Illustrator: Brian Selznick
Peach’s Picks Rating:
Year of publication: 2002
City of publication: New York
Publisher: Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0-439-26967-9
Author website: http://www.pammunozryan.com/
Illustrator website: No personal website located, but information about the illustrator can be found at http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/about_brian_bio.htm and http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=3180
Media used for illustrations: Liquitex acrylics
Annotation: Marian Anderson, a renowned singer, struggled to gain acceptance in America because she was black. With support from Eleanor Roosevelt, she performed at the Lincoln Memorial in a 1939 historic event.
Personal reaction to the book: At the time the story begins, Marian Anderson is a young African-American girl grew up in South Philadelphia. She sings in the church choir all the while dreaming of singing professionally, especially at the Metropolitan Opera. Because of the color barrier in the United States during this time period, she finds it difficult to gain acceptance at established music schools. Finally, through perseverance she becomes the student of Giuseppe Boghetti, a respected singing coach. Through his tutelage she hones her skills and sets off to perform in Europe, where there are not the same color prejudices. There she is accepted as the accomplished performer she has become. Returning to the United States in 1939, she is denied the right to sing at Constitution Hall due to a “white performers” only policy. In protest, Ms. Anderson performs on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to a mixed-race crowd of thousands. Eleanor Roosevelt becomes instrumental in making this historic event possible. Slowly, color barriers break down and at the age of 57, Ms. Anderson realizes her dream of singing at the Metropolitan Opera. Her life and career encouraged social changes. This is not a straight forward, all-inclusive biography; rather the reader receives an impression of Ms. Anderson’s life from childhood to her performance at the Metropolitan Opera House. Endnotes, a timeline of her life, and a discography offer further information. The text flows smoothly. It is simply written, but not simplistic. The text includes verses from songs made famous by Ms. Anderson. Illustrations and text blend to advance the story. For example; the reader sees Marian standing on the steps of the music school from which she was denied, wistfully looking up at a white girl singing in a second floor window (pages 7-8). The illustrations are large, sepia-toned drawings that cover two page openings. Narration is placed in a white block running across either the bottom or down the sides of pages. The illustrations are carefully researched and reflect the time period though wallpaper, light fixtures, clothing styles, and other details. At the close, of the book when Ms. Anderson sings at the Metropolitan Opera, she is highlighted in a beam of light; her clothing is drawn using colors, the only color in the book. This artistic device accents the importance of the event. In the illustrator’s notes, Selznick mentions that his uncle was a fan of Ms. Anderson. He places his uncle on page 27, standing in the crowd listening to her sing at the Lincoln Memorial. (Hint, the uncle is the man facing the reader; standing with his eyes closed, wearing glasses.) This is an excellent introduction to Marian Anderson, the first African-American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera. The book reads well aloud and the pictures can be seen and enjoyed by large groups as well as individually.
General curricular connections:
- Civil Rights
- Marian Anderson / biography
- Biographies
- African American biographies
- Women biographies
Specific example of curricular connection matched to State Standards:
Subject: History
Grade level: 11
Subject: History
Grade level: 11
Standards:
California State Standards
History – Social Studies Content Standards for Public Schools: Kindergarten through Grade 12
Grade 11 United States History and Geography: Continuity and Change in the Twentieth Century
2. Examine and analyze the key events, policies, and court cases in the evolution of civil rights, including Dred Scott v. Sandford, Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Education, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, and California Proposition 209.
(Specifically, Plessy v. Feguson)
Recommended grade levels:
School Library Journal recommends the book for use with grades K-5
Peach’s Picks recommends the book for use with grades 1 and up
Awards/Recognitions:
Parents Choice Award Winner (Gold Award, picture book, ages 6-10)
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, 2002
ALA Sibert Honor Award, 2003
ALA Notable Book, 2003
Orbis Pictus Winner for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children, 2003
NCTE Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts, 2003
Booklist starred review
Kirkus Review starred review
Publishers Weekly starred review
School Library Journal starred review
Note: This book is included in Assignment 2.
Use of sophisticated language: Page 25; “Standing in the shadow of the statue of Lincoln, waiting to be called out, she read the engraved words: …THIS NATION UNDER GOD SHALL HAVE A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM…”
Simile: Introduction; “With one breath she sounded like rain, sprinkling high notes in the morning sun.”
Metaphor: Introduction; “And with the next she was thunder, resounding deep in a dark sky.”
Repetition: Five pages throughout the book show Ms. Anderson singing with her eyes closed.
Symbolism: Pages 17-18; The illustration is a side view of Ms. Anderson aboard the Ile de France on her way to Europe. She is facing at the bow of the ship looking toward the future
Book cover picture retrieved from http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/book.jsp?id=3040
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