Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner) (Coretta Scott King Award - Author Winner Title

by Andrea Davis Pinkney, Brian Pinkney (Illustrations)

HAND IN HAND presents the stories of ten men from different eras in American history, organized chronologically to provide a scope from slavery to the modern day. The stories are accessible, fully-drawn narratives offering the subjects’ childhood influences, the time and place in which they lived, their accomplishments and motivations, and the legacies they left for future generations as links in the “freedom chain.” This book will be the definitive family volume on the subject, punctuated with dynamic full color portraits and spot illustrations by two-time Caldecott Honor winner and multiple Coretta Scott King Book Award recipient Brian Pinkney. Backmatter includes a civil rights timeline, sources, and further reading.

Profiled:
Benjamin Banneker
Frederick Douglass
Booker T. Washington
W.E.B. DuBois
A. Philip Randolph
Thurgood Marshall
Jackie Robinson
Malcolm X
Martin Luther King, Jr
Barack H. Obama II

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, African American, Childrens, Middle Grade, Cultural

256 pages, Hardcover

First published November 6, 2012

About the author

Andrea Davis Pinkney is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 books for children, including the Caldecott Honor Book and Coretta Scott King Honor Book Duke Ellington, illustrated by Brian Pinkney; Let it Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book and winner of the Carter G. Woodson Award; and Alvin Ailey, a Parenting Publication Gold medal winner.

Pinkney's newest books include Meet the Obamas and Sojourner Truth's Step-Stomp Stride, which has garnered three starred reviews and has been named one of the "Best Books of 2009" by School Library Journal. In 2010, Andrea's book entitled Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up By Sitting Down, was published on the 50th anniversary of the Greensboro, North Carolina, sit-ins of 1960.

Her mother is a teacher and her father is a great storyteller, so growing up surrounded by books and stories is what inspired Andrea Davis Pinkney to choose a career as an author. The first official story she remembers writing was in second grade — it was about her family. Pinkney was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Connecticut. She went to Syracuse University, where she majored in journalism. After college, she followed her dream and worked as an editor for Essence magazine, but after watching her husband, Caldecott Award-winning artist Brian Pinkney, illustrate children's books, she decided to switch jobs and became involved in book publishing.

Andrea Davis Pinkney currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.

For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/andrea-d...

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that she's told the story of ten black men who changed America, I hope the author will write a book telling the stories of ten black females who changed our country. It's hard to decide what I liked most about this book: the poem that introduces each profile, the incisive insight into each man's character, formative years, and noted contribution or the writing itself, which is filled with clever phrases or word choices that seem to suit each man and his time perfectly. While there is quite a lot of text contained in the book, making it excellent as an introduction to these heroic figures, teachers could certainly explore one section at a time and even note the lives that overlapped. As I read, I felt as though the book was taking me on a whirlwind tour of men whose deeds and words should not be lost in the mists of time. Readers will be hard-pressed to choose whose story is most fascinating among those of Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, A. Philip Randolph, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr. or Barack H. Obama II. The vividly-hued watercolor illustrations provide additional depth to the subjects of this fascinating collection of stories. Taken individually, the stories are impressive and inspiring, but considered together, they represent a long chain of persistence and determination against impossible odds.

[Amanda Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten influential black men—including Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. Du Bois, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, and Martin Luther King Jr.—are profiled in this husband-and-wife team’s vibrant collaboration. Andrea Davis Pinkney introduces her subjects with powerful poems, before moving into image-rich, introspective, and candid descriptions of each man’s influence on civil rights, culture, art, or politics: “[Malcolm X] thought carefully about some of the beliefs he’d held in the past, and how they supported the idea that he’d been brainwashed by whites. For example, straightening his hair was Malcolm’s attempt to deny his black heritage by trying to look ‘more white.’ ” Brian Pinkney’s portraits of each man echo the multidimensional prose with their bold strokes and dynamic swirls of color. An examination of Barack Obama’s life and presidential election carries readers into the present day, placing the achievements of those who came before him into perspective. Though the text-heavy format may initially daunt some readers, the inviting narrative voice and eloquent portrayal of these iconic men and the times in which they lived make for memorable reading. Ages 9–12.



Sherman, R. (2012, October 1). Children's Book Review: Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America by Andrea
Davis Pinkney, illus. by Brian Pinkney.(256p) ISBN 978-1-4231-4257-7. Retrieved September 16, 2014.

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm really ambivalent about this book. It contained a wealth of insteresting information and I did enjoy reading about each man profiled. However, I have a concern that the book was written with rose-colored glasses. While it occassionally showed a negative side or mistake, it glossed right over them and went on to laud each man without reservation. Each man did indeed do much good, but I think even young readers need to see the whole picture and make their own conclusions and not be led by the nose and told what to think.
Another concern goes deeper than the book. I would like to see a time in America where we don't feel the need for books that just profile a single race or gender. It is a tragedy that black Americans in our history were ever treated unfairly due to race. It is unconscionable that it would happen at all today. I may be naive or I may have a different perspective since I was raised in the west by parents who never showed any notice of a person's race, but I do not see much (or possibly notice much) racism.
Young people do need good role models, but I wish that we could teach them to look for them across all races and eventually not to even see those differences that really only exist skin deep.

[Bridget F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America, by Andrea Davis Pinkney, won the 2013 Coretta Scott King Author Award and was published in 2012. I found this book on the Coretta Scott King Author Award website, where winners in previous years are listed. This is an inspirational nonfiction book that teaches about famous and not-so-famous figures in American history. The book goes all the way back to colonial times and works to the present, teaching about role models such as Jackie Robinson, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and President Barack Obama. Pinkney explores difficult issues like slavery, prejudice, discrimination, and the Ku Klux Klan in ways that are kid friendly. Pinkney has a conversational style that includes anecdotes, poems and a timeline at the end.

Pinkney does a great job reporting accurately on important issues. She gives an insider perspective that is needed when discussing topics like those addressed in the book. I would love to have this book in my classroom and recommend this book for teachers everywhere.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of the men featured in this handsome volume have been the subject of numerous individual and collective biographies but Pinkney offers a freshness to these profiles through the aspects of their lives she emphasizes and especially through her engaging narratives which are colorful, conversational and often folksy in tone.

[Amy Abdnor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy Abdnor's Book Review (Multicultural/International, Historical Fiction, Informational/Biographies)

Ten Reasons why you should read about the ten black men who changed America:

1. The men mentioned in this book are Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, A. Philip Randolph, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr, and Barack Obama. What a range of wonderful men and accomplishments!

2. This story can be read in it's entirety or portions can be read based on skills, concepts, and lessons the teacher is teaching or what the student interest is. Very versatile!

3. Appropriate for students in 4th grade and up. It would be awesome if teachers were to jigsaw and have groups of students (depending on how big the class is) study one of these men in depth and then present and teach the rest of the class!

4. Another awesome follow up activity would be for students to research and write about an 11th black male who changed America for the better. Why do you think they should be included? What criteria are you basing your reasoning off of?

5. Students could also brainstorm a list of 10 black females that contributed to society. How does this list relate to the list in the book? What similarities to the men have in this book?

6. The illustrations are beautiful! Wispy painting are found throughout the entire book and add an incredible amount of warmth to each of the stories.

7. First hand accounts are weaved within the story. Direct quotes, letters, and speeches allow the reader to be transported back in time.

8. A detailed four page timeline is included at the end of the book. It begins with the year 1731 and ends with 2009. The rest is still unwritten.....a neat idea would be for students to brainstorm and add to the timeline with events that have moved our country forward.

9. Sources, further readings, and recommended DVDs and movies are listed for children and teachers who are craving even more! This book is already a wealth of knowledge, but it gives readers the information needed to continue diving deep into this topic of study.

10. I believe it is the "little things" that make all of the difference when it comes to a story. One of my favorite things about this book is what the author chooses to name each chapter. Each chapter is not simply titled by their name, but a fragment that captures each man's character and values. For example, Barack Obama's section is titled, "Holding on to Hope" Jackie Robinson's is "Game Changer" and W.E.B. DoBois is "Erudite Educator." There are tons of rich vocabulary in this book! Great for context clues and being exposed to higher level words.

[Maya Gutierrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a children’s book highlighting ten important African American men who impacted American history in various times. Using a biographical format, the author creates a vivid and sensory impactful review of Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, A. Philip Randolph, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Barack H. Obama II. Each profile contains historical detail and illustrations describing their various fights with injustice and overcoming oppression to leave their legacy in American history, yet are short in enough in length to keep the attention span of its young readers. I enjoyed reading this book and learning about each person. I thought it was really neat that Pinkney used a range of men across all different time periods. This book would be great for any reader and would be a good addition to a classroom. I personally feel I have learned more from reading this book than I have in any history class.

[Boni Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good start to learning about many of these black men. I particularly knew very little about Malcolm X and I was fascinated with his life. I would now like to read more in-depth books about these men. I'd like my 10 year old to read this and my other children as they get older. Also, I think it'd be great to do this book about ten black women that changed America.

[Alejandro Camacho · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book talked about ten black men who changed the world forever and will never change. It talks about some of the most powerful black men like Dr king,Malcolm X, Fredrick Douglass, and our president Brack Obama. The first black president and they will run wild forever and ever.

[Makayla Robles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells stories of ten amazing African American men throughout history. Each chapter opens up with colorful and vivid portraits of the men along with a poem to represent the power that each of them held. The chapters also talk about how each of the men came to be so important in the making of American history as well as some of their ideals and accomplishments. I really enjoyed reading some of their descriptions and loved how accurate they were. I also enjoyed reading each of their motivations and influences and I was stunned how much they were able to accomplish and break historical norms. I also really liked how diverse each of the men were and it included some of my favorites such as Barack Obama, Jackie Robinson, and Martin Luther King Jr. From learning about historic figures, to incorporating beautiful illustrations and poetry, it’s really hard to determine what I liked most about this book!

[Sam Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book goes through 10 African American men who changed America in different ways. I like the way this book is ordered because it goes all the way from slavery to President Obama and his inauguration. Every single person did something different to contribute to society whether it was science contributions, or Jackie Robinson breaking the color barriers in major league baseball. The author has a style of writing that I particularly like, I just would like him to write on other people that have changed American history in the African American community like Rosa Parks or Michelle Obama. I would probably do a lesson plan with this book about racism and discrimination but also great accomplishments that these people did. I would also add other African Americans that have changed our country, male or female.

[Kara Danford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Biography (Collective)
Awards: Coretta Scott King Award
Audience: 5th to 8th grade
A. This book is a collection of ten different complete biographies covering the entire lives of ten different men from birth to death.
B. This book is a collection of authentic biographies filled with authentic facts and no invented or imagined dialogue.
C. How was Benjamin Banneker born as a free African American during a time period of slavery?
Why is it so upsetting to the masters for the slaves to learn how to read?

[Bike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was excellent and I wish I could give a copy to every teacher in my school. I listened to the audiobook which had a cast of exceptional voices and you could see how all the men were connected. I realize that some reviews found fault with that aspect but I enjoyed it. I learned some background about all the men that I found helpful filling in gaps in my own education. I look forward to a version about women.

[Lauralee Moose · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book the stories we explore the significant contributions of ten black men in America and learn about their life stories. We walk through the lives of black men from Jackie Robinson to Martain Luther King Jr. and from Booker T. Washington to Barack Obama. All of these men serve as excellent role models and brought about significant change in their time.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simplified way of learning about the lives of the Black men featured. This passage tickled my funny bone: "Thurgood's mother wanted him to be a dentist. But he'd already been bitten by the legal bug. He wanted to sink his teeth further into the 14th and 15th Amendments, which still pestered him like an unchecked cavity."

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially I thought WEB Dubois and Booker T Washington hand in hand? MLK Jr and Malcolm X hand in hand? But that does make sense, and appreciating each person together, knowing they played different roles, makes sense.

Probably not for below 8-10 for length of the chapters and amount of information, but certainly a good option for in between picture books and adult non fiction.

[Abbie Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The insightful and influential book "Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America" provides an engaging look into the lives and legacies of 10 extraordinary African American men who were crucial in forming American history. I think this book is heart touching and inspiring because it truly gives readers and a perspective of what African Americans went through to gain equality in America.

[Jenese Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for my history research paper and this book was great because you got to learn about how these men were so influential while flipping through a book filled with bright and detailed illustrations.

[Aistė Prusakovaitė]

My Review

[Michael Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief but well written bios about important black men throughout U.S. History from Benjamin Banneker to President Barack Obama. Artwork throughout is nice and distinct as well.

[Prince Bajaja]

My Review

[Daniel Kang]

My Review

[Michelle]

My Review

[Gabriel Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved how concise the book was. I learned so much and the organization of the book allowed for valuable rumination.

[Ryan Scharf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Collective biography
Awards: Coretta Scott King Book Award
Audience: Middle school to high school
A: This work would be considered a complete biography because each biography begins the day these men were born to when they passed away or their current position in life.
B: I would considered these biographies to be fictionalized because it does not present documents, letters, or data of what happened. Andrea Pinkney is explaining what these men did and their life, but without any data.
C: A few questions children might ask after reading this work could be, "Did Dr. King have any kids?" or "Where is Obama now?"

[Adri Wells]

Genre: Nonfiction Informational
Age: 10+ years old
Summary: "Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America" features ten black men who have played a role in changing America in a positive way. All the men featured have lived in different eras and time periods in American history. Their stories are told in chronological order starting from the early time of slavery to the modern era. Each section of the book includes a different man and the way he contributed to America.
Comments:
This was difficult book to get through. There is a lot of information given and there are many "characters to keep straight. But this book does make it easy to form connections between eras and events.
Observations:
There are pictures in this book which helps to break up the density of words. The pictures are bold and have rich colors which makes them a great addition to the book as a whole.
Questions:
How could the author have perhaps cut down on the amount of words in this book? Could the author have chosen less people? How did she chose who she chose? Was there a criteria she used?
Use in Classroom:
This book is a history lesson waiting to happen. The class could partner up and focus on one of the men featured and create a group presentation to explain what the man did and how he contributed positively to America.
Theme:
The theme of this book is everyone can make a change. A lot of the men featured did not come from the best families or situations, but they made a difference. This book goes to show that perseverance and hard work are necessary for making lasting change.
Criticism:
The main criticism for this book is it is not an easy book to get through. It is very long and word dense so it takes a lot of concentration, especially for younger readers. But this could be a good thing for a parent to read to a child before bed. The book has great information but consolidating it would be necessary for younger readers.
Format: Picture book and chapter book
Socioeconomic Status: N\A
Race/Ethnicity: This book is all about black men who changed America. This book only deals with the influence of black men.
Gender: This book talks about influential men. This book would appeal to boys around age 10.
Citation: Pinkney, A., & Pinkney, J. (2012). Hand in hand: Ten Black men who changed America. New York: Disney-Hyperion.

[Amy Reesor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pinkney, A. D. (2012). Hand in hand: ten Black men who changed America. New York: Disney-Hyperion.

Citation by: Amy Reesor

Type of Reference: Biographical Reference

Call Number: Ref 973 Pin

Content/Scope: The biography subjects are all African American men who have had an impact on America. The figures include well known people such as Jackie Robinson, but also introduces the reader to lesser known influential men. Details about their lives are provided. Struggles and successes are discussed in detail. The biographical reference would be beneficial to any school library especially ones who serve a diverse population.

Accuracy/Authority/Bias: The publishing company was founded in 1991, and the author was awarded the Coretta Scott King Award in 2013 for the book.

Arrangement/Presentation: The 243 page biography is broken into ten chapters and organized in chronological order with each chapter focusing on one man. Each chapter starts with a poem, a description of the figure’s childhood and illustrations by Brian Pinkney are included throughout the text.

Relation to Similar Works: There are biographies which focus on African Americans, but this reference focuses strictly on men and includes well known figures as well as men whom may be new to the audience. The author has published another book on the topic of African American freedom riders in 2000.

Accessibility/Diversity: The text is written at a higher level which may deter some readers, however the biographies are very detailed and explain the struggles the men had to overcome to achieve their success. The biography provides an opportunity for African American boys to make direct connections with figures similar to themselves.

Cost: $19.99

Professional Review: Bloom, S. (2012). [Review of Hand in hand: ten Black men who changed America by Andrea Davis Pinkney]. School Library Journal, 58 (11), 124.

[Hillary Forrest · Rating 3 out of 5]

I selected this book, Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America by Andrea Davis Pinkney, as one of four informational books required. This particular non-fiction selection was one of the 2013 Horn Book Honor Winners. The information packed into this book is easy to read and would be a great resource for educational purposes such as research or investigative assignments.

The life stories of ten powerful African-American men whom are prominent to American History are revealed through the writing of Andrea Davis Pinkney. One-by-one, each man’s life from birth-including their successes, is shared. The author is careful to reveal each man in chronological order to their impact on changing civil rights in America. The book is well organized but lacks photographs to connect realism to the information provided. However, the book does display eye-catching illustrations to help create a sense of visualization for the reader.

The writer’s passion is perceived in the Preface of the book. She shares her values and compassion for the men that she writes about. The writing is easy to read and formative. The author is careful to include an appropriate amount of details to help create an understanding of individual personality and determination. I personally valued the organization of the book the most. Locating one specific man’s name is simple, making it a great resource for specific information or an educational read. I would recommend this book as a non-fiction reading selection.

[Erika Arechiga · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book presents the lives of ten black men from different time periods in America. The book is organized in a chronological order that starts with Benjamin Banneker in the 1700s and ends with Barack Obama from modern day. Each of the ten stories are narratives that are easy to read and are accompanied by colorful illustrations. The watercolor illustrations also add depth to the lives of these men. Since each story begins with each of the ten men’s childhood, it gives a more personal experience than an ordinary history textbook could about these men. All of the black men influenced America in some type of positive way and this book does a great job of displaying all aspects of the men’s lives, not just their accomplishments. Each of the ten stories offers a different reflection and response because they are set in different eras. Because of the different eras, readers can reflect on what it must have been like to live in these eras. The facts about each men’s childhood also offer reflection because readers see these men as ordinary people. Readers can compare personal experiences with the men written about in this book. Not only that, but since the book has illustrations, readers can reflect on these pictures and think of what the characters are saying in each painting. This could be used to supplement a unit on black history because it does have all the factual information in each story.

[Alyse Erickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gender/age: This book talks about influential men. This book would appeal to boys around age 10.

This is a collective biography of ten black men who are important to American history. This book provides a good look into each of their lives and achievements. I loved Pinkney's writing style. It is very readable, even to the point of being "folksy" at times. I loved the entries of the men that were alive at the same time, yet had differing viewpoints as to how African-Americans should proceed in gaining their rights (Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois; Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.). Pinkney shows the differences in these men, while maintaining their own story. This is a long text at almost 250 large pages with the back matter (timeline, bibliography and index). I don't think most students will want to read this book all the way through from cover to cover, but if the book is presented correctly, I think many students will want to read about these important men. Each chapter tells the story of a different man's life, and they range from about 15-25 pages apiece. Ten chapters equal one chapter for each month in the school year. Each chapter begins with a poem about the man, as well as a portrait done by award winning illustrator, Brian Pinkney.

Citation: Pinkney, A., & Pinkney, J. (2012). Hand in hand: Ten Black men who changed America. New York: Disney-Hyperion