VERDICT: Unique in its subject and artistic expression, this beautiful book belongs in most collections. Spreads where the slaves are finally able to sing, dance, and express emotion contrast effectively with the forced restraint of those depicting the work week. Bright colors suggest the exuberance displayed at Congo Square. The architecture portrayed evokes the New Orleans setting. Collage with painted elements is incorporated on occasion. Some images, such as faces, are more detailed, while others are presented as silhouettes. The writing is accompanied by folk art style illustrations, with paint applied in thick layers. Couplets count down the days to Sunday in a conversational tone ('Slavery was no ways fair./Six more days to Congo Square.'). The text is realistic but child appropriate. The impact was felt far beyond New Orleans as musicians, dancers, and singers developed, explored, and shared rhythms that eventually grew into jazz music. This unique practice helped enslaved and free Africans maintain cultural traditions. This custom continued after the territory joined the United States, although in time, New Orleans established one location for all slaves to gather: an area that became known as Congo Square. A foreword and author's note explain how, historically, slaves in Louisiana were allowed Sunday afternoons off. Gr 1-3 This vibrant picture book examines Congo Square in New Orleans.

This book includes a forward from Freddi Williams Evans (), a historian and Congo Square expert, as well as a glossary of terms with pronunciations and definitions. This story chronicles slaves' duties each day, from chopping logs on Mondays to baking bread on Wednesdays to plucking hens on Saturday, and builds to the freedom of Sundays and the special experience of an afternoon spent in Congo Square. They were free to forget their cares, their struggles, and their oppression. Here they were free to set up an open market, sing, dance, and play music. This poetic, nonfiction story about a little-known piece of African American history captures a human's capacity to find hope and joy in difficult circumstances and demonstrates how New Orleans' Congo Square was truly freedom's heart.Īs slaves relentlessly toiled in an unjust system in 19th century Louisiana, they all counted down the days until Sunday, when at least for half a day they were briefly able to congregate in Congo Square in New Orleans. Starred reviews from School Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, and The Horn Book Magazine Winner of a Caldecott Honor and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator HonorĪ School Library Journal Best Book of 2016: Nonfiction

Moses by carole boston weatherford