Illustrations and Books by Kadir Nelson Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans Kadir

r Nelson This book is high quality because it tells the story of America from a different point of view. Most American history textbooks are written by white males, but Kadir Nelson writes this book from the perspective of an African American woman. This book gives the reader insight into a part of history that is too often avoided. His illustrations support and enrich the text, which helps the book become relatable to students.

Just the Two of Us Will Smith Written as a poem for his son, this book by Will Smith and illustrated by Kadir Nelson captures a special father-son relationship. This book represents an underrepresented population, especially because it looks at the relationship of a loving and involved father, which is against some stereotypes. It is relatable for students who have a father, mother, or role model who love them very much. As fathers themselves, both Smith and Nelson are credible sources for this book.

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom Carole Boston Weatherford As an African American author who has written poetry, historical fiction, and biographies for children, Weatherford has the credibility to write on the topic of slavery and the Underground Railroad. This book gives the reader a story of slavery by giving us a glimpse into the life of one woman who fought slavery her entire life. The illustrations highlight Harriet Tubmans strength and perseverance as she escaped slavery and helped hundreds of others travel to freedom.

We Are The Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball Kadir Nelson Illustrated and written by Kadir Nelson, this book tells the story of the negro baseball league. I found this book interesting because it is not a story that is often told. It highlights the struggles and triumphs that the African American baseball teams faced during this time. This book is relatable to students, and I think it is beneficial to have sports books in the classroom because they match up with the interests of many students.

Dancing in the Wings Debbie Allen This book tells the story of Sassy, an African American girl who peruses her dreams despite the adversity she faces. Many children can relate to the feeling that they are not good enough, and this book reminds us that it is okay to be different. When we embrace the thing that makes us unique, we can succeed. Sassy does not let the stereotypes given to her by other people define who she is. The illustrations in this book help accentuate Sassys personality and bring the story to life.

Salt in His Shoes Deloris Jordan with Roslyn M. Jordan Telling the story of Michael Jordan, this book reminds children to never give up on their dreams. Because Michael is portrayed as an average boy, kids will relate to him and his struggles. It is a book that reminds readers that sometimes the underdog comes out ahead. The authors of this book are Michaels mother and sister, so they have an outstanding level of credibility. The illustrations by Kadir Nelson take this book to the next level by showing what Michaels world looked like when he was young.

Thunder Rose Jerdine Nolen As an American Folklore, this book offers a different perspective of the Old West as it looks at the story of an African American cowgirl. Instead of hearing only about the stereotypical white cowboys and Native Americans, this story highlights an African American girl. The illustrations bring the tale to life, and show the reader all the amazing things that Thunder Rose did. The author gives us insight into a little-known part of American history. Ellington Was Not a Street Ntozake Shange Ntozake Shange looks back on her childhood home and all the important people who often met there. Sometimes we only think of Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights movement. Although he did accomplish a great deal, there were other people who also fought for change. By highlighting some of these less known characters, the story gives us a new idea of who was behind the civil rights movement. This book is relatable to children because it is written from a childs perspective, while also informing the reader about these important characters who were responsible for making great changes for African Americans.

Henrys Freedom Box Ellen Levine Based on a true story, this book follows the journey of one mans daring adventure on the Underground Railroad. It is a new and unique perspective that children will find fascinating. It is amazing that someone could travel from the south to the north in a wooden crate. The illustrations demonstrate how uncomfortable Henry must have been in that box, and they help the reader better understand what he went through.

I Have a Dream Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Kadir Nelson This book is credible because Kadir Nelson took Dr. Kings speech and made it into a picture book. His illustrations make the speech come to life. It is a great book to have in the classroom because it gives students a picture of some of the most famous words ever spoken. The children that are portrayed in the book are all different, which helps kids see themselves in the book and think about what it would have been like as a student at that time in history.