John wants to be a preacher when he grows up-a leader whose words stir hearts to change, minds to think, and bodies to take action. But why wait? When John is put in charge of the family farm's flock of chickens, he discovers that they make a wonderful congregation! So he preaches to his flock, and they listen, content under his watchful care, riveted by the rhythm of his voice.
Jabari Asim (www.facebook.com/jabariasimwriter) is the author of
several adult and children's books, including Fifty Cents and a
Dream-an NAACP Image Award Nominee, CCBC Choice, School Library
Journal Editor's Choice, and Kirkus Best Book. He is an associate
professor at Emerson College in Boston and executive editor of The
Crisis, the magazine of the NAACP. He recently was honored with a
Guggenheim Fellowship. He lives in Newton, Massachusetts.
E. B. Lewis (www.eblewis.com) is the acclaimed illustrator of more
than seventy books for children, including the Caldecott Honor Book
Coming On Home Soon and the Coretta Scott King Honor Book Each
Kindness (both by Jacqueline Woodson). He teaches at the University
of the Arts in Philadelphia. He lives in Folsom, New Jersey.
“The poignant, observant watercolors . . . are bathed in subtly
changing light, making homespun scenes of country life seem
celestial and exalted.”—The New York Times Book Review
* “A glimpse into the childhood whimsy of an important
African-American congressman who has become famous for his words. .
. . Illustrator Lewis' signature watercolors paint a lively picture
of John Lewis' life growing up on a farm with a close and
hardworking Christian family. The liveliness of the chickens as
well as John's concern and care for them shine in the light-dappled
images. Given the seriousness of what Lewis faced on the march from
Selma to Montgomery and the gravity of the issues he has dealt with
throughout his career, this joy-inducing back story reveals an
entertaining facet to the congressman's life that young readers
will appreciate. After absorbing this must-read bit of personal
history about John Lewis, young readers will never see this
serious-faced congressman in quite the same way.”—Kirkus Reviews,
starred review
* “E.B. Lewis stages the scenes under the bright springtime light
of Alabama mornings, giving a full sense of John Lewis’s world,
from the dusty henhouse to the sturdy wooden pews of his family’s
church, while always emphasizing the tender care he devoted to the
chickens. It’s a moving portrait of the power of small actions and
‘learn[ing] to speak up for those who can’t speak for
themselves.’”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
* “Luminous artwork and stirring text shed light on the childhood
of one of America’s most respected civil rights leaders. . . .
Lewis’s strong faith and his deep connection to his family and
community shine through in Asim’s straightforward text and
illustrator E.B. Lewis’s full-page, light-dappled watercolors. An
author’s note briefly discusses Lewis’s leadership in the March on
Washington and other key events of the civil rights movement and
explains that Asim based the story on Lewis’s own recollections. A
quietly powerful and joyful look at the childhood of a living
legend and a superb introduction to studying heroes of the civil
rights era.”—School Library Journal, starred review
“Asim and Lewis’ words and images convey their respect and
admiration for John Lewis, and readers will feel the same way. A
tender narrative, paired with watercolors filled with light and
movement, captures the heat of a Georgia day and the unmistakable
bond John formed with his feathery followers. Young readers will
appreciate the gentle messages about the importance of hard work,
persistence, and patience that lay the foundations for John Lewis’
activism as an adult, which is detailed in a final author’s
note.”—Booklist
“Bucolic-looking watercolor and gouache landscapes take modern
readers back to a time when the entire Lewis family was busy on the
farm from dawn to dusk. . . . A fine introduction to the life of an
American icon.”—The Horn Book
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