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carolineinthelibrary's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really nice story about Martin Luther King Jr. and his friend Mahalia Jackson, who until reading this book I didn't know too much about. I thought it was a nice story, but there were a lot of religious undertones that made the book feel more like a call to Christianity than a history or biography of Martin and Mahalia. I wanted to feel more inspired by what they did and not the religion they both subscribed to.
rikkir77's review against another edition
3.0
I’d never heard of Mahalia until this book. Their relationship is interesting, but this book was a little to heavy on religion for me to read it to my classes.
annaeap's review against another edition
5.0
With poetic prose, this book traces the lives of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mahalia Jackson, and it details how his words and her voice combined to advance the Civil Rights Movement. The narrative culminates with the March on Washington, and the poetic story is followed by informational and historical text about the lives of each, as well as a timeline of events. Illustrator Brian Pinkney writes of his illustrations, “In rendering the paintings for Martin & Mahalia, I drew on the tradition of civil rights and spirituals coming together to form a mighty force. The watercolors I have created for this book are intended to give visual resonance to the collaborative strength brought forth in Martin’s oratory and Mahalia’s musical prowess.” He typically represents Mahalia’s pages in warmer colors and Martin’s in cooler, blending them together when they begin to collaborate.
Using the book for teaching/learning:
-“People from all over the nation gathered and began to make their way toward Washington D.C. They traveled on foot, by bus, and on bikes.” This would likely be more of a math project, but I would love to see students undertake a project to find out how far that would be from various points of the country using various methods of transportation. In conceptualizing the distance traveled, I believe students would have a greater appreciation for the convictions that drove people to make these journeys.
-Play Mahalia Jackson’s songs (along with others from the March on Washington). Have students create their own songs or poems inspired by the Civil Rights Movement that incorporates things they have learned from the book/unit.
Considerations for use with dual-language learners: This book would be difficult for DLLs; like music, the watercolor pictures evoke movement and feeling but do not necessarily tell a clear picture. For DLLs, I would print lyrics to Mahalia’s songs in English and Spanish (or another home language). This would help them understand the meaning behind her powerful voice. Moreover, for children who come from non-Christian backgrounds, we may need to first explore what “gospel” means, as the book makes many mentions of MLK and Mahalia’s “gift of the gospel.”
Using the book for teaching/learning:
-“People from all over the nation gathered and began to make their way toward Washington D.C. They traveled on foot, by bus, and on bikes.” This would likely be more of a math project, but I would love to see students undertake a project to find out how far that would be from various points of the country using various methods of transportation. In conceptualizing the distance traveled, I believe students would have a greater appreciation for the convictions that drove people to make these journeys.
-Play Mahalia Jackson’s songs (along with others from the March on Washington). Have students create their own songs or poems inspired by the Civil Rights Movement that incorporates things they have learned from the book/unit.
Considerations for use with dual-language learners: This book would be difficult for DLLs; like music, the watercolor pictures evoke movement and feeling but do not necessarily tell a clear picture. For DLLs, I would print lyrics to Mahalia’s songs in English and Spanish (or another home language). This would help them understand the meaning behind her powerful voice. Moreover, for children who come from non-Christian backgrounds, we may need to first explore what “gospel” means, as the book makes many mentions of MLK and Mahalia’s “gift of the gospel.”
nerfherder86's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully intertwines brief stories of Martin Luther King Jr and Mahalia Jackson's lives, leading up to the March on Washington DC in 1963 where they were both key speakers (or singer). Bright colorful swirling art, with a vertical "centerfold" (to best view the center two-page spread you have to turn book sideways). Is a "vignette" of the lives of these two significant African American figures in American history.
michelle_neuwirth_gray9311's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful illustrations match with descriptive text that shows not only the separate journeys of MLK and Mahalia Jackson, but also how they worked together and their amazing friendship.
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
The words are a 3, but the illustrations a 4. I took it home with me.
meg_wadlington's review against another edition
5.0
This was an exceptionally written and illustrated book. I loved reading it to my 7 year old son of color. He was absolutely absorbed.
mmattmiller's review against another edition
4.0
Gorgeous illustrations help tell this story! We all know Martin, but I must admit, I did not know Mahalia. Need to add this one to my classroom wish list!
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
4.0
What a partnership! Get Martin preaching and get Mahalia singing and what do you get? Magic. Pure magic.
mikolee's review
4.0
Fascinating combination of Martin and Mahalia highlighting equally their shared gifts to the movement. Watercolor and India ink with an almost Sumi e brush painting like quality illustrate this story. Even the words are typeset in color combos to bring alive the images. Sometimes the storybook must be held portrait style which is a great metaphor for how both leaders made people view the world from a new perspective.
The ending is amazing. The first two pages of the afterword the author tells about their friendship. The next page the illustrator describes his inspiration and touts his homage to two social realist painters. Wow that is why the work looked so familiar.
Then more reading and listening to learn More about both. Then a gorgeous illustrated timeline. Really one of the best I've seen.
The ending is amazing. The first two pages of the afterword the author tells about their friendship. The next page the illustrator describes his inspiration and touts his homage to two social realist painters. Wow that is why the work looked so familiar.
Then more reading and listening to learn More about both. Then a gorgeous illustrated timeline. Really one of the best I've seen.