Burgan, Michael. African Americans in the Thirteen Colonies.

Burgan, Michael.  African Americans in the Thirteen Colonies.     Scholastic/ Childrens Press   2013  64p   $30.00  ISBN 978-0-531-23600-0 elm/ms  series: Cornerstones of Freedom  VG-BNS

This book includes a look at the harrowing journey taken by Africans who were brought to America, at the growth of slavery prior to the American Revolution, at the hardships of daily life in the colonies and at the role of slaves in the Revolutionary War.  It is very interesting to learn about slavery during the formative years of this country, before we achieved freedom from Great Britain.  Author Michael Burgan has used his fine writing style to tell young teens about life, hardship, and the growth of slavery throughout the colonies.  The book has four well-organized chapters in which  Burgan uses anecdotal information, statistics, and facts to tell the story of the limitations placed on African Americans, even on those who were lucky enough to gain their freedom.  In the beginning, some blacks could marry whites, have children and work their own land.  By the late 1600s, however, laws limiting the rights of blacks began to appear, especially in Virginia.  Slavery grew in the northern colonies, but with the exception of Rhode Island, the populations never equaled those of the South.  Readers learn about the Great Awakening, which brought Christianity to the masses of African American slaves.  They also learn about Crispus Attucks, one of the people killed during the Boston Massacre.  Whereas many slaves fought for the British during the Revolutionary War in exchange for their freedom, other slaves fought for the colonists and were instrumental in their victory. 

A teacher of social studies who hopes to teach the early history of slavery in the states will want to use the illustrations, the timeline that begins in the 1440s, and the text to support a unit on African Americans’ role in the U.S.  The book’s many extras include a spotlight on famous African Americans of the time.  All in all, this book has a lot to offer.  Cornerstones of Freedom uses historical illustrations, maps, timelines and comprehensive text to tell the stories of many important moments in American history.  Topics include Lincoln, Obama, Gettysburg, the nuclear age and many others.     

Slavery-History                                             --Martha Squaresky

Nardo, Don. Barack Obama.

Nardo, Don. Barack Obama.
Compass Point Books/Capstone 2010 64p 26.65 978-0-7565-4285-6 elm/ms Profiles of the President (Compass Point) An overview of the life of Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States. This biography includes information about his childhood, family, political career, first one hundred days in office, and includes the text of his Inaugural Address. An excellent, well-researched and up-to-date biography of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States. His life is explored from his parents’ marriage and his birth to his first 100 days in office. This inspirational portrait is well illustrated with family photos, maps and campaign stills. Included at the end of the section on his fist 100 days are a number of supplemental materials, including a timeline of his life, set against the events in the world at that time, his public and private life, his Presidential cabinet, further reading, a glossary and comprehensive index. A very useful volume for students researching the life of our current President. Naismith, Pat

Barack Obama: We Are One People,

Schuman, Michael Barack Obama: We Are One People, Revised & Expanded
Enslow 2009 160p 34.60 978-0-7660-3649-9 elm/ms
African American Biographies(Enslow)
This title, revised and expanded, contains information about Obama’s life as a young child up to when he became President. Includes excerpts from his inauguration speech, photos in the appropriate places, chronology, chapter notes, books and Internet sites for further reading, and an index. Very good resource for upper elementary and older readers in need of high interest material. This title is a revised and expanded edition of Barack Obama’s biography. It contains information about Obama’s life as a young child, his family, his school years, early employment, and political life. It goes up to when he became President and includes excerpts from his inauguration speech. There are unobtrusive side bars on some pages that highlight the information on the page or present details on some aspect of the text. Photographs are placed in the appropriate places within the text and there is a color map that indicates places where Obama has lived during his younger years. As in other titles in the African-American Biography Library series, this book contains a chronology, chapter notes, a list of books and Internet sites for further reading, and an index. In reading this book, I gained more knowledge about Obama’s background and the process necessary for him to become President. The writing is clear and well researched and the information is quite accessible to most readers. This would be a very good resource for upper elementary and older readers in need of high interest material. Weinraub, Tina