What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?

August 15, 2018
Barton introduces Congresswoman Barbara Jordan to children in this artful picture book illustrated by Holmes.Jordan grew up in Houston, Texas, and "stood out" because of "that voice of hers. / That big, bold, booming, crisp, clear, confident voice. It caused folks to sit right up, stand up straight, and take notice." As a young person, Jordan used it for poetry, speeches, and oratory contests. When a lawyer came to speak at her school, Jordan was inspired and thought she could use her voice as a lawyer. College and law school were challenging, but being a lawyer was boring. She got involved in politics. When she filled in for an absent speaker one night, she so inspired the audience that she decided that was how she should use her voice. She worked in the Senate and then in Congress, where she became famous for using her voice to speak up against President Nixon and for the Constitution. When illness called her back home, she taught, and her former students "still move among us, striving to do work that would have made her proud." Striking mixed-media illustrations capture the relationships between people and the influence of place. Barton's narration is colloquial, appropriately relying on rhetorical devices such as repetition and onomatopoeia to tell his tale.A moving portrait of a true patriot who found ways to use her gift to work for change. (note, timeline, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 5-10)

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September 10, 2018
Barton presents a timely, lyrical celebration of Congress-
woman Barbara Jordan. As a child growing up in the Fifth Ward in Houston, she commanded attention through her powerful voice (“What’s the next thing you do with a voice like that?”). Jordan’s intellectual curiosity and desire to be civically engaged led her to become a lawyer, then a politician, “to make change from within.” Holmes’s dramatic compositions blend painterly forms with layered, cut-paper collage work, displaying brilliant jewel tones and eye-catching patterns. Lewis is pictured speaking on the Senate floor and, as a congresswoman, on television. Jordan’s multiple sclerosis, Barton explains, eventually led her to step away from public life and into education, but her voice, Barton concludes, is honored “by making our own voices heard.” Ages 4–8.

October 1, 2018

Gr 3-6-In a timely yet subtle call-to-action, Barton exemplifies the importance and power of using one's innate gifts and interests to affect positive change. Throughout this supremely accessible picture book biography, readers are asked to consider: "What do you do with a voice like that?" A voice that causes "folks to sit right up, stand up straight, and take notice." Well, if you're Barbara Jordan, you put it to good use. And if you're Barton and Holmes, you create an extraordinary book to ensure that her voice is not forgotten. Everything succeeds in this collaborative effort to accurately reflect the power of Jordan's voice and the impact she made on those she worked with and for, from the oversize trim to the large, succinct text punctuated with complimentary colors, to the hefty paper weight and extended length. Without compromising coherence, Barton keeps the narrative closely aligned with his theme and provides a detailed time line at the end for those who desire more information about Jordan's personal and professional life. Holmes's mixed media collage illustrations will make readers sit up and take notice, too. With her signature use of bold colors and rich textures, Holmes brings Jordan and her remarkable story to life through portrait-style images that reflect the significance of her leadership and honor the integrity that characterizes her legacy. VERDICT An essential purchase for nonfiction collections.-Lynn Van Auken, Oak Bluffs School, MA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from October 1, 2018
Grades 2-4 *Starred Review* This oversize picture-book biography of Barbara Jordan, the charismatic congresswoman from Texas, takes a chronological approach, beginning with her childhood and college days. It then continues on through her political career, paying special attention to the role she played as a member of the 1974 U.S. House Judiciary Committee and the stirring televised speech she made to a national audience regarding the committee's recommendation to impeach President Nixon. Due to increasingly serious health problems, she eventually had to withdraw from public life, but continued to teach law classes until her death in 1996, inspiring another generation of policymakers. The text features lyrical, inspiring language that will be easily accessible for young audiences, and a concluding time line fills in details. The vibrant multimedia illustrations spill across pages, incorporating collage and multiple overlay techniques. When shared with groups, the bright, bold images will be able to be seen by all audience members, even those way in the back. The overall theme is that Ms. Jordan had a strong, compelling voice. Whether expressing her own beliefs or speaking out on behalf of others, she made sure that she was heard?and young readers are encouraged to do the same.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)