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Dear Benjamin Banneker
Throughout his life Banneker was troubled that all blacks were not free. And so, in 1791, he wrote to Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, who had signed the Declaration of Independence. Banneker attacked the institution of slavery and dared to call Jefferson a hypocrite for owning slaves. Jefferson responded. This is the story of Benjamin Banneker--his science, his politics, his morals, and his extraordinary correspondence with Thomas Jefferson. Illustrated in full-page scratchboard and oil paintings by Caldecott Honor artist Brian Pinkney.
32 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 1994
12 people are currently reading
313 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Davis Pinkney
59 books311 followersAndrea 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...
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...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
February 25, 2021
A picture book biography of Benjamin Banneker written by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pinkney.
Benjamin Banneker was a freeborn African-American, born in Maryland, in 1731. His mother was freeborn and his father was a freed slave. Benjamin’s family owned a one hundred acre tobacco farm which was later passed down to him.
Banneker was a self-taught astronomer and mathematician. He stayed up many nights gazing at the sky. Many farmers studied the skies and predicted future weather conditions based on these findings. Often, these findings were published in almanacs. The portion of Banneker's life covered in this book relates to his almanacs. Banneker worked hard at farming and was successful using his almanac to plan his planting and harvesting.
Banneker spent most of 1789 studying the sky at night for data needed for an almanac that he wanted to publish in 1890. He was unable to find a printer to publish his almanac. Banneker was able to publish his almanac from 1792 to 1797, with help from abolitionist friends.
One interesting thing I learned was that in 1791 Banneker wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson, then United States Secretary of State, asking him how he justified owning slaves after writing the Declaration of Independence which claimed relief from tyranny. Banneker included a copy of his almanac with the letter. Banneker received a letter in response from Jefferson supporting Banneker's position, but not admitting to be a slave owner. He even referred to blacks as brethren. He also thanked Banneker for the almanac. Copies of both letters were printed in his 1793 almanac. Copies of both letters are in the book.
Banneker sold off his acreage but kept his cabin and continued his work until he died.
Book for children ages 6-9.
Black History Month Read
Benjamin Banneker was a freeborn African-American, born in Maryland, in 1731. His mother was freeborn and his father was a freed slave. Benjamin’s family owned a one hundred acre tobacco farm which was later passed down to him.
Banneker was a self-taught astronomer and mathematician. He stayed up many nights gazing at the sky. Many farmers studied the skies and predicted future weather conditions based on these findings. Often, these findings were published in almanacs. The portion of Banneker's life covered in this book relates to his almanacs. Banneker worked hard at farming and was successful using his almanac to plan his planting and harvesting.
Banneker spent most of 1789 studying the sky at night for data needed for an almanac that he wanted to publish in 1890. He was unable to find a printer to publish his almanac. Banneker was able to publish his almanac from 1792 to 1797, with help from abolitionist friends.
One interesting thing I learned was that in 1791 Banneker wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson, then United States Secretary of State, asking him how he justified owning slaves after writing the Declaration of Independence which claimed relief from tyranny. Banneker included a copy of his almanac with the letter. Banneker received a letter in response from Jefferson supporting Banneker's position, but not admitting to be a slave owner. He even referred to blacks as brethren. He also thanked Banneker for the almanac. Copies of both letters were printed in his 1793 almanac. Copies of both letters are in the book.
Banneker sold off his acreage but kept his cabin and continued his work until he died.
Book for children ages 6-9.
Black History Month Read
February 3, 2020
Author Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrator Brian Pinkney - the wife and husband team who produced such titles as
Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down
and
Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra
- present the story of Benjamin Banneker, the extraordinary eighteenth-century African-American astronomer and almanac writer, in this picture-book biography. Born free, at a time when most black people in America were held in bondage, Banneker was raised on his family's small tobacco farm in Maryland, and taught to read by his grandmother, from the family bible.
A self educated astronomer, Banneker began working on his own almanac in 1789, but was rejected by a number of publishers, until James Pemberton, of the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery, heard of his efforts, and helped him to find a publisher willing to take a chance on the first almanac to be written by a black man. Conscious of the role his own freedom played, in allowing him to develop his mind, and troubled by the fact that so many of his fellow African-Americans did not enjoy that same privilege, Banneker took the unusual step of writing to then Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, and posing a simple question: if he, Jefferson, truly believed the words he had penned, in the Declaration of Independence, then why did he own slaves...?
With an engaging text that presents the story of an fascinating figure from the early days of the American republic, and lovely scratch-board art - I particularly liked the depiction of the night skies - Dear Benjamin Banneker is a book I would recommend to young picture-book readers who enjoy biographical tales.
A self educated astronomer, Banneker began working on his own almanac in 1789, but was rejected by a number of publishers, until James Pemberton, of the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery, heard of his efforts, and helped him to find a publisher willing to take a chance on the first almanac to be written by a black man. Conscious of the role his own freedom played, in allowing him to develop his mind, and troubled by the fact that so many of his fellow African-Americans did not enjoy that same privilege, Banneker took the unusual step of writing to then Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, and posing a simple question: if he, Jefferson, truly believed the words he had penned, in the Declaration of Independence, then why did he own slaves...?
With an engaging text that presents the story of an fascinating figure from the early days of the American republic, and lovely scratch-board art - I particularly liked the depiction of the night skies - Dear Benjamin Banneker is a book I would recommend to young picture-book readers who enjoy biographical tales.
February 28, 2021
Never met a Pinkney I didn't like.
January 25, 2022
My kids insisted on 5 stars for this one!
My daughter learned a little about Benjamin Banneker during her history class and wanted to know more about him. He was the first person in her book with her skin color and she couldn't hear enough! By the end of the story, her 3 younger siblings were sitting with us and we had to re-read it immediately. When we went to give a rating, they said it was the best book ever. If 4 young children agreeing on a 5 star book rating isn't enough to get you to buy the book, I don't know what is!
My daughter learned a little about Benjamin Banneker during her history class and wanted to know more about him. He was the first person in her book with her skin color and she couldn't hear enough! By the end of the story, her 3 younger siblings were sitting with us and we had to re-read it immediately. When we went to give a rating, they said it was the best book ever. If 4 young children agreeing on a 5 star book rating isn't enough to get you to buy the book, I don't know what is!
February 28, 2015
Benjamin Banneker was a self-taught mathematician, astronomer, surveyor, farmer, inventor, author, and political activist who was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1731 to a free African-American woman and a former slave.
As the authors explain in a forward, in 1791 Banneker wrote a letter to then Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson attacking the institution of slavery and calling Jefferson a hypocrite. (The ostensible purpose of the letter was to enclose the almanac Banneker wrote, which no one would publish but an abolitionist. You can read the full text of his letter here.)
As the authors quote from the letter, Banneker argued:
"…Sir, how pitiable is it to reflect, that although you were so fully convinced of the benevolence of the Father of Mankind, and of his equal and impartial distribution of these rights and privileges, which he hath conferred upon them, that you should at the same time counteract his mercies, in detaining by fraud and violence so numerous a part of my brethren, under groaning captivity and cruel oppression, that you should at the same time be found guilty of that most criminal act, which you professedly detested in others, with respect to yourselves.”
It is ironic that if Banneker were white, Jefferson would have sought him out as an intellectual soul mate. Many of Banneker’s interests mirrored those of Jefferson. Banneker even built a wooden clock by duplicating the gears of a borrowed pocket watch; Jefferson loved that kind of thing.
Jefferson responded to Banneker, claiming:
"I can add with truth that no body wishes more ardently to see a good system commenced for raising the condition both of their body & mind to what it ought to be, as fast as the imbecillity of their present existence, and other circumstance which cannot be neglected, will admit.”
[Unless, of course, it meant having to give up his own slaves.]
Washington and Jefferson did, however, hire Banneker to help survey Washington, D.C. for the new nation’s capital.
Banneker’s almanac was quite successful, and he continued to publish it each year until 1797.
The striking and powerful illustrations by Brian Pinkney were prepared as scratchboard rendering, hand-colored with oil paint.
Discussion: The story of Benjamin Banneker is truly inspirational, and Banneker is an important figure in both science and history about whom many are uninformed. However, I don’t think it was necessarily wise to use actual quotes from the correspondence of Banneker and Jefferson in a book intended for ages 5-10. The gist of the letters could have been summarized in simpler syntax to much greater effect. On the other hand, adjusting the suggested age range upward would fix the problem.
Rating: 3.5/5
As the authors explain in a forward, in 1791 Banneker wrote a letter to then Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson attacking the institution of slavery and calling Jefferson a hypocrite. (The ostensible purpose of the letter was to enclose the almanac Banneker wrote, which no one would publish but an abolitionist. You can read the full text of his letter here.)
As the authors quote from the letter, Banneker argued:
"…Sir, how pitiable is it to reflect, that although you were so fully convinced of the benevolence of the Father of Mankind, and of his equal and impartial distribution of these rights and privileges, which he hath conferred upon them, that you should at the same time counteract his mercies, in detaining by fraud and violence so numerous a part of my brethren, under groaning captivity and cruel oppression, that you should at the same time be found guilty of that most criminal act, which you professedly detested in others, with respect to yourselves.”
It is ironic that if Banneker were white, Jefferson would have sought him out as an intellectual soul mate. Many of Banneker’s interests mirrored those of Jefferson. Banneker even built a wooden clock by duplicating the gears of a borrowed pocket watch; Jefferson loved that kind of thing.
Jefferson responded to Banneker, claiming:
"I can add with truth that no body wishes more ardently to see a good system commenced for raising the condition both of their body & mind to what it ought to be, as fast as the imbecillity of their present existence, and other circumstance which cannot be neglected, will admit.”
[Unless, of course, it meant having to give up his own slaves.]
Washington and Jefferson did, however, hire Banneker to help survey Washington, D.C. for the new nation’s capital.
Banneker’s almanac was quite successful, and he continued to publish it each year until 1797.
The striking and powerful illustrations by Brian Pinkney were prepared as scratchboard rendering, hand-colored with oil paint.
Discussion: The story of Benjamin Banneker is truly inspirational, and Banneker is an important figure in both science and history about whom many are uninformed. However, I don’t think it was necessarily wise to use actual quotes from the correspondence of Banneker and Jefferson in a book intended for ages 5-10. The gist of the letters could have been summarized in simpler syntax to much greater effect. On the other hand, adjusting the suggested age range upward would fix the problem.
Rating: 3.5/5
April 16, 2022
The mini biography of this famous early Black American is beautifully enhanced by Mr. Pinkney’s recognizable style. Since there is little use of shadow, everything has an immediacy and importance. Young Benjamin Banneker sits on a fence, intently counting on his fingers, while the lush tobacco leaves and rough wooden hut of his parents burst out of the foreground and background, respectively.
The skies played a significant part of Benjamin’s self-education and they are on display on many pages. There are delicately tinted blue skies that yield gradually to a kind of elusive daffodil yellow of early dawn. Other pages show a velvety midnight blue night sky with swirls of purples and other blue shades, boldly reminiscent of Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night. Still another page has darkening storm clouds with rain depicted as curved gray scythes descending to earth.
Boldness characterized Benjamin’s thinking. He lived in the 18th century, before black people had the vote and equal rights and when slavery was still the rule. He was a free black but he didn’t forget his brothers and sisters in chains. He wrote a reproving letter to Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, calling out the man’s hypocrisy for keeping slaves when Jefferson had penned a Constitution claiming that all men are created equal.
This children’s book is a fine introduction to the life of one intelligent, hard-working, dedicated Black American.
The skies played a significant part of Benjamin’s self-education and they are on display on many pages. There are delicately tinted blue skies that yield gradually to a kind of elusive daffodil yellow of early dawn. Other pages show a velvety midnight blue night sky with swirls of purples and other blue shades, boldly reminiscent of Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night. Still another page has darkening storm clouds with rain depicted as curved gray scythes descending to earth.
Boldness characterized Benjamin’s thinking. He lived in the 18th century, before black people had the vote and equal rights and when slavery was still the rule. He was a free black but he didn’t forget his brothers and sisters in chains. He wrote a reproving letter to Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, calling out the man’s hypocrisy for keeping slaves when Jefferson had penned a Constitution claiming that all men are created equal.
This children’s book is a fine introduction to the life of one intelligent, hard-working, dedicated Black American.
March 15, 2018
This is such a beautifully illustrated picture book biography of a remarkable man, Benjamin Banneker, whose accomplishments would be impressive on their own, are only made that much more remarkable for the time in which he lived. Born a free man of color in 1731, Benjamin Banneker, educated himself in science & math, being the first African American to publish a farmer’s almanac. Banneker sent this almanac as well as an astutely written letter of rebuke to Thomas Jefferson, to disprove the common belief that blacks were of inferior mental faculties and also deserving of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
November 12, 2019
Benjamin Banneker was an astronomer who deeply cared about changing the rights of slaves. He believed that all slaves should be able to learn as well as be free just like he was. He wrote an almanac to Thomas Jefferson stating how he felt about the statement Jefferson wrote that said, "all men should be treated equally." Benjamin did not think Jefferson was living up to his word. He was a strong African American man who believed slavery should come to an end. This was a very well written story, and I really enjoyed it.
September 6, 2019
What an incredible story of overcoming the odds in an extremely difficult time to live for black individuals! Benjamin fought for not only education for black people but also for himself. He ended up being a successful astronomer and almanac publisher. I found it interesting to see the letters he wrote back and forth to Thomas Jefferson questioning the freedom and education for black people. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others!
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December 18, 2021The Pinkneys are gifted storytellers but the illustrations carried the story with the letter excerpts between Mssrs. Banneker and Jefferson's correspondence as the highlight. The authors could have gone much further in personalizing the life of a most fascinating man for their young readers.
It was strange not to include more details and excerpts from the almanac. I would have loved a fuller integration of this as a learning takeaway and historical artifact.
It was strange not to include more details and excerpts from the almanac. I would have loved a fuller integration of this as a learning takeaway and historical artifact.
November 20, 2018
This is an illustrated biography of a black science from colonial American and the beginning of the United States. It tells his story, challenges, and activism to convince Thomas Jefferson about the evils of slavery. The story is important for young readers to realize the impact of non-enslaved black people during the birth of the United States. The pictures are interesting too.
September 7, 2021
"Benjamin didn't live to see the day when black people were given their freedom. But his almanacs and the letters he wrote to Thomas Jefferson showed everybody that all men are indeed created equal." With scratchboard and oil paint illustrations and an important (often overlooked) history, this is a compelling picture book biography of Benjamin Banneker.
September 10, 2021
This was a nice story about an intelligent, free black man who was not afraid to speak his mind and made sure to point out some of the hypocrisies between the founding father's words and how they lived their lives. I'm glad that I was able to introduce this man and his story to my children during out study of Early American History.
February 17, 2018
This is a very brief biography of Benjamin Banneker specifically focusing on his creation of a 1792 almanac and his correspondence with Thomas Jefferson.
- primary source inclusion
- FANTASTIC book to connect with Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
- primary source inclusion
- FANTASTIC book to connect with Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
February 18, 2022
After I read this one to students we talked about writing letters to people in power, the hypocrisy of authoring The Declaration of Independence while owning enslaved people and almanacs. A great conversation starter.
February 21, 2022
Quoting from Banneker's letter to Jefferson and the reply, some of the language is pretty sophisticated, but children should still be able to follow it, and it can be encouraging for the curious child. In a way, a good companion for Ada Twist, Scientist.
November 3, 2025
In 1791, Benjamin Banneker, a free black man in Maryland. writes Thomas Jefferson about slavery, while enclosing a copy of an almanac he had written. This fascinating incident is the key focus of the book.
November 16, 2025
A good biography of Benjamin Banneker. It focused on his almanac and his letter to Thomas Jefferson. Although it does include actual snippets of the letter, I would have preferred additional sources listed in the author’s note as opposed to just leaning on the letter.
May 14, 2018
Benjamin Banneker by Ginger Andrea Davis Pinkney.
In the beginning, it write a man, who is working in the from.
In the middie, it write his family.
In the end, it write when his was old.
In the beginning, it write a man, who is working in the from.
In the middie, it write his family.
In the end, it write when his was old.
March 17, 2020
It is very interesting a book. This book about biography Benjamin Banneker and how he learn astronomy when everyone sleeps and how he makes his almanac.
February 17, 2021
I love Pinkney's illustrations. We were disappointed this biography said nothing of Banneker's surveying DC or of his clock-making.
December 2, 2021
great read
helped on understanding his pursuit to proof other wrong. hard work will eventually pay off. never stop going for your dreams
helped on understanding his pursuit to proof other wrong. hard work will eventually pay off. never stop going for your dreams
February 5, 2023
This book was great when it came to history. I thought it taught a lot about history and people's lives through-out this story, and the pictures helped bring everything together.
March 28, 2024
I'm not thrilled that I've never heard of Mr. Banneker before my current adult age. He's a fabulous person.
May 13, 2024
This was a beautiful book. We read it for my daughter’s 1st grade homeschool history curriculum (TruthQuest History). This was moving and inspiring and emotional for me.
November 28, 2022
Grade Level: 4-7
Genre: Biography
I liked this book. It talks about how life was like and stories from the old days. I think this can help kids see what life was like back in the day.
Genre: Biography
I liked this book. It talks about how life was like and stories from the old days. I think this can help kids see what life was like back in the day.
July 28, 2020
Excellent for older elementary kids.
November 18, 2012
Grade/Interest Level – Upper Elementary (3rd Grade)
Reading Level: 1100L
Genre: African American & Biography
Main Characters: Benjamin Baneker
Setting: Maryland near the Patapsco River on a tobacco farm
POV: Narrator
This book gives a biographical account of the famous African American mathematician and self – made astronomer, Benjamin Banneker. The story begins when Benjamin was just a boy working on his parent’s tobacco farm. He would always question why the stars came out in different places at night and why the moon disappears weeks after shining brightly in the sky. His curiosity carried on with him as an adult when he worked his parents farm and later owned it himself. Even though he was an African American born to free African American parents, he still had to work hard only to receive a decent living. Having learned how to read and write from his grandmother by only using the Bible, Benjamin went on to be the first African American to write an almanac in 1790. The cruel reality of slavery disturbed Benjamin even though he was a free man and he wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson speaking out against slavery to which Thomas Jefferson replied acknowledging Benjamin’s efforts. Every year until 1797 Benjamin Banneker wrote an almanac which was sold in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. I would use this book while studying the colonial time period in America and when studying mathematicians in a math class. It provides a different spin on what is traditionally taught when studying colonial America. Students are always presented with how the settlers lived, but never hear about the lives of free black Americans.
Reading Level: 1100L
Genre: African American & Biography
Main Characters: Benjamin Baneker
Setting: Maryland near the Patapsco River on a tobacco farm
POV: Narrator
This book gives a biographical account of the famous African American mathematician and self – made astronomer, Benjamin Banneker. The story begins when Benjamin was just a boy working on his parent’s tobacco farm. He would always question why the stars came out in different places at night and why the moon disappears weeks after shining brightly in the sky. His curiosity carried on with him as an adult when he worked his parents farm and later owned it himself. Even though he was an African American born to free African American parents, he still had to work hard only to receive a decent living. Having learned how to read and write from his grandmother by only using the Bible, Benjamin went on to be the first African American to write an almanac in 1790. The cruel reality of slavery disturbed Benjamin even though he was a free man and he wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson speaking out against slavery to which Thomas Jefferson replied acknowledging Benjamin’s efforts. Every year until 1797 Benjamin Banneker wrote an almanac which was sold in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. I would use this book while studying the colonial time period in America and when studying mathematicians in a math class. It provides a different spin on what is traditionally taught when studying colonial America. Students are always presented with how the settlers lived, but never hear about the lives of free black Americans.
January 17, 2011
Published: 1998, Voyager Books
Age: 7-10
This is a biography of Benjamin Banneker who was born free in 1731 and was interested in mathematics and astronomy. He was the first African American to write an almanac. He also wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson calling him a hypocrite for keeping slaves when the Declaration of Independence said that all men are created equal.
Pinkney includes an author’s note at the beginning of the book giving the reader an introduction of Bannekers life and some of his further accomplishments. The author portrays the prejudices of the time by revealing that even though Banneker was a free, intelligent, and hard working man, people still did not treat him as equal because no one would publish his almanac. Pinkney includes the original correspondence between Banneker and Jefferson, but the language of the time would be difficult for young students to understand. However, Pinkney gives an easy, short summary of the letters. It is a good book for discussing the fact that even though the Declaration of Independence was written to give everyone equal rights, it took many years to actually change people’s minds. Brian Pinkney’s oil and scratchboard paintings illustrate authentic details of the eighteenth century in its landscape, dress, and style. It is a nice book to introduce a little known black astronomer and talk about the importance of almanacs in colonial times
Age: 7-10
This is a biography of Benjamin Banneker who was born free in 1731 and was interested in mathematics and astronomy. He was the first African American to write an almanac. He also wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson calling him a hypocrite for keeping slaves when the Declaration of Independence said that all men are created equal.
Pinkney includes an author’s note at the beginning of the book giving the reader an introduction of Bannekers life and some of his further accomplishments. The author portrays the prejudices of the time by revealing that even though Banneker was a free, intelligent, and hard working man, people still did not treat him as equal because no one would publish his almanac. Pinkney includes the original correspondence between Banneker and Jefferson, but the language of the time would be difficult for young students to understand. However, Pinkney gives an easy, short summary of the letters. It is a good book for discussing the fact that even though the Declaration of Independence was written to give everyone equal rights, it took many years to actually change people’s minds. Brian Pinkney’s oil and scratchboard paintings illustrate authentic details of the eighteenth century in its landscape, dress, and style. It is a nice book to introduce a little known black astronomer and talk about the importance of almanacs in colonial times
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews