This is a biography of George Washington Carver, told as a series of poems from a variety of different perspectives. Or, to be more accurate, it's a hagiography. Did George Washington Carver ever do anything wrong? Apparently not. I don't know enough about the man to say if that's true or not, but it doesn't make for interesting reading to learn about how right Carver was about everything time and again. I'm surprised that the man didn't solve racism with his bare hands after he invented peanut butter. The poems are pretty typical free verse for the most part; nothing really caught my attention.

CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 2002)

"No doubt for many young adults, George Washington Carver's name brings to mind only a spare remembrance from a history book or a photograph on a Black History Month poster. Some may be fortunate to have deeper knowledge of this greatly gifted man best known for his agricultural work as a botanist. Carver was also a painter, a musician, and a teacher and researcher at Tuskegee Institute during Booker T. Washington's tenure. Carver was committed to improving the lives of others, especially poor Black farmers in the South. In this exquisite book of poems, Marilyn Nelson creates an extraordinary biography from more than the dates, events, relationships, and accomplishments in the life of George Washington Carver. She conjures his powerful presence as she writes of a life centered and made whole by deep religious faith, a passion for nature, a hunger for learning, and a heart of unmatched kindness from the time Carver was a small boy. In these poems, she gives voice to Carver and others in his life, and even to the world of nature where he found so much fascination and pleasure. The result leaves readers feeling they know Carver from the inside out. Honor Book, CCBC Coretta Scott King Author Award Discussion CCBC categories: Poetry; The Arts; Biography and Autobiography; Historical People, Places, and Events". 2001, Front Street, 103 pages, $16.95. Ages 12 and older(CCLD). This book has won several awards such as Connecticut Book Awards, Coretta Scott King Awards, Flora Stieglitz Straus Award , John Newbery Medal and many more. ( )

George Washington Carver comes alive in these poems. Nelson sets the poems in the chronological order of Carver's life. Most of the narrative poems are short yet paint powerful, word-picture descriptions of Carver. Nelson accompanies her poems with photographs of Carver, his family and friends and gives brief descriptions of the important events in his life. By the end of the book, the reader feels as if s/he has walked with Carver through the major events of his life and has shared in his hunger, sadness, joy and accomplishments. The poems alternately bring laughter and tears as they portray the life of this great man. One even forgets that the poems are modern; they seem to have been written by Carver and those who knew him best. This book is a must for any library's poetry collection, regardless of whether the collection is for children, young adults or adults. 2001, Front Street, $16.95. Ages 9 up
"J. B. Petty, Ph.D." (Children's Literature)