Scan barcode
cpoole's review against another edition
4.0
Thomas, Joyce C, and Floyd Cooper. The Blacker the Berry: Poems. New York: HarperCollins, 2008. Print. 32 p.
Coretta Scott King Award for Illustrator 2009
Poems accompanied by expert, detailed illustrations explain the various skin tones of African-Americans. Written from the points of view of children, the verses use many metaphors, mainly berries, to describe diversity of appearances. Though the poetry is simple, and acceptable for young children, a deeper meaning is explored. Children realize the way their ancestors contribute to their appearance. The Blacker the Berry is appropriate for children of all ages, however may be too deep for the very young. A lesson in similes and metaphor is befitting to go along with this title. Children will make metaphors about their own personal appearances and then share them with the group.
chitownjr's review
5.0
When I got this book from the library I really wondered what it was about. The photo realist image on the cover of the girl holding a basket of blackberries made me wonder how they were related to each other, and to poetry. I can’t say I was expecting much.
After reading the book, all became clear. The intention of the book is to show the different shades of blackness. Just like the berries described in the poems, there are different shades of black skin. To a white person like me, I don’t often consider the different shades of black skin even though I’m aware of the differences. Recently an African American friend of mine, Tony, who is very dark skinned, mentioned something about his wife being “high yeller”. It made me consider how Tony and his family see themselves and the differences between Tony and his wife.
This book makes this concept accessible to children. The poet has chosen to compare the different shades of black skin to the various kinds of berries: raspberries, boysenberries, blackberries, etc. She also includes other poems about how black people are perceived amongst themselves. This book is designed to instill pride in black children; to make them aware of the variety among people with black skin. Most of the poems also evoke pride in one’s ancestry with phrases such as, “You remind me of my mother” and “My father’s side of the family.”
The book is a celebration of the black family, now and then, of the ties that bind, of pride in one’s heritage and pride in one’s self.
I think this book would make a lovely read aloud in a library. White children can see themselves in the poems about family and consider how they differ in skin tone while possibly becoming more aware of how black children see themselves (something white people in this country still need to consider even in this “post-racial” environment). All children can take pride in their heritage and the poems encourage those family ties regardless of race.
The images of the black people in the book show each one as a distinct individual surrounded by a loving family. The final image, two facing pages of black children’s faces, reinforces the idea of diversity among people of African American heritage. I really enjoyed this book and liked the poems enough to read the book through twice. I especially liked the first poem, “What Shade is Human?”
All in all the book was well worth reading and was eye opening even for a liberal like me.
After reading the book, all became clear. The intention of the book is to show the different shades of blackness. Just like the berries described in the poems, there are different shades of black skin. To a white person like me, I don’t often consider the different shades of black skin even though I’m aware of the differences. Recently an African American friend of mine, Tony, who is very dark skinned, mentioned something about his wife being “high yeller”. It made me consider how Tony and his family see themselves and the differences between Tony and his wife.
This book makes this concept accessible to children. The poet has chosen to compare the different shades of black skin to the various kinds of berries: raspberries, boysenberries, blackberries, etc. She also includes other poems about how black people are perceived amongst themselves. This book is designed to instill pride in black children; to make them aware of the variety among people with black skin. Most of the poems also evoke pride in one’s ancestry with phrases such as, “You remind me of my mother” and “My father’s side of the family.”
The book is a celebration of the black family, now and then, of the ties that bind, of pride in one’s heritage and pride in one’s self.
I think this book would make a lovely read aloud in a library. White children can see themselves in the poems about family and consider how they differ in skin tone while possibly becoming more aware of how black children see themselves (something white people in this country still need to consider even in this “post-racial” environment). All children can take pride in their heritage and the poems encourage those family ties regardless of race.
The images of the black people in the book show each one as a distinct individual surrounded by a loving family. The final image, two facing pages of black children’s faces, reinforces the idea of diversity among people of African American heritage. I really enjoyed this book and liked the poems enough to read the book through twice. I especially liked the first poem, “What Shade is Human?”
All in all the book was well worth reading and was eye opening even for a liberal like me.
bookishrealm's review against another edition
5.0
This was amazing! It definitely addressed all the different shades that black people come in. The poetry just blew me away. Definitely want to add this to my collection.
audrarussellwrites's review against another edition
5.0
A collection of wonderful poems about the beauty of blackness in all of its various shades. Yes, it is for children, but adults can take much away from it as well!
rachelkc's review
4.0
The poems featured in The Blacker the Berry “celebrate these many shades of black” with both lyrical words and vibrant illustrations. Joyce Carol Thomas is an expert in her field, and does the poems justice with rich imagery. The larger type, simple sentence structure, and full page illustrations make this collection accessible to younger readers, while adults (parents or teachers or storytellers) can also appreciate the deeper meanings of the poems as a whole. The scope of this collection is focused, and thrives in that focus. Each poem is written from the child’s point-of-view, and uses the imagery of berries and other breakfast-y items (coffee, biscuits) to strengthen the theme. Each illustration is unique to its accompanying poem, yet stays true to the style. The final illustration is powerful.
aliciaprettybrowneyereader's review
5.0
This book is beautifully illustrated. Each page incorporates different berries and skin colors. Every skin color is represented to uplift all children.
More...