Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.64 AVERAGE
4.64 AVERAGE
I can’t remember the last time I cried when reading a picture book (before today, I mean). Mary Walker desperately wants to learn to read, but first she’s a slave, then she has to work hard to support her siblings and later her sons. When Mary turns 116 (YES! One hundred sixteen!!) she enrolls in a reading class in her retirement home so she can finally learn to read her Bible. She lived until age 121. The story is wonderfully written and the illustrations are perfect for it.
What a wonderful book! I listened to it on YT Read Aloud, but this book is going to find a place in my home library for sure. ❤️ Will come back and edit this review to pen done my thoughts in detail.
I really like seeing these kinds of kids books. I shows not just chattel form of slavery but also the sharecropping form of slavery (for it was slavery in all but name). It didn't beat you over the head with it but in this case it's the scaffolding for the main challenge of the story: Mary Walker learning to read. Which she finally does. At 116.
My eyes did more than water at this. Reading is such a major part of my life that I cannot imagine not being able to do it. To see her succeed after such a protracted, pernicious struggle was heart wrenching.
The art work is of a style that's growing on me. Thanks to Jacob Lawrence, I now have a better appreciation for art other than photorealistic or at least crisp like Jim Lee.
Excellent stuff.
My eyes did more than water at this. Reading is such a major part of my life that I cannot imagine not being able to do it. To see her succeed after such a protracted, pernicious struggle was heart wrenching.
The art work is of a style that's growing on me. Thanks to Jacob Lawrence, I now have a better appreciation for art other than photorealistic or at least crisp like Jim Lee.
Excellent stuff.
This book was gorgeous. The illustrations were really great. I thought the writing was trying too hard to "dumb down" the book, but other than that I appreciated the story and images. The two companioned each other well.
We’ve read this book dozens of times this year and everyone in my family loves it. The illustrations and words are beautiful.
New VRC: I love the messages in this story of how Mary Walker learned to read. Really interesting illustrations. Plenty to talk about--perseverance, civil rights, resiliency.
I didn't know the story of Mary Walkers life but what an incredible woman she was! Born a slave, worked on plantations, as a sharecropper and other jobs throughout her life. She always wanting to learn to read and carried a Bible with her. She didn't start to learn how to read until she was 114. I loved this book! What an inspiring woman!
