Our next picture book biography nominated for a 2015 Cybils award in the Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction category, is the moving and powerful Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton
George Moses Horton grew up enslaved in North Carolina during a time when people like him were not allowed to learn to read or write. Somehow, through sheer force of will and a few tattered cast-off books, he was able to not only teach himself to read, but also to become an accomplished and published poet.
Don Tate is an author/illustrator and his love of his craft is evident. His first solo effort, It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw (reviewed here) earned the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor Award in 2013. I expect we’re going to see more great things from him in the future.
Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton hits all the right notes. It might be just the right title to inspire a reluctant or struggling reader to put away that video game and read some books.
Related Activity:
Read and discuss George Moses Horton, Myself (from Poetry Foundation). Discuss why he felt his genius was a restless bird trapped in his heart.
Hardcover: 36 pages
Publisher: Peachtree Publishers (September 1, 2015)
ISBN-10: 1561458252
ISBN-13: 978-1561458257
Have you seen this book yet? What did you think?
Monday: Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine
Tuesday: Draw What You See: The Life and Art of Benny Andrews
Thursday: Growing up Pedro
Disclosure: This book was supplied by my local public library. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.