Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
George loved words. But George was enslaved.
Forced to work long hours, George was unable to attend school or learn how to read. But he was determined--he listened to the white children's lessons and learned the alphabet. Then he taught himself to read. Soon, he began composing poetry in his head and reciting it as he sold fruits and vegetables on a nearby college campus. News of the slave poet traveled quickly among the students, and before long, George had customers for his poems. But George was still enslaved. Would he ever be free?
In this powerful biography of George Moses Horton, the first southern African-American man to be published, Don Tate tells an inspiring and moving story of talent and determination.
Synopsis
Based on true events of important US history, this non-fiction narrative, the biography of George Moses Horton introduces students to a story of determination and a profound love of words. In the nineteenth century, North Carolina slave George Moses Horton taught himself to read and earned money to purchase his time-though not his freedom. Horton became the first African American to be published in the South, protesting slavery in the form of verse. Told with vivid, figurative language; metaphor, simile and hyperbole. Students will use story elements; setting, plot and character development as they understand themes of determination, pride, talent, freedom, slavery, abolition and poetry as a form of expression. There is informational back matter- Author's Note.
Curriculum Connections: Biography; George Moses Horton, narrative non-fiction, vivid, figurative language, story elements; setting, plot and character development, cause and effect, Themes: slavery, love of words, poetry, determination, talent, pride, freedom, abolition. Informational back matter- Author's Note
Synopsis
Award-winning author-illustrator Don Tate celebrates the first Black author in the South to be published in this first-ever picture book biography of George Moses Horton.
Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award winner
Carter G. Woodson Book Award (Elementary) winner - National Council for the Social Studies
★ "Offers a new perspective with remarkable clarity." ―Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
★ "A lovely introduction to an inspirational American poet." ―School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
★ "Stirring." ―Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
George loved words, but he was also enslaved. Forced to work long hours, he was unable to attend school or learn how to read. But he was determined―he listened to the white children's lessons and learned the alphabet. Then he taught himself to read.
Soon, he began composing poetry in his head and reciting it as he sold fruits and vegetables on a nearby college campus. News of the slave poet traveled quickly among the students, and before long, George had customers for his poems. But George was still enslaved. Would he ever be free?
In this powerful biography of George Moses Horton, the first southern African-American man to be published, Don Tate tells an inspiring and moving story of talent and determination. A must for Black and American history collections. Available as an ebook.
Awards:
Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award ―Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, de Grummond Children's Literature Collection
Carter G. Woodson Book Award (Elementary) ―National Council for the Social Studies
Christopher Award (Books for Young People) ―Christophers
Notable Children's Books ―Association for Library Service to Children
Also available from Don Tate:
Carter Reads the Newspaper
William Still and His Freedom Stories
Synopsis
Award-winning author-illustrator Don Tate celebrates the first southern Black writer to be published in this first-ever picture book biography of George Moses Horton.
George loved words, but he was also enslaved. Forced to work long hours, he was unable to attend school or learn how to read. But he was determined―he listened to the white children's lessons and learned the alphabet. Then he taught himself to read.
Soon, he began composing poetry in his head and reciting it aloud as he sold fruits and vegetables on a nearby college campus. News of the enslaved poet traveled quickly among the students, and before long, George had customers for his poems. But George was still enslaved. Would he ever be free?
In this powerful biography, Don Tate tells an inspiring and moving story of talent and determination.
Synopsis
This first-ever picture book biography of George Moses Horton celebrates the first southern Black writer to have his work published. George loved words, but he was also enslaved. Forced to work long hours, he was unable to attend school or learn how to read. But he was determined―he listened to the white children's lessons and learned the alphabet. Then he taught himself to read.
Soon, he began composing poetry in his head and reciting it aloud as he sold fruits and vegetables on a nearby college campus. News of the enslaved poet traveled quickly among the students, and before long, George had customers for his poems. But George was still enslaved. Would he ever be free?
In this powerful biography, award-winning author-illustrator Don Tate tells an inspiring and moving story of talent and determination.