We Are the Change

February 15, 2019
In tribute to the work of the American Civil Liberties Union, 16 illustrators offer art for and commentary on pithy statements on human rights that have particularly moved them.Some of the contributors--notably Sean Qualls for Maya Angelou's "Still I rise" and Greg Pizzoli for a line from W.E.B. Dubois about the cowardice of those who "dare not know"--have made their chosen quotation a central visual component of the art. Some offer conventional views of people of color on the march (Innosanto Nagara, for a quote from Khalil Gibran) or idyllic scenes of giving and cooperation (Alina Chau, Molly Idle). Others opt for more oblique, often provocative responses. Brian Pinkney, for instance, illustrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that" with a racially diverse crowd of smiling faces over an equally diverse crowd of scowling ones; for Dolores Huerta's reminder that we are all one human race, Raúl the Third depicts a mother and child hugging each other through a tall fence of slats; a collage based on the American flag by Melissa Sweet features phrases from the Constitution and other significant documents in the white stripes and in place of stars, a defiant McCarthy-era manifesto from E.B. White. As further food for thought, the artists all add personal reflections, some relatively lengthy, about what their chosen passage means to them.A heady mix of visual and verbal inspiration, nearly every page rewarding slow, thoughtful attention. (illustrator bios) (Picture book. 7-10)

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April 22, 2019
“Inspired by the continuing work of the American Civil Liberties Union” and introduced by singer and activist Harry Belafonte, this volume pairs the works of 16 varied contemporary illustrators with stirring quotations (chosen by those illustrators) by a wide range of historic and living public figures. Each artist also reflects on the personal significance of the quote they’ve chosen. Juana Medina paints five round, brightly colored smiling faces to accompany the famous lines from Gwendolyn Brooks—“We are each other’s harvest” —and writes that Brooks’s words “fill me with eagerness to find common ground with others.” Raúl the Third, quoting Dolores Huerta (“We should love and care for each other”), portrays a tearful mother and child trying to hug through the slats of what is clearly meant to be a border wall. “I hope that these times will pass,” the artist notes. Handsomely styled, and not afraid to take sides. Ages 7–10.

May 1, 2019

Gr 5 Up-Featuring quotes from civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis, and Dolores Huerta, this collaborative and informational picture book is accompanied by artwork from 16 different artists. Full spreads of quotes accompany illustrations, as well as notes from the illustrator about the speaker. The illustrators have all done a beautiful job incorporating the text into their artwork, and the different styles make for a colorful and varied experience. Each quote and accompanying illustrator's note is short yet powerful. An index with recommended further reading would have been helpful for readers searching for more than just a simple introduction, but the book functions without it. VERDICT As a snapshot of inspiration for social change, this book is recommended for all library nonfiction collections.-Katharine Gatcomb, Portsmouth Public Library, NH

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