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One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance | Books For Diversity

One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance

April 1, 2018
One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance | Books For Diversity
One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance | Books For Diversity

In One Last Word, poet Nikki Grimes combines the work of the poets of the Harlem Renaissance such as Langston Hughes, Georgia Douglas Johnson and Jean Toomer with her own, creating fresh, original and relevant poems for today. She uses the “Golden Shovel” poetic form, a method that takes “a short poem in its entirety, or a line from that poem (called a striking line), and create a new poem, using the words from the original.”

According to Nikki, “This is a very challenging way to create a poem, especially in terms of coming up with something that makes sense, and I love it for that very reason! In this form, the poet is bound by the words of the original poem, but the possibilities for creating something entirely new are exciting.”

Powerful artwork from contemporary African American illustrators Cozbi Cabrera, R. Gregory Christie, Pat Cummings, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Ebony Glenn, Nikki Grimes, E. B. Lewis, Frank Morrison, Christopher Myers, Brian Pinkney, Sean Qualls, James Ransome, Javaka Steptoe, Shadra Strickland and Elizabeth Zunon come alongside Nikki’s thought-provoking poems.

One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance | Written by Nikki Grimes | @bloomsburypublishing

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A new take on the classic nursery rhyme “The House That Jack Built.” This festive modern version is about a surprise party for a special girl put together by her family and the animals on their farm — each with their own important role and special contribution.  There are cascarones to be made, papel picado to be hung and alebrijes to be carved before all is ready!  A jaunty and lively read-aloud with Spanish words intermingling beautifully with the mostly English text.  Words to “The Piñata Song,” a tutorial on making a piñata, glossary and definitions conclude this jovial story.

The Piñata That the Farm Maiden Hung | Written by Samantha R. Vamos @samantha.vamos | Illustrated by Sebastià Serra @sebastia_serra | @charlesbridgepublishing
Pura Belpré was a pioneer in more ways than one — she was the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City, an innovative storyteller who engaged local immigrant communities and author of many children’s books in Spanish at at time when there weren’t any in mainstream publishing.  This gorgeous book celebrates her vibrant life and invaluable contributions to young readers, family and diversity in children’s literature.

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré | Written by Anika Aldamuy Denise @anikadenise | Illustrated by Paola Escobar @paoesco8ar | @harperkids
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Thread of Love | Co-written by Kabir Sehgal & Surishtha Sehgal | Illustrated by Zara González Hoang @zarprey | @simonkids
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Hannah and her parents immigrate from Taiwan to San Francisco and everything is strange and new, including Hannah’s name in English.  It’s different from her Chinese name, Na-Li, which means “beautiful.” While her family anxiously awaits their green cards, they experience all sorts of other newness.  Times are difficult but not hopeless.  Good news arrives in the mail one day — their green cards!  They celebrate with a dish that they eat on special occasions — sizzling dumplings filled with meat and cabbage.

Hannah Is My Name: A Young Immigrant’s Story | Written and illustrated by Belle Yang | @candlewickpress
It’s Chinese New Year and it’s a very special time because Maomao’s father, a migrant worker who lives and works away from home the whole year, is coming home to celebrate!  Exchanging gifts, hearing firecrackers and watching dragon dances in the street are part of the annual festivities.  Maomao and her parents also make rice balls with a lucky coin hidden inside one of them.  New year traditions vary from region to region in China and we loved reading about how this particular family celebrates Lunar New Year.

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