Title:

Birmingham, 1963                                         Picture Book #2

Author:

Carole Boston Weatherford

Publisher:

Wordsong

Date:

2007

ISBN:

1590784405

# of Pages (Readership):

40 pp. (Intermediate, ‘Tween)

Genre

History

Diversity

African-American

Plot Summary:

This book is powerfully constructed. Poignant poetry and photographs from the 1960’s Civil Rights Era convey the touching reflection of a fictional ten-year-old witness to the 1963 bombing at the First Baptist Church in Birmingham. The author's note explains the travesty of justice that followed.

Illustrations:

The black and white photos are well chosen. Photographic notes are provided at the end of the book. Accents of red on the pages suggest spilled blood.

Theme(s):

Racism causes people to treat others inhumanely.

Personal Response:

The author contrasts the narrator's everyday story with the tragic events of that particular day to powerful effect. A reader cannot read this book without feeling the pain of racial hatred. The memorial poems at the end, one to each of the four murdered girls, will bring tears to your eyes.

Curricular or Programming Connections:

Civil Rights studies, memorial poetry

Racism

Justice/injustice