For visitors to New York City who have spent any time in Central Park, this story will have special relevance. In  March 1855 an article in the New York Daily Times warned citizens the city would be taking over a large area to make a park.  Much of the area was swampy and rocky and occupied by the lowest dregs of the city.  Also included was a little settlement called BLACK VILLAGE.

In this settlement author Hansen has set her delightful story of  Maria Peters and her family. The Peters family run a small general store which serves in the capacity of a community center.  Everything happening in the community  revolves around this shop and the village school and church.  Maria is the oldest daughter in her family and seems to excel in all school subjects except sewing.  Her promotion to becoming a “Monitor” is dependent on her showing ability to make a shirt.

There are so many other activities which keep Maria involved in village life.  She befriends a new classmate Anna. Anna finally confesses her parents have bought their freedom but Anna is still owned by a former miserable mistress. Slave catchers have been sent  North to rescue her property. viz Anna.  Maria is sworn to secrecy. Sojourner Truth is in the neighborhood and so Maria decides to contact her to arrange for Anna’s freedom.

The story is alive with suspense and humor.  Family life of the period is depicted with careful attention to details. School life is also covered with fun attention to classroom life in the period. The story does provide some hope for the family after their property is sold.

Carole Weatherford has built a free verse poem quoting from the Beatitudes to delineate the highlights of the struggle African American faced from slavery up to modern times ending dramatically with these words: “Even now I am with the downtrodden and with those who seek uplift. I am holy water in the stream of humanity, Drink,  bathe, and be free.”

Indeed the Weatherford words are strong, but they only emphasize the powerful, powerful art from Mr Ladwig.  The images he has painted to accompany each page are nothing short of spectacular.  They cry to be displayed prominently in every public place of assembly or worship. They add fire to the powerful words spoken  and written of so long ago.

This is a book for every home, every library, every classroom in the world. It speaks universally to us all.

A new profound and beautifully illustrated book,  BEN AND THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION by Pat Sherman, illustrated by Floyd Cooper (Eerdmans Publishing Co ,  2010, $16.99 ) is based on the true story of Benjamin Holmes.  Ben, a slave in Charleston, taught himself to read. At one point his master was a tailor who sent Ben on errands around the city. By politely asking white men if he was in the correct spot he learned his way about at the same time he was learning to read street and other signs.  As the Civil War neared Charleston, Ben’s master fled but not before he put Ben in a prison to await sale after things settled down.

While incarcerated some of the other prisoners bribed a guard and obtained the latest  copy of the CHARLESTON MERCURY, the local newspaper.  Ben read the Proclamation aloud to his fellow slave prisoners. This happened at a time in our history when slaves were not allowed to read.  Ben was inspired originally by his father who taught him the letters he later was able to combine into the words, names of streets he journeyed for his master.

One can only imagine the dramatic effect Ben’s reading must have had on the other imprisoned slaves. The effect that Floyd Cooper’s illustrations will have on today’s readers are immeasurable. I know I felt I was there with Ben the entire time I was reading his story.

The story revolves around slave children Ella May, Bobby and Sue. Ella May works in the fields from dawn to dusk, but her work does not end after dusk.  Then she collects the other two children and they head for their master’s house.  Once there they settle themselves on the ground outside the window.  Here they have been instructed to listen to the family conversation and report any pertinent information to the other slaves back in the quarters.

On this night their master is particularly angry as he reports to his family “I can’t believe Abraham Lincoln has been elected president. … Lincoln is a madman!  He says slavery is wrong! He says slavery must end!” The children run quickly back with this news. Father is elated and says. “We see the road, but we don’t see all the way to where the ending is.  We got to know how long is that road and how we get down it.”

Listening for the children simply has only  begun.

The artist for this volume is a Society of Illustrators multi-award winner.  The paintings take the reader into the scene making each page a lively picture of life back then.  The children are truly childlike, eager and delighted to be doing such an important task. With each volume in this series the artwork is extraordinary,  making each story a treasure to behold.

The  story opens when the entire family, including Sadie, the youngest Crosswhite, have been assembled in the slave yard to witness the  beating of January, a longtime family friend. Sadie knew January had talked of running. He had carved a sparrow for her saying, “It’s fixin to fly. And so am I.” Later that night her father returns to the cabin carrying a shovel saying he had done some buryin’. Much later Sadie is awakened by her mother encouraging her to hurry as “we is goin cross water tonight.” In the rush Sadie forgets her beloved sparrow.

After a horrifying journey the Crosswhites  arrive in Marshall, Michigan, a town “dead set against keepin’ slaves. While at school Sadie develops a friendship with Polly  whom she tells about the lost sculpture. She thought of January as her big brother, but actually he was only an orphan who lived with her family.

The family adjusts to their new life of freedom. However, they are   always on the lookout for slave hunters. At Christmas the fourth year a package wrapped in calico arrives for Sadie. It holds January’s Sparrow. Her father confesses he  treated January’s wounds and buried rocks. Then the worst comes when the slave hunters come specifically for the Crosswhite family.  However, the town collects to prevent their seizure. Things are not going well until a stranger steps forward and shows the townspeople his scarred back. Yes, January has found the family.

This book is one of Patricia’s magnificent stories treating slavery in America. These make excellent reference books for schools studying slavery and the Civil War. I also feel her work could find an honored place in any study of Black History month. The art is so spectacular. The faces  very  dramatically show the anguish, fear, love, joy the Crosswhite family endured as they sought freedom and dignity in their lives. The scenes of slavery are particularly dramatic , but not too frightening for young readers.

The first image to hit the reader comes from the title page. Minimum amount of text giving pertinent data about the book at the top of the two page spread. One’s eyes instead are drawn immediately to the body of a black man floating the stream on the bottom half of the page. No words other than the book data. What a shocking sight. It helps set up the reader for what is to come.

The poems in the following pages recount the struggle of the black man from Jim Crow Days to today. Each page speaks of the horrible actions as white men have tried to keep the blacks in America subjugated.  One can literally taste the hatred; feel the hatred and I believe even smell the anger and hatred blacks faced in their fight for freedom.

I found the poetry astonishing. Ms Shange, poet, playwright and children’s author expresses in a few well-chosen words the emotions and innermost feeling of the paintings for each happening. Yet in those few words the reader/listener is awash with emotions.

I do not know which came first, and it makes no nevermind. The marriage of artistic talents here MUST be shared with school children around the world.

This amazing book comes to us in picturebook form. And that is appropriate and beautiful–truly beautiful.  Unfortunately this book will be placed in an elementary library. I do not believe many young children will truly appreciate or learn any message from this book.  This book needs a place in a Middle School or High School Library where students can discuss the impact of the words and pictures on themselves and others around them.

This is THE Book to examine and study during Black History Month. From my limited vantage point,  it seems young black students today lack any real deep understanding of what their parents and forefathers  endured  to bring them the style of life and living they now enjoy. This book with all of its brutality so clearly  depicted  in words and paint would educate todays’ youth.

Let the questions come. Let the discussion begin. Maybe somewhere a youth will find an answer he/she can share with the troubled world.