1999
Author Award Winner
Heaven
by Angela Johnson
YA Johnson, A.
This
winner of the Coretta Scott King Award takes place in Heaven, an Ohio town where
14-year-old Marley has grown up. One day she discovers the people she calls
Momma and Pops are not really her parents. She is forced to question all her
assumptions about who she is, in this tale about the search for identity and the
power of forgiveness. Young Adult
Honor Books
Jazmin's
Notebook
by
Nikki Grimes YA Grimes, N.
Jazmin, a 14-year-old girl living in Harlem in the 1960s, fills her journal
with laughs, anger, and hope. Captured within the pages of her tough, exuberant
life are all the beauty, chaos, confusion, and clarity that accompany the
excitement of exploring life's possibilities--and discovering they are endless. Young
Adult
Breaking
Ground, Breaking Silence: The Story of New York's African Burial Ground by
Joyce Hansen and Gary McGowan
In September 1991, archaeologists began to turn up graves and bodies in
lower Manhattan. Well-known maps had shown that this was the site of New York's
first burial ground for slaves and free blacks. "Breaking Ground, Breaking
Silence" uses the rediscovery of the burial grounds as a window on a
fascinating side of colonial history and as an introduction to the careful
science that is uncovering all of the secrets of the past. Ages 9-12
The Other
Side: Shorter Poems by
Angela Johnson
Before
the town of Shorter, Alabama, went the way of many small towns in the U.S.,
Johnson was beckoned by her grandmother to visit one last time: "They're
pulling Shorter down ... come see your past before it's all dust, baby." In
this collection of poems, Johnson recalls portions of her childhood in Shorter,
paying tribute to the people, places, and experiences of a beloved past. As she
visits the places of her childhood, her memories unfold--dancing to hip-hop
music in the woods, getting caught with her first cigarette, piano lessons with
Miss Delta, voting, a father still shell-shocked from Vietnam, her eventual move
to Ohio. From the first poem to the last, these deeply personal writings move
the reader to feel Johnson's love of Shorter, her childhood, and her sense of
loss as the town disappears. With a scattering of photos, this short collection
packs a powerful punch. Ages 9
and up
Illustrator Award Winner
i
see the rhythm , ill.
by Michele Wood; text by Toyomi Igus
A
celebration of African-American music and the far-reaching impact it has had on
the world, "I See the Rhythm" traces the progression of black music
from its traditional roots in Africa to contemporary hip hop. Ages
4-8
Honor Books
I
Have Heard of a Land
, ill. by Floyd Cooper;
text by Joyce Carol Thomas j E THO
A National Book Award-winning author draws on family history for this lyrical
account of America's little-known past. In the late 1880s, thousands of
pioneers, many former slaves, raced to the Oklahoma Territory to stake their
claim. "I Have Heard of a Land", a hymn to liberty and unity,
commemorates the strength of the African-American pioneers. Ages 4-8
The
Bat Boy and His Violin , ill. by E.B. Lewis; text by Gavin
Curtis j E CUR
There's nothing Reginald loves more than the music from his violin. But his
father, manager of one of the worst baseball teams in the Negro Leagues, needs a
bat boy, not a "fiddler". Needing a place to practice, Reginald fills
the dugout with music in his spare moments--and inspires a rally by the team
that culminates in a showdown with the best team in the league. Ages 4-8
Duke
Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra
j 921 ELLINGTON, D, Pin
The
award-winning author/illustrator team of Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney--creators
of the popular picture book "Alvin Ailey"--now present a swinging,
vibrant picture title about the jazz composer Edward Kennedy Ellington, better
known as "Duke." Ages 4-8
1998
Author Award Winner
Forged
by Fire by Sharon M. Draper, YA Draper, S.
After he was almost killed in an apartment fire, while his mother went to
buy drugs, Gerald was raised by his aunt. Then one day, six years later,
his mother returns with her new husband and Angel, Gerald's little sister.
As the children grow up, it becomes more and more apparent that Angel needs
Gerald's protection from her father's abuse. But who will protect
Gerald? Young Adult
Honor Books
Bayard
Rustin: Behind the Scenes of the Civil Rights Movement
by
James Haskins
A riveting biography of one of the key players of the civil rights movement.
From a highly esteemed chronicler of African American history, this biography is
a compelling profile, perfect for young readers fascinated with the
behind-the-scenes battles of America's early years. Young Adult
I
Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly: The Diary of Patsy, a Freed Girl
by
Joyce Hansen j Hansen, J.
In this latest addition to the Dear America series, Coretta Scott King
Honor-winning author Joyce Hansen presents the inspiring story of Patsy, a freed
girl who becomes a great teacher.
Ages
9-12
In
Daddy's Arms I am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers
,
ill. by Javaka Steptoe; text by Alan Schroeder
In this collection of poetry by new and established African-American
writers, fatherhood is celebrated with honor, humor and grace. Contributors
include Carole Boston Weatherford, Michael Burgess, E. Ethelbert Miller, Lenard
D. Moore, David Anderson, Angela Johnson, Sonia Sanchez and Davida Adedjouma.
Grades
3-5
Honor Books
Ashley
Bryan's ABC of African American Poetry ,
by Ashley Bryan j 811 ASH
Not an alphabet book in the usual sense, this highly creative work catches
the essence of 25 poems and an African American spiritual. Short full verses or
complete poems are presented, but more often Bryan has chosen a fragment, a
sample that may lure the reader on to the whole. Ages 4-8
Harlem
, ill. by Christopher Myers; text by Walter Dean Myers j
811 MYE
Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and James Baldwin have sung their songs about Harlem. Now Newbery Honor author Walter Dean Myers joins their chorus in calling to life the deep, rich and hope-filled history of this community. Christopher Myers' boldly assembled art resonates with feeling and tells a tale all its own.
Ages
4-8
The
Hunterman and the Crocodile
,
by Baba Wagué Diakité
Donso,
a West African hunterman, learns the importance of living in harmony with nature
and the necessity of placing humans among, not above, all other living things. Ages
4-8
1997
Author Award Winner
Slam
by Walter Dean
Myers YA Myers, W.
Sixteen-year-old
Greg "Slam" Harris can do it all on the basketball court. His grades
aren't so hot, though. And when his teachers jam his troubles in his face, Slam
blows up. He never doubted himself on the court until he found himself going one
on one with his future. Young
Adult
Honor Book
Rebels
Against Slavery: American Slave Revolts
by
Patricia C. & Frederick L. McKissack
The award-winning authors explore an important, neglected area of history. Here
are exciting true stories of African-American rebels who fought against slavery,
such as Cinque, leader of a slave ship revolt who went before the Supreme Court
and won freedom for himself and his shipmates, Nat Turner, and many others.
Ages
9-12
Illustrator Award Winner
Minty:
A Story of Young Harriet Tubman ill.
by Jerry Pinkney; text by Alan Schroeder j E SCH
Many
people know about Harriet Tubman's adult life--how she helped hundreds of slaves
escape to freedom along the Underground Railroad. But how know about Harriet
Tubman's life as a little African-American girl? This dramatic portrayal will
open the eyes of countless young readers and help them to know the little girl
who would become one of America's greatest heroines.
Ages 4-8
Honor Books
The
Palm of My Heart: Poetry by African American Children , ill. by Gregorie
Christie; edited by Davida Adedjouma
Produced during the
course of a creative writing workshop with members of the Minneapolis Inner City
Youth League and the African-American Academy of Accelerated Learning, this
collection of free verse is inspiring and enlightening. The poets, ranging in
age from six to 12 years old, explore and interpret their lives and feelings as
extensions of their heritage. Coretta Scott King Honor Award and
"Parenting" magazine Reading Magic Award. Ages 4-8
Running
The Road To ABC ,
ill. by Reynold Ruffins; text by Denize Lauture
Six children
run n the Road to ABCto beat the rising sun to their school. Though there is
little story, the rich lyrical language used by Lauture, a Haitian poet, creates
a strong sense of place, while imagery and patterns of text build tension.
Warmly detailed gouache paintings propel the reader to the next page in this
optimistic glimpse of Haitian children working for a brighter future. Ages
4-8
Neeny
Coming, Neeny Going , ill. by Synthia Saint James; text by Karen
English
Essie
is excited to see her cousin Neeny, who recently moved to the South Carolina
mainland from Daufuskie Island. Neeny is now a fancy young lady, no longer
interested in the island way of life. But does anyone ever really forget their
roots? Essie knows the answer and gives her cousin a special gift that wil l
always keep the island close to her. Ages 4-8
1996
Author Award Winner
Her
Stories
by
Virginia Hamilton j 398.2 HAM
In
the tradition of Hamilton's The People Could Fly and In the Beginning, a
dramatic new collection of 25 compelling tales from the female African American
storytelling tradition. Each story focuses on the role of women--both real and
fantastic--and their particular strengths, joys and sorrows. Ages 9-12
Honor Books
The
Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963
by
Christopher Paul Curtis
This Newbery Honor book takes listeners on a family trip with the Watson family
from Michigan to Alabama during the tempestuous Civil Rights uprisings of the
1960s. Ages 9-12
Like
Sisters on the Homefront
by
Rita Williams-Garcia
When 14-year-old Gayle gets into trouble again, Mama sends her south to live
with her aunt and uncle, a minister. They'll hardly let her out of the house and
she doesn't like her cousin Cookie. Then Gayle meets Great, the family
matriarch. Gayle's life begins to change--perhaps she can make her own place in
the world after all. Young Adult
From
the Notebooks of Melanin Sun by Jacqueline Woodson
Melanin Sun and Mama have always been the
whole family, with a special closeness that no one has ever been able to come
between. Now all that has changed. Suddenly, Mama is shutting doors that were
always kept open--and Melanin Sun begins to realize she's been keeping secrets
from him for a long, long time. Young Adult
Illustrator Award Winner
The
Middle Passage: White Ships Black Cargo
by
Tom Feelings
Alex
Haley's Roots awakened many Americans to the cruelty of slavery. The Middle
Passage focuses attention on the torturous journey which brought slaves from
Africa to the Americas, allowing readers to bear witness to the sufferings of an
entire people. 64 paintings.
Ages 4-8
Honor Books
Her Stories , ill. by Leo and
Diane Dillon; text by Virginia Hamilton
j 398.2 HAM
In the tradition of Hamilton's The People Could Fly and In the Beginning, a
dramatic new collection of 25 compelling tales from the female African American
storytelling tradition. Each story focuses on the role of women--both real and
fantastic--and their particular strengths, joys and sorrows. Ages 9-12
The
Faithful Friend ,
ill. by Brian Pinkney; text by Robert San Souci
In
the tradition of Hamilton's The People Could Fly and In the Beginning, a
dramatic new collection of 25 compelling tales from the female African American
storytelling tradition. Each story focuses on the role of women--both real and
fantastic--and their particular strengths, joys and sorrows.Ages 4-8
1995
Author Award Winner
Christmas
in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters
by Patricia C. &
Frederick L. McKissack
j
975 MCK
In
a poignant, heartwarming book rich in historical detail and careful research,
two Coretta Scott King Award-winning authors movingly describe Christmas on a
pre-Civil War plantation from two starkly different points of view--the big
house and the slave quarters. Magnificent full-color illustrations, along with
recipes, poems, songs, journal excerpts, and more add depth and authenticity to
this extraordinary book. Ages 9-12
Honor Books
The
Captive by Joyce
Hansen
When Kofi's father, an Ashanti chief, is killed, Kofi is sold as a slave and
ends up in Massachusetts, where his fate is in the hands of Paul Cuffe, an
African American shipbuilder who works to return slaves to their homeland in
Africa. Young Adult
I
Hadn't Meant to Tell You This
by
Jacqueline Woodson
This sensitive yet gritty novel about incest may be Woodson's ( Between Madison
and Palmetto ) strongest work to date. Marie, the eighth-grade narrator, lives
in an all-black suburb of Athens, Ohio, with her father; her mother, who has
inherited money from her own parents, sends arty messages from the far-flung
locales she has toured since leaving the family two years ago. Ignoring the
sneers of her friends--and her father's warnings--Marie befriends ``whitetrash''
Lena, the new girl at school. Woodson confronts sticky questions about race
head-on, with the result that her observations and her characterizations are all
the more trustworthy. Her approach to the incest theme is less immediate but
equally convincing--Marie receives Lena's restrained confidences about being
molested, at first disbelieving Lena, then torn between her desire to help her
friend and her promise not to tell anyone. Lena has tried all the textbook
solutions--including reporting her father to the authorities--and has learned
that outside interference only brings more trouble. Marie, struggling to cope
with her mother's desertion, must accept Lena's disappearance, too, when Lena
and her younger sister first decide to run away and then do flee. Told in
adroitly sequenced flashbacks, Woodson's novel is wrenchingly honest and,
despite its sad themes, full of hope and inspiration. Ages 12-up
Black
Diamond: Story of the Negro Baseball League
by
Patricia C. & Frederick L. McKissack
This
book goes far beyond the few familiar photographs and names most readers
associate with the Negro Baseball Leagues, and it makes the trip in style. We
discover, for example, that George Washington's troops were "batting balls
and running bases" and that the nineteenth-century relationship between
baseball and race was more diverse than many young readers may realize. The
McKissacks carefully record the differences of opinion about some events and the
difficulty of finding source material. Oral histories from surviving players add
startling depth to descriptions of conditions of play and travel, and Jackie
Robinson's entry into major league ball becomes a richer and more complicated
moment because the authors show where Robinson came from (and how) in addition
to where he went. A player roster will be helpful to students, and a time line
carefully weaves together the sports world and the world of lynchings, race
riots, the Civil War, and the incandescent electric lamp. Grades
6-10
Illustrator Award Winner
The
Creation , ill. by James Ransome; text by James
Weldon Johnson j
811 CRE
A
poem based on the story of creation from the first book of the Bible. Ages
4-8
Honor Books
The
Singing Man , ill. by
Terea Shaffer; text by Angela Shelf Medearis
In Medearis's
adaptation of a Nigerian folktale, young Banzar unrelentingly pursues his dream
of becoming a musician. Because of this impractical choice, he is told to leave
home; later, as a well-known griot, he is reunited with his family. Shaffer
portrays the Nigerian people and the Nigerian countryside with realistic oil
paintings, and colorful borders reflect textile designs. Ages 4-8
Meet
Danitra Brown
,
ill. by Floyd Cooper; text by Nikki Grimes j 811 GRI
A collection of 13 original poems that stand individually and also blend
together to tell a story of feelings and friendship between two African-American
girls. Grimes creatively uses the voice of Zuri Jackson to share tales of the
girls' moments of admiration, pain, self-assurance, pride in their cultural
heritage, sadness, disappointments, play, and their thoughts and feelings about
future dreams and aspirations. Cooper's distinguished illustrations in warm
dusty tones convey the feeling of closeness. The poignant text and lovely
pictures are an excellent collaboration, resulting in a look at touching moments
of friendship with universal appeal. Grades 2-4