(3) K-3 Illustrated by Colin Bootman. Hooks cogently sketches the life and medical contributions of Vivien Thomas, best known for his successful treatment of tetralogy of Fallot, or "blue baby syndrome." An African American, Thomas faced much prejudice in his career, a theme that is deftly balanced with the clear exposition of the surgical procedure Thomas invented. Watercolor illustrations are staid but competent.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Colin Bootman. This little-known and well-told true story describes how a Charleston, South Carolina, pastor founded an orphanage, solicited donations of musical instruments, and got the kids to perform "rag" (a precursor of jazz). The band became a sensation, traveling abroad and marching in President Theodore Roosevelt's inaugural parade. Bootman's plangent art captures two sides of life in an early-twentieth-century American city. Bib.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Colin Bootman. This poignant story, based on Frederick Douglass's childhood, tells how his mother, a slave, would walk twelve miles at night for a brief visit with her son. Soothing text describes how she overcomes the monotony and loneliness through songs (joyful and sad), the solace of prayer, and love. Emotional paintings capture moods, especially the joy of reunion that wipes away weariness.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Colin Bootman. Ten-year-old Louis Daniel remembers to grab his brass cornet when his family flees after Hurricane Katrina. In the overcrowded Superdome, Daddy gets separated from the group; Louis plays his horn midfield, and the family is reunited before the book's hopeful ending. The text is stiff, but it uses some powerful imagery; somber oils (and an appended author's note) help convey the storm's devastation. Reading list, websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Colin Bootman. The struggles of African Americans throughout history, from slavery's roots through the Civil War to the civil rights movement and today, are briefly explored in Slade's lyrical text. The book's cornerstone is the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., unveiled in 1922. Bootman's expressive watercolor paintings successfully depict the shifting history. Timeline.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Colin Bootman. A class assignment makes African American Louis curious to know more about Abraham Lincoln as a boy. It's the segregated South, and Louis is denied entrance to the library. However, a kind white librarian helps him complete his task. The sequence of events isn't totally convincing, leading up to a rather pat ending. Bootman's warm-hued paintings add life to the tale. Reading list.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Colin Bootman. Stuck-up fifth-grader Queen Marie Rosseau is "Queen of Thirty-third Street." When smelly Leroy insists that he's really a prince from Senegal, Queen decides to find out the truth. Complex characters and a rich urban setting defy stereotyping and will appeal to readers beginning to see themselves through others' eyes. Occasional pencil illustrations add a welcome dimension.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2007

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Colin Bootman. It's 1947, and a boy and his deaf father love going to Brooklyn's Ebbets Field to watch Jackie Robinson play. Bootman's watercolors keenly re-create the sights and sensibility of 1940s Brooklyn, and Uhlberg, who based this story on a real-life incident, wisely underplays the parallel he draws in his author's note between Dad and Robinson, both victims of prejudice.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Colin Bootman. Bootman's somber paintings capture the tenderness of the relationship between Simms and his papa in this story, with an indeterminate setting, about a black community's first exercise in voting. While the story has too many elements and not enough context, its themes shine clear, as the men courageously cast their first ballots.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Colin Bootman. Adler captures key events in Stowe's life and the impact of her famous novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, on national events. However, in an attempt to make the text both easy to read and informative, some statements (e.g., "Stowe's book was one of the causes of the Civil War") lack context and are potentially misleading. The accompanying paintings enhance the text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Colin Bootman. This story of a young slave girl's escape via the Underground Railroad is told from the unique perspective of her rag doll in the authentic vernacular of the period. Lindy's doll, Sally, goes everywhere with Lindy. When Lindy and her mother run away, Sally is with them: "Feels like I'm flyin'." The dramatic paintings effectively capture the tense moments of the journey.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Colin Bootman. In 1957, a bright African-American girl starts attending an "advanced school" to get a better education. In the somewhat didactic story, Dana learns how to fit in at her new school and still keep her old friends; she also figures out when to use Standard English and when to use "Black English." While the illustrations are occasionally awkward, they capture the story's many moods.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Colin Bootman. The life and major accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., including his marriage to Coretta Scott, his leadership during the Montgomery Bus Boycott, his "I Have a Dream" speech, and his assassination, are

Reviewer: Mary R. Holt

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Colin Bootman. One summer, Derrick's elderly uncle gives him harmonica lessons. When "old Arthur" (arthritis) prevents Uncle Booker T. from giving a lesson one day, a now-accomplished Derrick soothes him with his own playing. The text occasionally verges on sentimentality, but the author also exercises restraint, as when intimating the old man's mortality. The illustrations affectionately depict summertime and community in the South.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Colin Bootman. A closely knit family enjoys quiet comforts in a collection of short episodes narrated by a young girl. Visiting with aunts young and old, planning a doll and cat wedding, cooking corn-pudding and crab-apple jelly, and eating a midnight feast are all part of the fun. The contemporary African-American family in a country setting is realistically portrayed in the lively oil paintings.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt