Shane W. Evans

An African-American family awakens before dawn to prepare for the historic March on Washington in August, 1963.

In this stirring companion to Underground (2011), Evans captures a pivotal event in the struggle for equality and civil rights in America. The family joins neighbors to pray at their church, paint signs and travel by bus to Washington. They walk and sing and grow tired but “are filled with hope” as they stand together at the Washington Monument to listen to Dr. King speak of show more dreams and freedom. With just one line per page, Evans’ text is spare but forceful. The March has become synonymous with Dr. King’s grandiloquent speech, but Evans reminds readers that ordinary folk were his determined and courageous audience. The full-page paintings depict a rainbow of people holding hands and striding purposefully. One illustration in particular, of the father holding his son high on his shoulders, echoes a painting in Underground, in which a father holds his newborn child high up toward the sky. The strong vertical lines used for the arms of the marchers mirror the intensity of the day.

Share with readers of all ages as a beautiful message about peaceful protest and purposeful action. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-8)

-Kirkus Review show less

"Powerfully expressive imagery will sweep young viewers into this suspenseful journey along the Underground Railroad. Accompanied by a commentary of, usually, just two or three words per spread, the scenes track a small group of escapees stealing through darkness beneath a thin crescent moon. They are seen running, crawling, resting tensely, taking brief shelter with “new friends,” then wearily keeping on until sunrise at last brings them to their goal: “I am free. He is free. She is show more free. We are free.” Underscoring the sense of fear and urgency with broad, slanted strokes of thinly applied paint, Evans limns his hunched, indistinct figures in dark lines and adds weight with scribbled fill and jagged bits of paper or cloth. His palette of midnight-dark blue lit only by the occasional yellow torch- or lantern light and white stars draws attention to the whites of the frightened escapees’ eyes and makes sunlit Freedom all the more precious when attained. Lengthier accounts of travel on the Underground Railroad abound, but few if any portray the experience with such compelling immediacy. (afterword) (Picture book. 5-9)" www.kirkusreviews.com, A Kirkus Starred Review show less

Jamie, the young boy who narrates this book, tells us about all of the moods he might experience in a day. Irresistibly spirited, Jamie summons images of colors and tastes and sounds to help us know exactly how he is feeling.

Playing basketball with his friends, he is all about orange happiness, which turns to red when he has to rush home because he promised to get back before dark:

"RED!
Run!
Gotta get home!
Fire-engine-roaring-down-
the-street-hot-flames-
shooting-from-my-feet-
don’t show more stop-to-take-a-
breath-till-I-make-it-
through-the-door RED!
Whew!"

Even when he’s taking his turn washing dishes after dinner, he finds a way to turn it into rhythm and moods:

"Cool, blue okay
Time with myself
In my own space
hands swirling ‘round
In liquid peace
Sailing on waves
In the sky of my mind
A bluesy kind of mood
That’s what I’m in"

Evaluation: My Cold Plum Lemon Pie Bluesy Mood is another winning addition to the subcategory of books that helps kids describe and understand their changing feelings. The text has the right amount of humor and warmth, even with “bad” moods, and illustrator Shane Evans employs digital collage enhanced with oil paints and graphite to capture the emotions of kids perfectly. show less

This is absolutely the best book for young kids I have seen for introducing slavery or indeed, any struggle for freedom from oppression. Most of the pages have just a few words, but they are full of power: “The fear.” “We run.” “Others help.” “Some don’t make it.” “We are tired.”

The illustrations are as striking as the text. It starts out in darkness, and when the escapees reach freedom, the sun comes up, illuminating joy on the faces that had remained hidden in the show more night.

In an Afterword, Shane Evans explains what slavery was about, in a simple style comprehensible to children. It is a terrific addition to the book.

You can watch a trailer here.

Evaluation: I am a total Shane Evans Fan Gurrl. He is wonderful, and this book is highly recommended! show less