Scan barcode
michelle_neuwirth_gray9311's review against another edition
5.0
I could feel the author's and illustrator's love for the town and the summer in the warm illustrations and poetic text.
Themes: family, summer, multicultural
Themes: family, summer, multicultural
backonthealex's review against another edition
4.0
In an article for CBCBooks, Shauntay Grant says that when she began writing her tribute to Africville, she had originally intended it to be a poem, a tribute to this once thriving community of black refugees, including runaway slaves from America, located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The poem was to be about her visit to the site where Africville had once been, and which had lasted 150 years before the government tore it down. But when she said the words she had written spoken aloud, she knew it had to be made into a children's picture book. That book, of course, is Africville.
A young black girl implores "Take me to the end of the ocean.." and as she walks around the area where Africville once stood, she imagines what life was like for the people who had lived there and "where home smells like sweet apple pie and blueberry duff." More scenes of life greet her as she walks along and imagines kids picking berries from bushes thick with them, as her mind's eye sees other kids in a field playing football, still others rafting down a pond, and some catching cod fish from a dock.
Africville was home, where the pavement ends and family begins, where the young girl's family name is marked in stone, and people still come together and sing the old songs and share stories, and have memories of Africville. And though Africville is no longer a vibrant black community, its memory sparks dreams that turn to hope that never ends.
Told in spare, dreamlike lyrical language, Grant paints a picture of what home was for the people of Africville, complimented by the oil and pastel illustrations that carry the same sense of reality, yet are dreamily detailed to represent imagination. Africville is such a beautiful, loving homage to what was such an important part of American and Canadian black history.
What happened to Africville:
At the back of the book is a short history of Africville and its sad demise. This vibrant community may have been called home by many people, but it also lacked basic services, like paved roads, running water, sewers. Although the residents paid municipal taxes, it was decided by Halifax city officials to relocate its inhabitants and demolished Africville in the 1960s instead of making any attempt to bring those basic services to the residents - 150 years of history gone just like that.
Grant ended her tribute to Africville's history on a hopeful note - the young girl is a descendant of former residents, who have been having reunions there since 1983 of which she is a part.
Africville is an beautifully written, important work depicting one part of the rich history of black Canadians and Americans that shouldn't be forgotten. If you would like to explore the history of Africville, you can at the Africville Story Map, an interactive history,
This book is recommended for readers age 5+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
A young black girl implores "Take me to the end of the ocean.." and as she walks around the area where Africville once stood, she imagines what life was like for the people who had lived there and "where home smells like sweet apple pie and blueberry duff." More scenes of life greet her as she walks along and imagines kids picking berries from bushes thick with them, as her mind's eye sees other kids in a field playing football, still others rafting down a pond, and some catching cod fish from a dock.
Africville was home, where the pavement ends and family begins, where the young girl's family name is marked in stone, and people still come together and sing the old songs and share stories, and have memories of Africville. And though Africville is no longer a vibrant black community, its memory sparks dreams that turn to hope that never ends.
Told in spare, dreamlike lyrical language, Grant paints a picture of what home was for the people of Africville, complimented by the oil and pastel illustrations that carry the same sense of reality, yet are dreamily detailed to represent imagination. Africville is such a beautiful, loving homage to what was such an important part of American and Canadian black history.
What happened to Africville:
At the back of the book is a short history of Africville and its sad demise. This vibrant community may have been called home by many people, but it also lacked basic services, like paved roads, running water, sewers. Although the residents paid municipal taxes, it was decided by Halifax city officials to relocate its inhabitants and demolished Africville in the 1960s instead of making any attempt to bring those basic services to the residents - 150 years of history gone just like that.
Grant ended her tribute to Africville's history on a hopeful note - the young girl is a descendant of former residents, who have been having reunions there since 1983 of which she is a part.
Africville is an beautifully written, important work depicting one part of the rich history of black Canadians and Americans that shouldn't be forgotten. If you would like to explore the history of Africville, you can at the Africville Story Map, an interactive history,
This book is recommended for readers age 5+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
sarasreadingnook's review against another edition
5.0
I’m going to let this one sit before assigning a rating. It was written beautifully and has wonderful illustrations. But the end of the book discusses how Africville was a neglected, predominantly black Canadian community in which Halifax failed to provide basic infrastructure and needs to the Africville citizens. This included sewage, running water, and roads.
I think that this is a book that needs to be read because I had not learned of Africville before reading this book. And now this has provided me with so many questions and an unease and unrest at how Halifax failed to care of this community. And I will be reading more about this topic.
I think that this is a book that needs to be read because I had not learned of Africville before reading this book. And now this has provided me with so many questions and an unease and unrest at how Halifax failed to care of this community. And I will be reading more about this topic.
thesecretgarden's review
Africville near Halifax, Nova Scotia, was a bright Black community that despite Canadian neglect flourished. Although they had no running water, residents could enjoy a loving community where most of the inhabitants were refugees from American Slavery or loyalists from the Revolutionary War. Spanning 150 years, the community was a tight-knit haven. After being mistreated and neglected by the government, the city was forcefully closed in the 1960s, with its residents displaced. The Canadian government eventually apologized and declared the former community a National Historic Site of Canada, but of course, this cannot entirely make up for the damage done. The area hosts a museum now, and former residents and family members can now visit the area and reminisce about the community and celebrate all that made Africville special (Note: this information comes from the fact sheet at the end of this book).
The picture book shows the love and joy that thrived in the community; each page shows the happiness of children as they play and explore. The text is simple but successful at evoking a sweet, summery feeling that we all have -- when times were simple, we had plenty of friends and adventures to keep us busy, and we had loved ones waiting for us at home. Although Africville is no more, the book seems timeless. The art complements the mood of joy and childhood nostalgia without distracting from the text.
I'd recommend this one for younger elementary students.
The picture book shows the love and joy that thrived in the community; each page shows the happiness of children as they play and explore. The text is simple but successful at evoking a sweet, summery feeling that we all have -- when times were simple, we had plenty of friends and adventures to keep us busy, and we had loved ones waiting for us at home. Although Africville is no more, the book seems timeless. The art complements the mood of joy and childhood nostalgia without distracting from the text.
I'd recommend this one for younger elementary students.
tashrow's review
5.0
A girl visits the historical site of Africville, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She imagines what the community was once like, how the children would play together. She imagines lunch on the tables, picking blueberries over the hill. She imagines playing games, going rafting, and bonfires by the water. Her great-grandmother had lived in Africville before it was destroyed in the 1960s after surviving for over 150 years. But the black community of Africville never received the same services as the rest of Halifax despite paying taxes. The community was eventually relocated from the site and moved to public housing. Africville is now a park where former residents and their descendants return to remember the community that had once stood there.
Grant gives us a glimpse of what Africville once was. The picture book keeps descriptions short and the focus on children and their lives in the community. There is an author’s note at the end of the book that offers more context for what Africville was and what happened to its residents. The use of a modern child to dream about what might have been in Africville is a great lens through which to look at life there. The peacefulness and sense of community pervade the entire read.
Campbell’s illustrations are filled with deep colors. The bonfire pages glow with reds of fire and sunset. There is lush green everywhere and the houses pop with bright paint colors. She creates the warmth of a real community on the pages, illustrations that seem to have sunlight shining from them.
A gorgeous tribute to a piece of Canadian history. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Grant gives us a glimpse of what Africville once was. The picture book keeps descriptions short and the focus on children and their lives in the community. There is an author’s note at the end of the book that offers more context for what Africville was and what happened to its residents. The use of a modern child to dream about what might have been in Africville is a great lens through which to look at life there. The peacefulness and sense of community pervade the entire read.
Campbell’s illustrations are filled with deep colors. The bonfire pages glow with reds of fire and sunset. There is lush green everywhere and the houses pop with bright paint colors. She creates the warmth of a real community on the pages, illustrations that seem to have sunlight shining from them.
A gorgeous tribute to a piece of Canadian history. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
4.0
Who knew there was an Africville in Canada, a thriving black community for over 150 years? A girl goes for a visit and learns with her extended family what the community was like. Beautiful vibrant pictures.
More...