A thoughtful celebration of Black girlhood by award-winning author and poet Renée Watson.
In this semi-autobiographical collection of poems, Renée Watson writes about her experience growing up as a young Black girl at the intersections of race, class, and gender.
Using a variety of poetic forms, from haiku to free verse, Watson shares recollections of her childhood in Portland, tender odes to the Black women in her life, and urgent calls for Black girls to step into their power.
Black Girl You Are Atlas encourages young readers to embrace their future with a strong sense of sisterhood and celebration. With full-color art by celebrated fine artist Ekua Holmes throughout, this collection offers guidance and is a gift for anyone who reads it.---from the publisher
96 pages 978-0593461709 Ages 8-12
Keywords: African American and Black stories, poetry, poems, Black Girl books, African American author, self image, self esteem, believing in yourself, 8 year old, 9 year old, 10 year old, 11 year old, 12 year old
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Award-winning author and poet Renée Watson looks back at her childhood and urges readers to look forward at their futures with love, understanding, and celebration in this fully illustrated poetry collection.
New York Times-bestselling author Renée Watson writes about her experience growing up a young Black girl at the intersections of race, class, and gender in this semi-autobiographical collection of poems with full color art throughout by celebrated fine artist Ekua Holmes.
Using a mixture of poetic forms from haiku and tanka to prose poems and free verse, Watson shares recollections of her childhood in Portland, tender odes to the Black women in her life, and urgent calls for Black girls to step into their power. This is both a gift and a tool for anyone who reads it. Black Girl You Are Atlas encourages young readers to embrace their future with a shared sense of anger, celebration, and sisterhood.---from the publisher
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*Black Girl You Are Atlas* is a breathtaking triumph celebrating a young girl's thoughts as she grows up black and female in America. Watson uses autobiographical stories and captures moments in history and how she experienced them as a child. She includes poems about Michelle Obama, Rodney King and Breonna Taylor.
Magnificent does not do this book justice. It is the most powerful book of poetry since Maya Angelou or Langston Hughes. In "Black Like Me" Watson asks, "can i be Black & brilliant?/ can i be jazz & gospel, hip-hop & classical?/ can i be christian & accepting? can i be big & beautiful?"
In "Underbelly," Watson uses repetition of "Black girl body..." to begin each line. This poem is a compelling statement of power, weathering the storm, pushing through, being proud, and finding happiness.
*Black Girl You Are Atlas *is a wonderful book gift for any girl or woman. It is a celebration of being black in America but should be read and enjoyed by everyone, regardless of their skin color or country of origin. This is one book you will not forget.
Collage art by Ekua Holmes captures not only the joy but also the sorrow and sadness of the prose.
This is a must-have, must-read for everyone. Any library collection should purchase multiple copies as this book will not sit on the shelf.
So highly recommended, I'd give it more than five stars.
Recommended by:Thompson McLeod (Pamela), blogger, reviewer, literary intern, writer, lifelong YA librarian, Florida USA
See more of her recommendations: http://booksbypamelathompson.blogspot.com/
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“Rock steady, baby
That's what I feel now
Let's call this song exactly what it is
Step and move your hips with a feeling from side to side
Sit yourself down in your car and take a ride
And while you’re moving rock steady
Rock steady, baby”
– Aretha Franklin (1972)
“...Where I’m from music takes away the blues.
I’m from Bob Marley. Mahalia Jackson.
Aretha Franklin. James Brown.
I’m from Jackson 5 records and New Edition tapes.
Where I’m from we rewind the tapes over and over
and over again so we can write down the lyrics
and memorize them.
Where I’m from the whole neighborhood is your family:
ladies sit on their porches looking out for you,
shooin’ away boys like flies,
callin’ your momma to tell her what you did
before you can get home and lie about it.
Where I’m from people ask my friend,
‘Is that your hair?’ and she says, ‘Yeah, it’s mine. I bought it.’
I’m from divorce being passed down to children
like a family heirloom.
From single mommas pushing strollers,
praying that their babies don’t have the same struggles as them…”
BLACK GIRL YOU ARE ATLAS is a powerful and beautiful, semi-autobiographical, coming-of-age picture book. It is a collection of poems inspired by and informed by the life and cultural heritage of award-winning author Renée Watson. It will wow and inform and thoroughly engage any number of tweens and teens–particularly if you can take a quick read yourself, and get psyched about sharing it. Like I have gotten.
I can so imagine a sixth- or seventh- or eighth-grade English teacher parceling out the thirty-eight poems to students and having them practice and then go round and round performing them aloud. The poetry is elegant and dramatic and inspirational, and filled with truth and caution. It's a picture book for older readers that deserves plenty of attention.
Illustrator Ekua Holmes hits it out of the park with the frame-worthy cover. Her collage art throughout the book is inviting and attractive.
“Wield Your Laughter
like the weapon it is.
Flaunt it in the face of your fears.
Cock your head back,
slap your knee,
howl, cackle,
be too loud,
be high-pitched,
be deep bellow,
let the tears fall,
let the belly ache,
let breath escape your lungs,
let your shoulders shake,
let your cheeks turn red.
This is how you mend,
how you endure,
how you hold onto joy
while you wait for happiness.
Great poetry. Great art. Great story. You’ll want to see this one.
Recommended by: Richie Partington, MLIS, California USA
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