A Song for Gwendolyn Brooks by Alice Faye Duncan is probably my favorite read of 2019 so far. Not only do you get a woman of color presented, you get one who might not be familiar to everyone. She is a poet I knew about but not familiar with. And unlike say, Maya Angelou, there does not seem to be a lot out there about her and especially not for the younger crowd. Therefore, this is a pleasant addition to the biographies of both black people, woman and poets.
The format is tricky, as it is a picture book, but the text and concept are for an older reader. This makes it not for the traditional picture book crowd (there is a lot of text and little action) but for the age it is aimed for they might think it “too young looking.” The reader in me says, “GO FOR IT! Who cares what it looks like?” But I understand “looks” can be an issue. Therefore, I would highly recommend this to a teacher. You will have almost all your teaching bases covered: Black History, Women’s History and Poetry.
The art of Xia Gordon is grand and amazing. However, it can get a little “blended together” at times due to the similar coloring, images and the overall style. But it is also very pleasant. The times come alive with the art and compliment the text of Duncan as they make the times come alive.
Duncan does not go into the darker side of black history but does mention that “dad brought home the bacon” and “moms’ job was to “mother” and take care of the home.” And mentions that Brooks was the first Black author to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1950 for her collection “Annie Allen. Therefore, pointing out the historical significance of this act.
The authors note, and the time line are great tie-ins to the rest of the story. There is recommended reading for Brooks as well.