Black History Month

Carter Reads the Newspaper by Deborah Hopkinson ill Don Tate

The teaching of the whole truth will help us in the direction of a real democracy.
​Carter G Woodson 1944

Deborah Hopkinson introduces young readers to an important historical figure: Carter G. Woodson.

​Born in 1875, the son of a formerly enslaved father and mother, young Carter grew up hearing the stories of his Virginian parents' struggles. Times were hard for this family. As a result, Woodson left school in his early teens to labor as a farm-hand, garbage collector, and coal miner. He and other West Virginia coal miners were often invited to the home of Oliver Jones, a Civil War veteran. Carter would read the newspapers to Jones and the other miners, researching and answering their questions.

​At age 20, he moved back to Virginia, graduating from high school. He went on to earn bachelor's and master's degrees. At age thirty-seven, he was the second African American to earn a PhD from Harvard University. His life's work centered on researching and promoting Black history. This historian and educator established Negro History Week in 1926. He is recognized as the father of Black History Month.

Hopkinson sprinkles quotes from Woodson throughout the text, giving an immediacy and relevancy to the narrative. This biography stresses of the importance of education, reading, and research. Like Carter, young readers can learn more about their world and work for positive change.

Don Tate's realistic illustration style features slightly enlarged heads. Memories are rendered in a monochromatic palette and to the side of a full-color full color portrait. The book features full page spreads highlighting significant events in Woodson's life: a crushing mine incident, reading a newspaper, and wearing full academic regalia on receiving a PhD from Harvard University. The cameo portraits of important African American individuals feature a variety of occupations and a spectrum of skin tones. Line drawings of historical individuals from Nzinga of Ndongo and Joseph Cinqué to contemporary figures such as Katherine Johnson and Colin Kaepernick are a bonus.

The book's value is significantly enriched with extensive back matter which includes a bibliography of online and print resources, an Author's Note, an Illustrator's Note, a roster of the forty-three Black leaders pictured throughout its pages, a timeline of Woodson's life and accomplishments, and quotation citations. A rich resource for teachers and students.

Carter Reads the Newspaper is an excellent introduction to African American History Month.
Use this poster with a display of books featuring biographies, historical accounts, historical fiction, and other works by Black authors and illustrators.  Download a copy of the poster featuring an inspiring quote and art by Don Tate.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: February 1, 2019  Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company  ISBN: 978-1561459346