a plantation in Virginia.  Like many slaves, his father was also his master.  In James case, however, his master/father was Thomas Jefferson.  Being only one-eighth black, he could have passed as white, but since he is property, such a life is not for him.

Winter takes a very interesting look at the life of Thomas Jefferson’s slave children.  It is quite a lot of information and more detailed than the average picture book.  I will definitely be showing this to my teachers, as I feel the material is more appropriate for the upper grades,  I’d love to know if an elementary school would use and talk about this book.  Anyone?

EL _ OPTIONAL.  MS, HS – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

2 comments:

Stephanie said...

We would love that book, it sounds incredible interesting! The upper grades really delve into that time period so that would work out. I will add to my most wanted list.

Cindy Mitchell said...

My teachers at the middle school loved it too. It can cross to almost any grade.