Spotlight: Loretta Little Looks Back by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Loretta Little Looks Back
written by Andrea Davis Pinkney
illustrated by Brian Pinkney
published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2020

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Apple Books, Walmart, Target, Kobo, Book Depository, Goodreads

About the book – from Goodreads: From bestselling and award-winning husband and wife team Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney, comes an innovative, beautifully illustrated novel that delivers a front-row seat to the dramatic events that led to African Americans earning the right to vote.

“Right here, I’m sharing the honest-to-goodness.” -Loretta

“I’m gon’ reach back, and tell how it all went. I’m gon’ speak on it. My way.” -Roly

“I got more nerve than a bad tooth. But there’s nothing bad about being bold.” -Aggie B.

Loretta, Roly, and Aggie B., members of the Little family, each present the vivid story of their young lives, spanning three generations. Their separate stories – beginning in a cotton field in 1927 and ending at the presidential election of 1968 — come together to create one unforgettable journey.

Through an evocative mix of fictional first-person narratives, spoken-word poems, folk myths, gospel rhythms and blues influences, Loretta Little Looks Back weaves an immersive tapestry that illuminates the dignity of sharecroppers in the rural South. Inspired by storytelling’s oral tradition, stirring vignettes are presented in a series of theatrical monologues that paint a gripping, multidimensional portrait of America’s struggle for civil rights as seen through the eyes of the children who lived it. The novel’s unique format invites us to walk in their shoes. Each encounters an unexpected mystical gift, passed down from one family member to the next, that ignites their experience what it means to reach for freedom.

“Readers will hear the history come alive.”
—Kirkus Reviews, ★ starred review

“Inspired by the collective voices of many,” the married co-creators incisively invoke oral tradition in fictionalized accounts of a Black family enduring political and economic oppression under Jim Crow…Selective incorporation of real-life historical figures (Emmett Till, Fannie Lou Hamer) and events (voter registration drives, Democratic National Conventions) lends authenticity to each narrator’s story, an ideal accompaniment to the lyricism woven throughout. Art adds elegant portraits of land and family to these vivid tales, and end notes offer historical context and further reading recommendations.”
—Publishers Weekly, ★ starred review

“The combination of elements drawing on oral tradition and folklore set this book apart, making it an unforgettable reading experience. Perfect for every library.”
—School Library Journal, ★ starred review

“As always, Pinkney’s writing sings, rich with metaphor, lyricism, and touches of magic realism. The choice of oral storytelling is inspired, both for its cultural significance and because it allows readers to empathize with these events…Generous back matter concludes this timely and important read.”
—Booklist, ★ starred review

About the author: Andrea Davis Pinkney is the New York Times bestselling an award-winning author of numerous books for children and young adults. Her work has received multiple Coretta Scott King Book Award citations, and she is a four-time nominee for the NAACP Image Award. Ms. Pinkney is the recipient of both the Regina Medal and the Arbuthnot Honor Award for her distinguished and singular contribution to the field of children’s literature. Ms. Pinkney has been named among the “25 Most Influential People in our Children’s Lives” by Children’s Health magazine, and is listed among the “25 Most Influential Black Women in Business” by The Network Journal. She is included in the “50 Over 50 Extraordinary Women” noted by Good Housekeeping and Woman’s Day magazines. Her Husband, Brian Pinkney has illustrated numerous books for children, including two Caldecott Honor books, and he has written and illustrated several of his own books. Brian has received the Coretta Scott King Book Award for Illustration and three Coretta Scott King Book Award Honor medals.

 
 

 
 

* This post contains affiliate links.

** This post first appeared on Every Free Chance Books (everyfreechance.com) on November 24, 2020.