D Is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet (Discover the World)

Gr 1-5 A rich and varied portrait of the African-American experience presented in an alphabet format. The words selected range from the generic, such as cowboys, politics, and quilts, to specific events and people, such as the March on Washington, the Great Migration, the Little Rock Nine, and Malcolm X. A rhyming couplet highlights the significance of the chosen term. For example, "Poetry, paintings, photography]the stage!/Hit songs at the top of the chart;/H is for Harlem Renaissance, /a great birth of culture and art." Lewis's powerful watercolor illustrations depict the essence of the topic. This is an inspirational look at the contributions, experiences, struggles, and triumphs of African Americans."Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA" Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.