A Song for the Unsung: Bayard Rustin by Carole Boston Weatherford, Rob Sanders, and Byron McCray - ADVISABLE

 A Song for the Unsung: Bayard Rustin, the man behind the 1963 March on Washington by Carole Boston Weatherford and Rob Sanders, illustrated by Byron McCray. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2022. $20. 9781250779502 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

As the morning dawns on the day of the March on Washington in 1963, no one yet has arrived, except for Bayard Rustin, who was instrumental in organizing the rally. As he looks back on the life and the events that brought him to that place, slowly people start to arrive, until the crowd is 250,000 strong. Even though as a gay, black man he is forced into the shadow, his fighting spirit and his hope have never been diminished. 

Weatherford and Sanders sprinkle the text with key song titles for the Civil Rights Movement – I can see playing at least snippets of each song as it appears. The book is quite text heavy, So either a long period read or spread out over a couple of days. It does mention that Bayard was gay and how that affected his acceptance into the civil rights movement. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Black Lives Matter: From Hashtag to the Streets by Dr. Artika R. Tyner - ADVISABLE

Black Lives Matter: From Hashtag to the Streets by Dr. Artika R. Tyner, 27 pages. NON-FICTION. Lerner, 2021. $25 (library binding). 9781728429564 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Tyner gives us an introduction to the recent #BlackLivesMatter movement and puts it into context of the Civil Rights Movement and the 2020 summer protests. 

A reasonable, if somewhat shallow, introduction to #BlackLivesMatter. Hopefully there will be future works for young readers that dive a bit deeper on the subject. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Black Voter Suppression by Dr. Artika R. Tyner - ADVISABLE

Black Voter Suppression: The Fight for the Right to Vote by Dr. Artika R. Tyner, 27 pages. NON-FICTION. Lerner, 20201. $10 (paperback). 9781728429663 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Tyner explores a few of the ways that cities and states have worked to limit marginalized voters’ ability to actually vote and lightly touches on the reasons why they would do so. It also talks about ways that Blacks and others have worked around and actively lobbied for those very rights. 

A decent beginner level treatment of the topic. A good way to get the idea of voter suppression into students’ hand, but the subject deserves many more pages. I hope that someone comes out with a good 96 pages on the topic. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Stamped : Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi - ESSENTIAL

Stamped : Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi 274 pages. NON-FICTION Little, Brown and Company, 2020. $19.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG.

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Based on the adult book "Stamped from the Beginning" by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Jason Reynolds calls it a remix and has added his magic to discuss the history of racism in the United States. From it's very beginning in 15th century Europe, through today, we learn about Segregationists, Assimilationists and Antiracists within the context of American History - American History of racism. 

Jason Reynolds has made the content understandable and engaging to a young audience. Fast paced with just enough humor to make the serious topic completely accessible to 12 yo and older. A very important book, I hope to see Stamped in classrooms soon - great discussion topics and historical perspective. 

Lisa Librarian