VOTING RIGHTS: Two Serious Stories of HEROES

HARPER, 2022

Without apologies, I'm continuing a discussion of the incredible value of the right to vote! Moving from a recent post featuring the significance of VOTING as a central identifier of democracy, HERE, this post offers two biography-nonfiction picture book titles that celebrate heroes of past and present. Heroes of voting rights and celebrating voices for all citizens, including those who have been silenced and marginalized. Denied, by social patterns, and even more so, by intention.

 STACEY ABRAMS and the FIGHT TO VOTE is written by Traci N. Todd and illustrated by Laura Freeman.

Stacey Abrams first gained national prominence by LOSING her election race for governor of Georgia to Brian Kemp, who was then Secretary of State. In that elected role, kemp was charged, why oath, with assuring safe and fair elections in their state. But the actual events of the elections included countless ways in which the full power of ALL voices was not fully heard... including the closing of polling places, purging names from eligibility, locating the remaining poll stations where they were harder to reach, and more. Stacey called it the "Great Silencing". While she acknowledged that Kemp would be certified as the new governor, she called out the absurdity that he and his offices had actively reworked voting processes to make it harder for his opponent to win. 

Before the election Abrams had led a statewide drive to register voters, and that mission resumed in full force after the election ended. 

The remarkable part of this youth-to-present-day account of a modern day civil rights and political leader of national note is not just its lively writing and compelling illustrations, but also the way in which women's rights/voting rights leaders of history appear on the pages and throughout Stacey's efforts to inspire and uplift all voices. It is both biography and history, both recent events and nation-changing figures of the past. 

The vibrant and inspiring illustrations reflect the compelling impact of Abrams's words and actions. The ethereal, ghost-like images of earlier women heroes are in no way depicted as frail or outdated. Rather, their continuing impact is carried through text, quotations, and celestial surroundings of their determined gazes.

Backmatter offers further details about Abrams as well as clarifying foundational information about  Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells, Septima Pointsette Clark, and Fannie Lou Hamer.

A further feature is the two page timeline spanning 1776 to 2021, focused on the legal and social standing of voting rights for women and those who are not white.  A selected list of references and bibliography gives reliable sources for those anyone/everyone who is inspired to learn even more.

Christy Ottaviano Books
Little Brown and Company, 2024

Thankfully, the name Ida B. Wells is widely recognized today, but the details reflected in this picture book will captivate and further inform readers across many ages. IDA B. WELLS Marches for the Vote is written by Dinah Johnson and illustrated by Jerry Jordan. In it hard truths are revealed, but always secure on  the scaffold of Ida's determination and irrepressible will. This account assures us of her progress and ours, even when not totally successful. 

There's plenty to celebrate in her life as well as in her legacy of activism and strength, celebration  that her decisions and actions deserve. Oil on canvas spreads include soft-edged exuberance and an encouraging vision of the Wells family's constructive efforts to make the most of transition from slavery to emancipation. This fully supports the direct and accessible narrative of Ida's life.

She took on early responsibilities for her orphaned siblings, and these were only the first of the many ways in which she faced challenges with practicality and authority. That tone and attitude shaped the voice she found in writing and speaking, which became the foundation of the woman whose historic achievements we know of today.

The sad truth is that despite the general acclaim Ida had received for her leadership among Black citizens and speaking out for civil rights, she faced racial discrimination when it came to the fight for women's suffrage. Leaders of that movement, white women, shamefully, did not wish to include Black women in their fight. One particular story of Ida's response is dramatic and  satisfying, although the entire trajectory of her accomplishments is warmly and realistically on display throughout the pages of this biography. Back matter includes archival photos and an author note, followed by an impressive timeline of Ida's life and accomplishments. I urge everyone to read and share this book.

CALKINS CREEK
Imprint of ASTRA BOOKS, 2022

And I can't resist mentioning a third nonfiction title that I featured in an earlier post, here. EVICTED: The Struggle For the Right To Vote is written by Alice Faye Duncan with art by Charly Palmer. This thorough account and illustration of the story behind Black citizens of Tennessee risked all (loss of jobs, homes, and fundamental safety in their effort to cast ballots. the lengthy text makes this an ideal source for established/older readers, including the very extensive backmatter to support the text and encourage further reading and understanding. 

The illustrations are masterful, executed with the sweep and depth that characterize Palmer's works. The intensity of the situations portrayed are balanced by the strength of the individuals who literally stood up for their rights and beliefs. Contrasts of light and shadow in each spread suggest the dramatic balance between the powers of existing social forces and the powers of characters and determination. For more, read the link to my prior post above, but please don't overlook the importance of this remarkable account.

BASEBALL PLAYOFF SEASON! (Go Brewers!)

My personal team bias is revealed in the title of this post, but I've been celebrating BASEBALL as a sport, a community phenomenon, as history and as guide to living well for years. Posts from the past (about a dozen!) can be found by putting "baseball" in the search tab, but a few I'm especially fond of can be clicked HERE, HERE, and HERE. Most  baseball posts included two or more titles, so dive in!

As MLB Playoff Season underway, nstant betting of countless kinds adding to the excitement but  lends a slightly sour taste to the historic, classic, All-American sport. I've chosen to feature an older title that celebrates the truest soul of baseball. 

CLARION BOOKS, 2018

I GOT IT is the virtually wordless picture book by virtuoso visual storyteller, David Weisner. If you aren't familiar with his body of work, click on his name/website link and learn more. Many of Weisner's award winning titles involve intensely complex and surrealistic stories with many levels. In this case, though the cover reveals the purity and clarity, the nearly perfect truth that baseball belongs to everyone. And I feel safe in saying that every player on every team in the play-offs and eventual world series began dreaming of these days on a sandlot or local field, with or without a coach. 

Starting with the universally dreaded scene revealing a "Can I play, too" moment to assignment to the outfield, the eager player confidently shouts 

"I GOT IT!"

Those words appear more than  once, and the scenes that ensue  are both recognizable and fantastical. The emotional journey is both extraordinary and utterly familiar. 

As the playoff season unfolds, I'm prepared for the ups and downs, the nail-biting moments and (likely) dull ones, willing and eager to pay the price of angst and upset for the love of the team, the love of the game, the chance to participate. Despite what is undeniably disproportionate monetary investment in major league sports, and now the quagmire of betting on bits like how often someone touches their cap or taps their bat, I choose to celebrate the joy at the heart of the sport. From T-ball to the world series, from trips to triumph, from childhood dreams to standing on those big fields of dreams, baseball is special. I hope you'll take a look at this title (and any clicks you choose) to remind yourselves that there is value in teamwork, in trying, in playing. Play ball!

The IMPORTANCE of the VOTE!

 

If you are reading this on the day it posts, our national midterm election date is just a bit more than four weeks away. The truth, though, is that the time to vote is NOW. This is NOT my endorsement of any candidate at any level, but it is my genuinely desperate plea that anyone reading here makes sure to VOTE. We each need to  facilitate the ability to VOTE in anyone else we know.

First, make sure you are still registered correctly. Many states have purged voters roles, or perhaps you've moved or been a student and changed status or location. Registration online is available in all states. Tell others about this concern and help them navigate the process.

Next, don't wait for election day. If a problem arises, at in-person early voting or by absentee, allow as much time as possible to rectify the situation and assure that your vote will be counted. Worries about ICE or other uniformed observers at the ballot places is reduced with early voting. Early voting by mail or in person is currently underway in many states. Check out the possibilities where you are registered and make use of the best ways to avoid concerns about lines or interference of any kind.

Finally, if mail-in voting has you concerned, make a plan to get your ballot to an official ballot drop-off box. That bypasses any possibility of your mailed vote somehow being batch-rejected or otherwise returned without enough time to correct an error.

All of this is in red font because I intend it as a legitimate alert, a caution, a call to stand up and assure that your right to vote is not lost. I truly never thought that would be threatened in my lifetime. The fact is that generations of Americans have fought and died, debated and legislated to assure that every American citizen has the RIGHT and PROTECTION to vote their will gave me confidence. And yet this central right of citizenship is under pressure, even threat. That is truly heartbreaking. Once you've assured your own right to vote and made your plan, add to your actions the intentional sharing of books about voting. Here are two. Both model engaging young people with your personal and family voting practices to assure the rights for future generations. 

PENGUIN WORKSHOP - RISE,  2024

SHOW UP AND VOTE  is written by Ani Di Franco with art by Rachelle Baker. The text begs to be read aloud, capturing the pacing and propulsive persuasion of a rap poem and the informality/voice of a childlike e. e. cummings. The full-bleed double spread scenes immerse readers in a day-in-the-life of the narrator and her mother within their community of color and commitment. Election Day, in fact. The processes of identification, line-waiting, and interactions effectively elevate what some might view as a chore or mundane, even unimportant activity. It becomes valued, something that matters.

This is not achieved by preaching or didactic dialogue but through the young narrator's observations, analysis, and clever awareness of details connecting to her emotional reactions. Her Mama serves as role model but also in a partnership/mentorship mode, expanding their singular situation with reminders of the exponential forces when each and every other voter is also making mindful selections. The conclusion is authentically satisfying as the pair return through their urban neighborhood and the child recognizes the interconnection of previously taken-for-granted aspects of their life. 

VOTE FOR OUR FUTURE

Have You Met Millie Fleur? Or her POISON GARDEN?

 If you don't yet know the picture book character Mille Fleur, you should! Her illustrated persona is reminiscent of Wednesday Addams of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, with a much higher frequency of appealing smiles. Millie, we quickly see, enjoys gardening. 

 

Where do we see this, you ask?

ORCHARD BOOKS, 2024

A good place to start is in Millie Fleur's POISON GARDEN, written and illustrated by Christy Mandin. Let's begin with the creator's dedication, since it expresses the overall tone of the series:

"For anyone who's ever felt a little bit weird.

The world is more interesting with you in it."

Millie's family moves into a neighborhood best described in  "Little Boxes," written by Malvina Reynolds in 1962, (little boxes full of ticky-tacky, little boxes in a row). All alike, including their landscaping. Everything spotless, pruned, trim and true. 

Everything except the new Fleur home. Millie and her thoroughly modern mom are happy there, except it doesn't feel like home until Mom hands Millie some packets of seeds. Images on the seed packs confirm our suspicions from the title...  these are no ordinary plants. 

Millie's well-tended garden thrives, complete with expressive faces, tentacles, snapping petals, and sprawling vines. What follows is also predictable, but in an entirely fun and metaphorical way. Something different is not only rejected by the majority but banned, condemned, utterly rejected. Even Millie's frog knows they  could just leave it alone and BYOB, so to speak.

Millie wonders about conforming. Affirmed by her mom that she should do what makes her happy, Millie finds a way to win over the curious kids, to broaden their awareness and understanding of differences, their respect for allowing space for new and exciting visitors to the neighborhood.

Throughout the garden scenes, Millie's plants sport seemingly frightening names that reflect both exotic and recognizable plants, along with characterized expressions that elevate the humor over the potential for fear. The resolution is a delight and allows for every level of acceptance, even if only a tolerance for change among the most conservative.

Mille Fleur also has a PUMPKIN picture book and a PROBLEM picture book, both of which can join the POISON GARDEN to launch falls season of spookiness and spicy lattes. Even this synopsis reveals that the stories have their own tone of oddity to them, while presenting Mille and her mom as appealing and empathetic. Discussions are guaranteed, and back matter connects readers even more closely to their own interests and concerns.

Do yourselves a favor and make it point to meet Millie Fleur. Just avoid her salads!