Visual Literacy Project 1

Jenna Winter
Visual Literacy Project: Coretta Scott King Book Awards
TCH_LRN 307
Rosa
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Rosa written by Nikki Giovanni and Illustrated by Bryan Collier caught my attention

significantly from the 15 Coretta Scott King Award winning books that I read. Paying attention

to the definition from Picture Books for Looking and Learning by Salvia Marantz which includes

how a picture should “do more than simple reinforce the words of the story; they should also

add to the story; give it new dimension” which is easily seen by the way Bryan Collier painted in

ever so particular and in a detailed manner. The writing style that Nikki Giovanni uses to relate

and connect to the audience is incredible, the vocabulary choice she uses to described Rosa’s

seamstress touch with the thread of her needle work is “like the gold spinning of

Rumpelstiltskin’s loom” (Giovanni, 2005, Page 6). Such an outgoing and relatable topic that

children will be able to connect to and see the quality of Rosa’s work. Rosa Park is shown

casually minding her business when rudely on her way home on the bus she is troubled when

she is asked to move seats. Obviously because of her skin color and the disgustment that she

said no when asked to moved, Rosa Parks right at that moment started a movement that held

strong everyday for almost a year. Because of her disagreement the cops were called and she

was arrested for the commotion created. With hundreds of women and men behind Rosa Parks

together a community was formed to fight back in spite of Rosa’s courageous and brave action.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a huge supporter in this act that he joined the marches that were

taking place and spoke to encourage others to support equality rights for all skin colors. The

storyline of Rosa ends with the want and aspiration for all to be treated equal under the law

and to have our protections assessable (Giovanni, 2005, Page 19).

Rosa has the qualities and requirements that are portrayed with in the Coretta Scott

King Awards, when looking closely at book choices it was important to find one that
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encouraged readers to develop their own opinions and personalities within a society; showing

independence and confidence in their own strengths. The illustrations show the realism of the

emotions surrounding people were feeling as well as the angry and disgust that Rosa was

feeling during the arrest. The use of perspective is used in many quality photos, on page 10 you

see the dirty and evil looks that fellow bus riders are giving Rosa and how it must feel to be on

the other end receive those, it puts the audience in the speaker’s point of view. This Award

shines a light on the works of Martin Luther King Jr and with the involvement of his speeches

and encouraging words of wisdom, this book effectively shows how he made such a huge

contribution to the movement towards equality after the bus arresting. “Most artistic devices

are like cosmetics; they must not be too noticeable, or they are not doing their job” (Jacobs,

Tunnell, Young & Bryan, 2016), relates back to the growth and development that the audience

can see when looking at Rosa Parks and her fight for rights, we see her age and get more of a

back hunch when standing up. This shows the damage and significant impact she has taken

through out her years of fighting for equality and not giving up her humanity while fighting tall.

I wanted to draw Rosa Parks at a side angle to in a way express her looking into the

distance thinking about the pondering thoughts around her. “TO BE DONE” is written as the

start of each sentence to enlighten more and more just how ridiculous it is that there needs to

be for example separation of schools, that two humans of different races can’t be under the

same roof together. To be done with having separate water stations that half of the time don’t

even work for the blacks. Its these thoughts that are so simple and crazy to think of in present

time but would have meant the world to African Americans in the 1950’s. I wanted the general

theme of the book to be surrounding her head so I put in blue the sentence “Rosa Parks takes a
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stand and fights courageously for equality and respect” because to me that is what Rosa did to

not give up her dignity. At first I had my poster be just black and white but then decided to add

more color because Rosa Parks wouldn’t have wanted the world to be so bland and colorless,

she wanted the mixture of all kinds of skin colors to be equal and connected. Trying my hardest

to draw the best side portrait of Rosa Parks that I could, I wanted to show that I was trying to

match the pictorial style having emotion and gestures for a happier and more equal life. With

such detailed and empowering quotes with in the story, Rosa is a great fit for a children’s

picture book; it brings character within individuals, reminds children to always stand up for

what they believe in, and never let someone treat you so unkindly that you start thinking of

giving something up.

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References

Giovanni, N. (2005). Rosa. Illus. by B. Collier. pg. 6. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company.

Giovanni, N. (2005). Rosa. Illus. by B. Collier. pg. 19. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company.

Jacobs, J., Tunnell, M., Young, T., & Bryan, G (2016). Children’s Literature, Briefly (6th ed).
Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Merrill.
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1. Beautiful Blackbird
As in the title itself, the ever so powerful message; that beauty comes from with
in, is captured with in the text of this book. Staging in Zambia, there was a
beautiful blackbird who was cherished and adored for its color by the other birds
who were more colorful and bright than just solid black. One of the leaders
RingDove, had Blackbird share some of his blackness from his blackening
medicine gourd, from there all the other birds as well wanted to share some of
the blackness that added beauty to their bodies. Reminding the other birds again
and again that its not the black that will bring them beauty, but what’s on the
inside that really counts; this is something that the other birds did not listen to
very well. At the end of the book it shows a collage of all the colorful birds now
with spots, lines, circles and other decorative black drawings on their bodies, all
happy and content with their new look of beauty. The illustrations with in this
book are amazing, paper cut outs of birds as well as having the end pages show
scissors add the creativity and colorful energy of following the book. Each page is
filled with many birds of different colors and connect to the page’s text providing
something fun to look at as you read along.

Bryan, A. (2003). Beautiful Blackbird. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young
Readers.

2. Rosa
Rosa is the storyline of what happen the day that Rosa Parks was asked to move
seats on the bus. With amazing illustrations Bryan Collier was able to paint with water
color and college ever so detailed and powerful pictures that make it the 2006
Illustration Award winning picture book. Following her hardworking day of being a
seamstress Rosa Parks only wants to go home to cook a meal for her husband, with
commotion on the bus it resulted into the police being called on her for not moving
when the bus driver told her to. You can see the angry and sadness that appear on
peoples face as an illustration on page 16 of Martin Luther King Jr. as he speaks to a
crowd of African Americans who are fighting for equality rights in spite of Rosa’s
statement of not moving. Marches were formed to support Rosa and not ride on the
buses, these marches lasted for almost a year until the Supreme Court ruled that
segregation on the bus was illegal. Rosa wanted to show the law and United States that
people of all skin colors need to be treated equally and with respect.

Giovanni, N. (2005). Rosa. Illus. By B Collier, New York, NY: Henry Holt

3. Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave

This is a story about Dave, who is living in the 1800’s as a slave in South Carolina.
The illustrations show just how extremely gifted Dave was when it came to
creating pots out of clay. With his unique and very careful touch he is one of the
only ones of his time that can create such a masterpiece. He has another gift of
being an amazing poet and actually inscribing poems within his pots, it shows the
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more sensitive and emotional side within the life of a slave. The descriptive use
of vocabulary when talking about how Dave uses his hands to work the clay is
fascinating, to creates a clear picture of Dave’s hands kneading and sculpting the
clay to his likings. The watercolor and college artwork that Collier uses in this
book create a tone that shows the audiences how bland and earthy times were
in the 19th century. There wasn’t much room for color or excitement but Dave’s
emotion on his face show the true love he had behind being the artist he is.

Hill, L. (2010). Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave. Illus. by B. Collier. New York, NY: Little
Brown.

4. My People
This very short but powerful poem is written to express the speakers love for
that evening, the love for his surrounding people, as well as the beautiful earth
he lives on. Living in Harlem, the speaker is faced with a tough and seems to be
exhausting life style and shows how frustrating that can be. I found this very
short and straight forward poem to show the darkness that the speaker sees in
the night in the faces of the people that he sees in his days. The illustrations in
this poem is portraits that resemble the different shades of black skin color
showing that those represent his people. He shows the somewhat dark and
gloomy side of the working class as seen in the illustrations by the way that the
details show expressions and queues that encourages black power and strength.

Hughes, L. (2009). My People. Illus. by Smith. C. Atheneum Books for young Readers.

5. Let it Shine
This Picture book is filled such colorful and unique kinds of illustrations that follow and
support the song that is being sang. The song “This Little Light of Mine” in general is
supporting the goal for children to express themselves and love the way that they are,
show the word the little light in you and don’t ever stop! Another song that is included
with the same kind of eye grabbing colorful drawings is the song “Oh, When The Saints
go Marching in” as well as “He’s Got the Whole World in his Hands” which both connect
to the fact of loving yourself of any culture and develop into your own person with their
own special quality. Each page is filled with blues, reds, purples, yellows, many colors
that together create a very vivid and bright feeling through out the songs being sang.
There are so many fascinating details that really brings light to this book especially for
the detailed and instructive detail between each page.

Bryan, A. (2007). Let it Shine. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

6. Mose: When Harriet Tubman led her people to freedom

The incrediable and brave Harriet Tubman freeing slaves is a story that is prominent in
todays history, Mose though made me look deeper into the emotions that were put
with in page of insightful and spiritual text. There is almost a musical feel just by looking
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at the 2 page long illustrations that hears a whisper coming from god as Harriet talks to
him is steered in the direction to her freedom. The very vivid and earth colors through
out the book show a darker side to the story that adds to the scariness and danger
through out the night as Harriet ran for her escape of slavery. Illustrating impeccable
courage that it took for Harriet to leave such a place of horror and punishment, and this
emotion is set with in the illustrations. There was a grasping theme with in the book of
hope, hope in humanity that slaves would be freed and hope that Harriet would some
day be free herself. The emotions that are captured through the paints show the
relentless and desire for freedom just by looking at the body stance and emotions that
are seen with in Harriet’s face.

Weatherford, C. (2006). Moses: When Harriet Tubman led her people to freedom. Illus.
by K. Nelson. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children.

7. Goin’ Someplace Special

Going somewhere special is about a girl named ‘Tricia Ann who really wishes and
dreams that she can sometime explore the world outside of her house on her own. She
wants to do this because she wants to find her special place. When finally, her
grandmother agrees to the exploring that is about to happen, ‘Tricia Ann is faced with
more segregation tensions than what she is normally confronted with at her safe house.
This book is a great children’s book because of the amazing addition that the
illustrations give each page and it’s text. It is really easy to see within the pictures that
the main focus of the page is ‘Tricia Ann because oh how she is colored in and stands
out.

McKissack, P. (2001). Goin’ someplace Special. Illu. By J. Pinkney. New York, NY:
Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

8. The Creation
The Creation is a storyline of the old man creating the world with the help and wisdom
of God. Through out this book there is very little indication on if this man is speaking
directly to the readers, or if its just the gesture that he can only talk to God. Within the
book it shows the days of Creation and what detailed in each day, and each day on the
page the story is being told by an African American man who explaining the creation of
earth to children who are in amazement of the working adults. With very colorful and
painted illustrations, at the end of the book we the readers were able to really see the
transformation that Adam took throughout the creation to become a man of color.

Johnson, J. (1994). The Creation. Illu. By J. Ransome. New York, NY: Holiday House.

9. In the time of the Drum

This storyline is a very unique kind of story, it sets with a younger African American boy
named Mentu who continuously gets passed down knowledge from his aging
grandmother, Twi. This knowledge comes in handy when Twi has Mentu take a group of
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Africans back to their original homelands because Twi wouldn’t keep them to be slaves.
We can see the detailed and consintration that each picture contains within its colors.
The way that the Illustrator Brain Pinkney uses paint brushes to combine finer detail
making each page be so detailed and supported. Being taught the lesson to always listen
to your elder was a general theme that I found from this picture book.

Siegelson, K. (1999). In the Time of the drums. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for
Children.

10. I see the Rhythm

Toyomi Igus, Writter of I see the Rhythm provides a timeline when African American
music started to really become more popular. The 1500’s times were different when it
came to music, and through the illustrations were can see that much was different back
then; clothes, and especially socialization. We can see this difference in the dresses that
are being worn, the dresses are beautiful with so much detail that one could see easily
just how they were made and how they differ. I really liked how the Illustrator Michele
Wood threw in lots of Purples, greens, blues, and others on the bodies and faces of
people. This addition of color really makes each character pop and stand out from the
blending background. The color and fun illustrations really add life to the pages.

Igus, T. (1998). I See the Rhythm. Illus. by M. Wood. San Francisco, CA: Childrens Book
Press

11. Ellington Was not a Street

This is a story giving insight to Ntozake Shange’s childhood. Through vivid illustrations
that are colorful, enhance the character and makes certain ones stand out more than
others. I love how in this picture book you can easily see the loving and happiness on
peoples faces when you look at their detailed expressions. This story is expressed
through a song in which important African American men changed the life of Ntozake’s
childhood. These visits are what helped shape her into the girl she is in the storyline. A
theme in this book relates to community because of the strength that all the characters
had as well as how they stayed together no matter what.

Shange, N. (2004). Ellington was not a street. Illu. By K. Nelson. New York, NY: Simon &
Schuster Books for Young Readers.

12. Uptown
The Writer of Uptown, Bryan Collier is describing Harlem and what exactly that city
involves. He explains how he loves his childhood city because of all the chicken and
waffles, as well as the jazz music that he can always catch a hearing of. It was really cool
to see the illustrations in this book because of how they are just pieces of other pictures
that are placed next to each other to create a new meaning. These illustrations create a
very meaningful and memorable take about how he handles racial segregations but how
those moments have made him love his city even more.
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Collier, B. (2000). Uptown. New York, NY: Henry Holt

13. The Middle Passage

This story is a very heavy and emotional ride for the readers. Hearing about the
transactions and the actions that are taken when dealing with slave auctioning and
selling between owners is a very disturbing topic especially for younger grades. Through
the movement and direction of the piece of art, the reader is able to understand and
see just how intense some people felt against African Americans. Tom Feelings, the
writer of the story grasp the readers attention from the gory and unpleasant real life
that many slaves had to go through everyday. Because of so much violence and
inappropriate content within each and every page, this would be a book I would save for
older children to read.

Feelings, T. (1995). The Middle Passage: White ships/ Black Cargo. New York, NY: Dial
books.

14. The Blacker the Berry

The Blacker the Berry is a book of poems and illustrations that correspond to a poem. I
love this book because it really led me to gain more knowledge in the different skin
colors of African Americans. There needs to be more celebration because of the unique
and different skin colors that every single person has, with so much hate in the world
the Blacker the Berry takes a heavy topic and enlightens it. Racism and oppression are
draining the society and with so much negatively it is hard for people to be happy on
this world. Floyd Cooper the Illustrator really can detail a face and give it an ever so
realistic expression that it is easy for readers to connect with the speaker.

Thomas, J. (2008). The Blacker the Berry. Illus. by F. Cooper. New York, NY:
HarperCollins.

15. In Daddy’s Arms I am Tall

Another book of a collection of poems! This set is celebrating and cherishing African
American fathers and the incredible impact they have on their beloved daughters. It
seems pretty easy to forget that your footmarks are going to still be there for the next
generation to see, which is what each poem is explaining when looking at the father’s
position. Very similar to The Middle Passage, the illustrations are snips of cut out pieces
of other pictures that are combined together to create a new meaning. With so much
investment for good detail each page is filled with the exact material of the pertaining
clothing item for some of the characters, this picture book would sure be a fun one for
all younger children!

Schroder, A. (1997). In Daddy’s arms I am tall: African Americans celebrating fathers.

New York, NY: Lee & Low Books.
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References

Bryan, A. (2003). Beautiful Blackbird. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young
Readers.

Bryan, A. (2007). Let it Shine. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Collier, B. (2000). Uptown. New York, NY: Henry Holt

Feelings, T. (1995). The Middle Passage: White ships/ Black Cargo. New York, NY: Dial
books.

Giovanni, N. (2005). Rosa. Illus. By B Collier, New York, NY: Henry Holt

Grimes, N. (2002). Talking ‘about Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman. Illus. by
E. B. Lewis. New York, NY: Orchard Books

Hill, L. (2010). Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave. Illus. by B. Collier. New York, NY: Little
Brown.

Hughes, L. (2009). My People. Illus. by Smith. C. Atheneum Books for young Readers.

Igus, T. (1998). I See the Rhythm. Illus. by M. Wood. San Francisco, CA: Childrens Book
Press.

Johnson, J. (1994). The Creation. Illu. By J. Ransome. New York, NY: Holiday House.

McKissack, P. (2001). Goin’ someplace Special. Illu. By J. Pinkney. New York, NY:
Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Schroder, A. (1997). In Daddy’s arms I am tall: African Americans celebrating fathers.

New York, NY: Lee & Low Books.

Shange, N. (2004). Ellington was not a street. Illu. By K. Nelson. New York, NY: Simon &
Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Siegelson, K. (1999). In the Time of the drums. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for
Children.

Thomas, J. (2008). The Blacker the Berry. Illus. by F. Cooper. New York, NY:
HarperCollins.

Weatherford, C. (2006). Moses: When Harriet Tubman led her people to freedom. Illus.
by K. Nelson. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children.