With Books and Bricks

September 1, 2014

K-Gr 2-Booker T. Washington is a well-known historical figure, but the story of how he built the Tuskegee Institute by hand is not quite as common. This picture book brings the tale to light accessibly and engagingly. Young readers are sure to marvel at the accomplishments of Washington and his perseverance in spite of obstacles. The story is told simply, with beautiful watercolor and pencil illustrations. An endnote goes into more detail about Washington's life and struggle to bring education to all. While this is not an all-encompassing biography, it is certainly a notable story about a lesser-known aspect of his life. Readers will enjoy this title, and it will easily tie in to school units as an enticing read-aloud.-Ellen Norton, White Oak Library District, Crest Hill, IL

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2014
Slade highlights Washington’s devotion to education by focusing on his role in the creation of a schoolhouse for black students in Tuskegee, Ala., which would eventually grow to become Tuskegee University. The construction process is arduous: digging for clay to bake bricks was difficult enough; thousands of bricks were ruined when two kilns Washington built broke. Squirrely pencil lines and milky watercolors lend an ephemeral quality to Tadgell’s art. The focus on the hard work at the heart of accomplishment makes this story especially rewarding and relatable; a closing quote from Washington drives home the underlying message: “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” Ages 7–10. Illustrator’s agent: Christina A. Tugeau.

October 1, 2014
Grades 1-3 This original take on Booker T. Washington's many accomplishments highlights an aspect of his inspiring career often overlooked in standard biographies: when faced with lack of educational opportunities for black students, he and his community built their own school in Tuskegee, Alabama. Basic background information on his childhood and education provides historical context, but the majority of the book concentrates on the details of the labor-intensive process of brickmaking and the construction of the school. Slade relies on quotations from Washington's autobiography Up from Slavery to frame the narrative, revealing Washington's internal motivation in addition to the actual facts. Soft watercolor illustrations illuminate the text's descriptions and add a meaningful complement to the already inspiring story. The combined messages of hope and perseverance come through loud and clear. Pair this with Jabari Asim's Fifty Cents and a Dream: Young Booker T. Washington (2012).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)