A review by arielrichardson
Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange
5.0
“it hasn’t always been this way/ ellington was not a street/ robeson no mere memory/ dubois walked up my father’s stairs/ hummed some tune over me/ sleeping in the company of men/ who changed the world…”
So begins ellington was not a street, the true story of Shange’s experiences growing up surrounded by great African American leaders, thinkers, musicians and boxers- men who “changed the world.” Winner of the Coretta Scott King Award in 2005, this book brings these great men and their families to life, reminding us of their contributions, and reminding us that they are so much more than street names. The rhythm and brevity of the text make it a great picture book for younger children. The nine biographies featured at the end of the book mean that it is also engaging for older readers. Kadir Nelson's beautifully rendered illustrations make this book impossible to resist.
So begins ellington was not a street, the true story of Shange’s experiences growing up surrounded by great African American leaders, thinkers, musicians and boxers- men who “changed the world.” Winner of the Coretta Scott King Award in 2005, this book brings these great men and their families to life, reminding us of their contributions, and reminding us that they are so much more than street names. The rhythm and brevity of the text make it a great picture book for younger children. The nine biographies featured at the end of the book mean that it is also engaging for older readers. Kadir Nelson's beautifully rendered illustrations make this book impossible to resist.