(3) K-3 Illustrated by Don Tate. Hopkinson's inspiring story explains how young Carter G. Woodson (1875–1950) read the newspaper to his father and fellow coal miners. Their desire to be informed citizens, plus a challenge from his Harvard professor, led Woodson to later establish Negro History Week, predecessor to Black History Month. Tate's engaging mixed-media illustrations and endpaper drawings include portraits of Black leaders throughout history. Timeline, websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Monique Harris

(4) YA Legendary African Americans series. These biographies, originally published under slightly different titles in the African-American Biographies series, dutifully (and somewhat dully) report on their subjects' lives, accomplishments, and struggles, placing them within their historical time period. Unfortunately, almost all of the black-and-white photographs have been removed in these new editions, making for dense, uninspired packages. Reading list, timeline. Ind. Review covers these Legendary African Americans titles: The Life of Carter G. Woodson, The Life of Paul Laurence Dunbar, The Life of Harriet Tubman, and The Life of Martin Luther King, Jr..

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) K-3 Famous African Americans series. Each simply written title in this updated series (originally published in 1991 and 1992) provides an adequate introduction to a notable African American. Archival photographs, mostly black and white, and mediocre color illustrations appear on every spread. Large type and short sentences make these books suitable for use with reluctant readers. There are six other spring 2013 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Famous African Americans titles: Carter G. Woodson, George Washington Carver, Louis Armstrong, Marian Anderson, Mary McLeod Bethune, and Paul Robeson.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Melanie Reim. A fluid text provides adequate background on Woodson: son of former slaves, historian, Harvard Ph.D., and the man who established Negro History Week, which would eventually become Black History Month. An artist's note provides information on the mural-like illustrations. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith