Synopses & Reviews
A 2016 Caldecott Honor Book
A 2016 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
A 2016 John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award Winner
Stirring poems and stunning collage illustrations combine to celebrate the life of Fannie Lou Hamer, a champion of equal voting rights.
"I am sick and tired of being sick and tired."
Despite fierce prejudice and abuse, even being beaten to within an inch of her life, Fannie Lou Hamer was a champion of civil rights from the 1950s until her death in 1977. Integral to the Freedom Summer of 1964, Ms. Hamer gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention that, despite President Johnson's interference, aired on national TV news and spurred the nation to support the Freedom Democrats. Featuring vibrant mixed-media art full of intricate detail, Voice of Freedom celebrates Fannie Lou Hamer's life and legacy with a message of hope, determination, and strength.
Review
"[A] striking portrait of the singer and activist. Bold, honest, informative, and unforgettable." Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
Review
"Caldecott Honor winner Weatherford...has rendered Hamer's voice so precisely that it is like sitting at her knee as she tells her story. Bold, unapologetic, and beautiful." Booklist (Starred Review)
Review
"This lyrical text in verse emphasizes the activist's perseverance and courage, as she let her booming voice be heard. Holmes's beautiful, vibrant collage illustrations add detail and nuance." School Library Journal (Starred Review)
Review
"This majestic biography offers a detailed, intelligible overview of Hamer's life...and places the civil rights movement in personal, local, national, and international contexts." The Horn Book (Starred Review)
Review
"Consider this not only as an accessible biography but also as a piece for solo or duet performance." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Review
"The combination of history, poetry, and brilliant watercolor illustrations makes this a picture book on the Civil Rights Movement that should not be missed." School Library Connection
Synopsis
A Caldecott Honor Book
A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
A John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award Winner
Stirring poems and stunning collage illustrations combine to celebrate the life of Fannie Lou Hamer, a champion of equal voting rights. "I am sick and tired of being sick and tired."
Despite fierce prejudice and abuse, even being beaten to within an inch of her life, Fannie Lou Hamer was a champion of civil rights from the 1950s until her death in 1977. Integral to the Freedom Summer of 1964, Ms. Hamer gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention that, despite President Johnson's interference, aired on national TV news and spurred the nation to support the Freedom Democrats. Featuring vibrant mixed-media art full of intricate detail, Voice of Freedom celebrates Fannie Lou Hamer's life and legacy with a message of hope, determination, and strength.
About the Author
Carole Boston Weatherford has written numerous award-winning books for children, including Becoming Billie Holiday, illustrated by Floyd Cooper, which won a Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor, and the Caldecott Honor-winning Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, which also won an NAACP Image Award. Carole Boston Weatherford lives in North Carolina.
Ekua Holmes is a fine artist whose work explores themes of family, relationships, hope, and faith. In 2013 she was named to the Boston Arts Commission, which oversees public art projects on city property. Voice of Freedom is her first picture book. Ekua Holmes lives in Boston.