Product Description

This dazzling collection of poetry celebrates the beauty of African-American culture. Written by 20 inner-city children, these moving and powerful poems represent little-heard and often overlooked voices. Full color.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1293740 in Books
• Published on: 1998-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

Amazon.com Review
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.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 4. A collection of poems by 20 children between the ages of 6 and 14, with introductory notes by Lucille Clifton. Christie interprets the selections with passionate (though somewhat scary in their expressive distortion) acrylic-and-pencil illustrations that could stand alone as a lively introduction to modern art. The poems were created during a community workshop designed to "introduce children to the techniques of image and metaphor, narrative and dialogue, and then set them free to explore their own lives, feelings and imaginations." Occasionally these goals are reached, as when Thelma Louise Lee writes of "my brother?trying to wash dishes/and me?talking too much, me hitting/my cousin (not meaning to, really),/me playing basketball and/calling all the shots." However most of the short poems, printed with boldface emphasizing certain words (Black, family, freedom) lack original imagery and come across as slogans rather than as personal voices. Facilitators of "everybody's an author" writing classes seeking a range of examples may be interested in purchasing The Palm of My Heart. Stronger writing and a broader range of topics can be found in June Jordan and Terri Bush's Voice of the Children (Holt, 1970; o.p.)?Karen MacDonald, Teaticket Elementary School, MA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 6^-10. These 20 poems, the product of a writing workshop for children, express pride and joy in the black experience. Most of the pieces are very short, but their brevity does not dilute the potency of the heartfelt messages delivered in that direct way children have. Christie's long, angular images are reminiscent of Masai warriors with long graceful necks, wearing pride in their postures. The acrylic-and-pen renderings never outpace the simple, humble passages that reflect children who have discovered the power of the written word and their own inner strength. Denia Hester

Customer Reviews

Disappointing
I bought this book for my classroom library, but I do not display it. I find it to be too race-oriented. I feel uncomfortable putting so much emphasis on black vs. white.

Great short stories for your kids to read
This book shares the thoughts and stories of young african american children.As the kids speak up you will here the palm of there hart speaking to you. There are just great stories some happy some sad and some tell you just how much different there lifestyle is from ours.the kids will take you to there world and express there heart.