The Palm of My Heart

Beautiful collection of poems written by children on what being black means to them. The poems are honest, positive, simple, and beautiful. These poems are wonderful expressions of children embracing who they are after years of being told to be ashamed of it. I love this book.

This is a beautiful book. It is a collection of poetry from African American children about their culture. It is beautifully illustrated, and the poems were so beautiful. I would use this book during black history month. I would read it to the children, and ask them to write a poem about their culture. ( )

Edited by Davida Adedjouma, this Coretta Scott King Award winning book is a compilation of African American children’s poetry. Focusing on the social label Black and it’s implications, the children involved offer ballads referencing their vision, beliefs, and experiences associated with the term. Given the introduction by Lucille Clifton, it becomes evident that the poems included are an exploratory effort to unlock the children’s perspective of being African American in today’s society as well as an investigation into the reclaiming and empowerment of the term Black. The rhythmic and poetic suggestions are timeless as they describe vitality of life and unwavering spirit. Gregory Christie’s vivid illustrations supply the historical context behind the words. He generates recognizable images pertaining to the African diaspora, slavery, plantation work, marches for freedom and includes the middle-class African American family, in a way that acts as a timeline or evolution.
This book can be used by librarians in an interactive way. Once the book demonstrates the poetic exercise of self-reflection, children may then be instructed to participate in a similar project and share their vision with others. The historical content might also be useful in history classes to further explore social awareness. ( )

This book has many different poems about African Americans and express how they believe and also how similar it is most other cultures beliefs. ( )

Amazon.com
When children give voice to their own feelings, the result can be magical. This touching and inspiring collection of poems by African-American children helps prove that point. Edited by Davida Adedjouma and lovingly illustrated by Gregory Christie, these 20 poems came out of a series of writing workshops with children who were encouraged to celebrate their lives, joys, influences and hopes. The results are pure poetry, honest, wise and encouraging: "Black is the color of some people/but people are different/differences are good because/no one else says the/same things as you." Not only will children find the poems interesting, they may just be inspired to explore their own feelings. All ages. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.