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Don't You Remember?
A young girl is convinced everyone in her family makes promises to her that only she remembers.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published June 3, 1973
24 people want to read
About the author
Lucille Clifton
82 books438 followersLucille Clifton was an American poet, writer, and educator from New York. Common topics in her poetry include the celebration of her African American heritage, and feminist themes, with particular emphasis on the female body.
She was the first person in her family to finish high school and attend college. She started Howard University on scholarship as a drama major but lost the scholarship two years later.
Thus began her writing career.
Good Times, her first book of poems, was published in 1969. She has since been nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and has been honored as Maryland's Poet Laureate.
Ms. Clifton's foray into writing for children began with Some of the Days of Everett Anderson, published in 1970.
In 1976, Generations: A Memoir was published. In 2000, she won the National Book Award for Poetry, for her work "Poems Seven".
From 1985 to 1989, Clifton was a professor of literature and creative writing at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She was Distinguished Professor of Humanities at St. Mary's College of Maryland. From 1995 to 1999, she was a visiting professor at Columbia University. In 2006, she was a fellow at Dartmouth College.
Clifton received the Robert Frost Medal for lifetime achievement posthumously, from the Poetry Society of America.
She was the first person in her family to finish high school and attend college. She started Howard University on scholarship as a drama major but lost the scholarship two years later.
Thus began her writing career.
Good Times, her first book of poems, was published in 1969. She has since been nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and has been honored as Maryland's Poet Laureate.
Ms. Clifton's foray into writing for children began with Some of the Days of Everett Anderson, published in 1970.
In 1976, Generations: A Memoir was published. In 2000, she won the National Book Award for Poetry, for her work "Poems Seven".
From 1985 to 1989, Clifton was a professor of literature and creative writing at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She was Distinguished Professor of Humanities at St. Mary's College of Maryland. From 1995 to 1999, she was a visiting professor at Columbia University. In 2006, she was a fellow at Dartmouth College.
Clifton received the Robert Frost Medal for lifetime achievement posthumously, from the Poetry Society of America.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 15, 2021
I think this is a good example of how books about minorities (in this case Blacks) have been marginalized. It's a nice story of a girl who feels as if her family never follows through with their promises to include her in their more grown-up pursuits. Fairly familiar, iow, should be comfortable for white middle-class people to read. Nothing heavy about racism or poverty.
But still, it's clearly a depiction of a family that Black children will recognize as more akin to their own than those portrayed by Carolyn Haywood or even Ezra Jack Keats. It should at least be shared with them.
Author is a poet. Illustrator is an artist. Both have won multiple awards.
Why is it not more well-known? In fact, why is the author herself not better known, as she wrote many children's books? I would have requested this from the university's special collections based on either creator... to have them working as a team produced what should be known as a classic!
Fortunately it is avl. on openlibrary. Read it there, then spread the word for diversity in children's literature! https://openlibrary.org/works/OL21664...
But still, it's clearly a depiction of a family that Black children will recognize as more akin to their own than those portrayed by Carolyn Haywood or even Ezra Jack Keats. It should at least be shared with them.
Author is a poet. Illustrator is an artist. Both have won multiple awards.
Why is it not more well-known? In fact, why is the author herself not better known, as she wrote many children's books? I would have requested this from the university's special collections based on either creator... to have them working as a team produced what should be known as a classic!
Fortunately it is avl. on openlibrary. Read it there, then spread the word for diversity in children's literature! https://openlibrary.org/works/OL21664...
February 27, 2023
Don't You Remember? (1973) by Lucille Clifton, illustrated by Evaline Ness is a cute story about a girl who remembers what her family tells her. Whether it's her dad promising to take her to his work one day, or her brothers promising that she can try drinking coffee, or her mother bringing home a black cake with pick icing from the bakery she works at. But every time Desire Tate (or just Tate) reminds her family of their promises, they tell her another time. So when is another time ever this time? It'll take a special day to discover the answer. Very interesting to see black children in picture books in the 1970s. I don't recall seeing that many in my reading experience other than Ezra Jack Keats. Lucille Clifton looks like she did several that I'm really enjoying. But as many books I read, they are not very memorable and have sadly slipped into obscurity. My rating - 3/5
January 25, 2020
The first book I remember being read. I found a copy on Amazon. It is still wonderful.
August 5, 2020
I liked the use of color, especially the color pink.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews