African American Children's Literature

Throughout this collection of picture books, I hoped to gather different experiences that would reflect African American culture. I chose Goin’ Someplace Special in order to capture the feelings and emotions of African Americans during the Jim Crow Era. With The Other Side, I hoped to build a bridge between races and focus on the equality between cultures. In Something Beautiful, I wanted to reflect on the experiences and environment in the lives of African Americans living in a poor urban neighborhood. Lastly, with The Wedding, I wanted a book where any culture could be represented, yet it chose to illustrate an African American family. These four books work together to portray different experiences within the African American culture. There are several significant themes in all the books I chose. First, each author wrote her book from the perspective of an African American. This is crucial in giving power to the minority voice instead of the typical white protagonist. Another theme present in all of the books is that of friends and family. This is important in showing that African American culture, just like any other culture, is heavily rooted in family and friendships. Having such themes as an African American voice, family, and friendships will enable other cultures to relate to African Americans, which in turn helps prevent stereotypes and prejudice. Another key aspect of the set of books is that they will satisfy both insiders and outsiders of the culture. Each book is able to validate and reflect African American experiences while enabling outsiders to see similarities and be able to relate to African Americans.






This picture book takes place during the 1950s in a southern town. The protagonist is a young African American girl named ’Tricia Ann who is excited to make a trip by herself to a special place downtown. Along the way, her excitement fades as she endures racist signs and people, and she is constantly reminded that she is not given the same privileges as white people. Because of the Jim Crow Laws, she must sit in the back of the bus, cannot sit on certain park benches, and is kicked out of a hotel lobby. Although many events dampened her spirits, she always found a friendly face to remind her not to get discouraged. In the end she remembers her grandmother’s words, “You are somebody, a human being – no better, no worse than anybody else in the world. Gettin’ someplace special is not an easy route. But don’t study on quittin’, just keep walking straight ahead – and you’ll make it.” Determined to prove to herself that she is capable of finishing her independent journey, she makes it to her someplace special: the public library, where all people are welcome.

This exemplary book portrays the African American experiences and emotions during the 1950s in the south. The full-bled watercolored pages, bring the reader into the story as though they are walking with ’Tricia Ann on her journey to the library. The reader feels both the rejection and encouragement she receives from her community. The reader, regardless of race, is able to gain an understanding of what it would feel like to be an African American simply trying to get from one place in town to another. Patricia McKissack incorporates a sense of authenticity by giving the African American characters in the book dialogue that integrates African American vernacular into the story. The book also displays several types of jobs African Americans were limited to during this time period: a street vendor and a doorman at a hotel. Goin’ Someplace Special accurately represents the period and the experience of African Americans in a way that captivates and engages the reader.













McKissack, Patricia C. Goin’ Someplace Special. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2001.

This picture book addresses the social boundary between African Americans and Caucasians. The story is written from the perspective of the African American girl, Clover. On the side of her house, there is a large fence that separates the black and white neighborhoods. At the fence she meets a young white girl, Annie, but both girls were told by their mothers not to go over to the other side because it was not safe. In this story, the two girls are overcoming racial segregation through a new found friendship. At the end of the book, the girls are talking about how one day the fence will come down. This symbolic action represents breaking down the much larger issue of segregation and racism.

Through this story, Jacqueline Woodson is able to give power to the black, female character, Clover. Instead of experiencing the story from the “white side” of the fence, the reader is able to experience the story from Clover’s point of view. The book presents the white child trying to become accepted into African American culture by desiring to play with Clover and her friends when the situation is usually reversed. This creates the feeling that the African American culture is desired. Woodson excels in giving power to the African American minority by enabling the story to be heard from their perspective. The lifelike watercolor illustrations by E.B. Lewis pull the reader into the events in the story as the innocence of children prevails over racial segregation. This book works as a piece of diverse literature having been able to address the racial issues in a productive and authentic manner.

Woodson, Jacqueline. The Other Side. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2001.

Scholarly Journal: "Jacqueline Woodson: Real characters, real voices"

In this scholarly journal, author Rose Casement discusses Woodson’s books, inspirations, and accomplishments. This article enables readers to gain insight into Woodson’s thoughts and feelings, as she wrote many of her outstanding children’s literature, including The Other Side. Jacqueline Woodson won the Coretta Scott King Author award in 2001, as well as several Coretta Scott King Honor awards for her books. Casement applauds The Other Side as a piece of diverse and exemplary literature; “This story of racial division unfolds to reveal issues of loneliness and friendship, inclusion and exclusion, and the overcoming of prejudice and segregation through the wisdom of children. As in Woodson's previous books, this story is made real through the inclusion of universal complexities within the specific cultural experiences that impact even the very young.” However, in the article, Woodson explains that her intention is not to preach to the audience about social issues but rather to tell a story that will address social issues. Woodson is gifted in creating realistic characters and scenes that give honor to African American culture. In The Other Side, Woodson constructs a very authentic relationship between Clover and Annie Paul that incorporates mixed feelings and hesitant interactions. Woodson states, “I write characters that face circumstances and deal with them as best they can.”

Rose Casement also discusses the problem that the majority of literature is “books that include relationships across races, [where] the white child is in a position of social power.” Within Woodson’s books, she gives the power and voice to the African American characters. Clover, for instance, holds the power and voice in The Other Side rather than Annie Paul. Woodson explains in her interview with Casement that she grew up reading the “white side” and she hopes to give recognition to another side through her books. Woodson displays her talent of addressing social issues and validating African American culture through her writing by providing readers with authentic, non-stereotypical characters and stories. It is Woodson’s hope that she “provide[s] stories where children can empathize with characters both like and unlike themselves.”

Rose Casement. "Jacqueline Woodson: Real characters, real voices. " Language Arts 81.1 (2003): 80-83. Research Library Core. ProQuest. Michigan State University Library, East Lansing, MI. 5 Dec. 2008 http://www.proquest.com.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/

In this picture book, a young African American girl searches through her urban neighborhood for something beautiful. The book starts out depicting a gloomy, unclean neighborhood where the girl lives. The girl takes the reader through different areas in her neighborhood to look for beauty. Her friends jumping rope on the sidewalk tell her about their beautiful treasures of beads, music and dance, and Mr. Lee tells her about his beautiful apples in his fruit store. By asking friends and neighbors in the community, she is given many perspectives on how to see beautiful things all around her. She is able to look past the poverty and litter outside her window to find beauty in her friends and family. The story, inspired by Wyeth’s own childhood memories, is one that helps children in poorer urban neighborhoods to embrace their community no matter how ugly or cold it may seem at times. The message inspires children to always look for, and help create, a beautiful community.

Soentpiet’s realistic illustrations bring the reader into the urban neighborhood and represent the African American characters accurately. The pictures are captivating and open the eyes of the reader to experience the urban life. Throughout the book, the reader is introduced to many different cultures within the characters; the majority of characters are African American, but Mr. Lee is Asian-American, and some children are Caucasian and Hispanic. Something Beautiful demonstrates itself as an exemplary children’s book that proudly represents African Americans. Wyeth instills strength in the African American girl to overcome the poverty that surrounds her home by searching for beauty through caring relationships. Wyeth also incorporates the power of influence that even the young girl holds: the power to have a positive impact on the world. By the end of the story, the girl is changing her environment by scrubbing off graffiti, picking up garbage, and thinking of the future when she will help the homeless and plant a garden of flowers. This book gives an authentic representation of an African American family in the city. The family is not seen as victims or people to pity; instead they are seen as intelligent, happy and powerful African Americans living in a culturally rich neighborhood.











Wyeth, Sharon Dennis. Something Beautiful. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc, 1998.






This book is about the emotions and events involved before, during, and after a wedding. Johnson describes the wedding in an African American family through the eyes of youngest child, Daisy. Daisy takes the reader with her as she tastes food, watches her sister try on the wedding gown, dances with the groom, and more. She is happy for her big sister as well as sad that her sister will be leaving her once she is married. The characters experience sadness as they cry during the wedding and merriment while they eat and dance during the reception.

The universal themes of family, love, and marriage in the book bring people of diverse cultures together. Through this story, Johnson gives the African American family the power and pride of presenting the wedding. This book about an African American wedding shows African Americans in a state of genuine love and beauty. The language used in the story is lyrical and poetic, which complements a beautiful yet sometimes chaotic wedding. While at times the language may seem a bit choppy and befuddled, it is representative of the young child narrator whose thoughts and feelings about the wedding are also shifting and confused. The strong family bond of love is felt throughout the story; even after the wedding has passed. The themes in this story are relatable across cultures and races enabling other cultures and races to feel part of the African American family and wedding. The book transcends cultures, and regardless of the readers’ culture or race, they feel as though they are a guest at the wedding.











Johnson, Angela. The Wedding. New York: Orchard Books, A Grolier Company, 1999.