by Carrie Charley Brown
Normally, when I attempt to reserve books on my library’s website, I usually find only a few of those books available. Sometimes none. Imagine my surprise to find ALL of the books I wanted by Andrea Davis Pinkney! Wow…Rare. So, what is it about her books that cause a library to stock them all? Besides incredible writing, I think it boils down to a big R: Relatability; for kids, parents, and educators alike.
Nonfiction picture books, especially biographies, have to be written masterfully to help young children stay engaged and relate to what is happening.
Nonfiction picture books, especially biographies, have to be written masterfully to help young children stay engaged and relate to what is happening.
Little, Brown Books, 2013
“Martin wasn’t old enough to be a preacher, but even as a boy, he had a big way of speaking. He learned this from watching his father address the congregation.” -MARTIN & MAHALIA HIS WORDS HER SONG
In just the right words, Andrea paints a picture of Martin as a young boy. We learn that he is motivated and perhaps brave, that he admires his father, has big shoes to fill and his own ideals. We also infer that he is expected to attend church regularly. Many children experience the same feelings and situations, whether they relate to other kids that are like this or they are that kid.
She also reveals a problem early on that people are emotionally connected to.
“But in the South, where Martin and Mahalia lived, Jim Crow laws made sure things were not free. These laws said: Black folks here. White folks there. That’s how life was for young Martin and Mahalia. Separate but nowhere near equal.” -MARTIN & MAHALIA HIS WORDS HER SONG
This causes a child to root for Martin and Mahalia to succeed. We care about what happens to them.
In just the right words, Andrea paints a picture of Martin as a young boy. We learn that he is motivated and perhaps brave, that he admires his father, has big shoes to fill and his own ideals. We also infer that he is expected to attend church regularly. Many children experience the same feelings and situations, whether they relate to other kids that are like this or they are that kid.
She also reveals a problem early on that people are emotionally connected to.
“But in the South, where Martin and Mahalia lived, Jim Crow laws made sure things were not free. These laws said: Black folks here. White folks there. That’s how life was for young Martin and Mahalia. Separate but nowhere near equal.” -MARTIN & MAHALIA HIS WORDS HER SONG
This causes a child to root for Martin and Mahalia to succeed. We care about what happens to them.
 HarperCollins (Amistad) 2008 |  Little, Brown Books 2010 |  Hyperion Books, 2009 |
Andrea implements rhythmic repetitive language patterns to keep young children engaged.
“Martin spoke the gospel. Prayed the gospel. Sought the gospel. Taught the gospel.”
-MARTIN & MAHALIA HIS WORDS HER SONG
“Walked to work, we did. Walked to school, we did. Walked to church, we did. Yes we did, child. Yes we did.”
-BOYCOTT BLUES: HOW ROSA PARKS INSPIRED A NATION
“The students sat still and proud. And waited. And wanted. A doughnut and coffee, with cream on the side.”
-SIT-IN: HOW FOUR FRIENDS STOOD UP BY SITTING DOWN
This particular reference to a doughnut and coffee with cream on the side is repeated 6.5 times in the book. That SHOWS the main characters endurance and patience through standing up for what is right.
Andrea uses figurative language that rocks your emotions to the core.
“At first they were treated like the hole in the doughnut—invisible.”
-SIT-IN: HOW FOUR FRIENDS STOOD UP BY SITTING DOWN
“Mahalia’s voice was brass and butter.”
-MARTIN & MAHALIA HIS WORDS HER SONG
“She fled like tomorrow wasn’t ever gonna come.”
“Sojourner put one big-black-beautiful foot in front of the other and she stomped on the floorboards of ignorance that were underneath.”
-SOJOURNER TRUTH’S STEP-STOMP STRIDE, 2009
Andrea Davis Pinkney: PASSION PRINCESS
If a picture book is written well, its heart will shine through. We can feel Andrea’s passion pumping through our own veins. Her passion becomes ours. We leave as changed readers.
Andrea Davis Pinkney: DIVERSITY DIVA
Every character pictured in the fourteen books sprawled in front of me feature African American characters. Integrate those with other shelved books and we see the need to paint a better picture of our diverse world. It’s like giving children library cards that truly belong to them. All of them!
And the characters? A well-represented assembly of many different walks of life.
“Martin spoke the gospel. Prayed the gospel. Sought the gospel. Taught the gospel.”
-MARTIN & MAHALIA HIS WORDS HER SONG
“Walked to work, we did. Walked to school, we did. Walked to church, we did. Yes we did, child. Yes we did.”
-BOYCOTT BLUES: HOW ROSA PARKS INSPIRED A NATION
“The students sat still and proud. And waited. And wanted. A doughnut and coffee, with cream on the side.”
-SIT-IN: HOW FOUR FRIENDS STOOD UP BY SITTING DOWN
This particular reference to a doughnut and coffee with cream on the side is repeated 6.5 times in the book. That SHOWS the main characters endurance and patience through standing up for what is right.
Andrea uses figurative language that rocks your emotions to the core.
“At first they were treated like the hole in the doughnut—invisible.”
-SIT-IN: HOW FOUR FRIENDS STOOD UP BY SITTING DOWN
“Mahalia’s voice was brass and butter.”
-MARTIN & MAHALIA HIS WORDS HER SONG
“She fled like tomorrow wasn’t ever gonna come.”
“Sojourner put one big-black-beautiful foot in front of the other and she stomped on the floorboards of ignorance that were underneath.”
-SOJOURNER TRUTH’S STEP-STOMP STRIDE, 2009
Andrea Davis Pinkney: PASSION PRINCESS
If a picture book is written well, its heart will shine through. We can feel Andrea’s passion pumping through our own veins. Her passion becomes ours. We leave as changed readers.
Andrea Davis Pinkney: DIVERSITY DIVA
Every character pictured in the fourteen books sprawled in front of me feature African American characters. Integrate those with other shelved books and we see the need to paint a better picture of our diverse world. It’s like giving children library cards that truly belong to them. All of them!
And the characters? A well-represented assembly of many different walks of life.
 Hyperion, 2002 |  Hyperion, 1997 |  Harcourt, 1996 |
 Gulver Books, 1994 |  Hyperion, 1993 |
Andrea writes beyond the books mentioned here to also include fiction picture books, novels, narrative nonfiction, and anthologies. I feel blessed to be able to learn from her during the online Picture Book Summit this fall. I have learned so much already just from studying her books. I hope you will join me in this author study. If you missed the last study of Peter Brown's books, you can find it HERE. Hope to see you at Summit, too!
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