It's 1915 and Pap is working on the new subway in New York, keeping him from his family on Christmas. His wife, Mim, and children, Saraleen and Royce, miss him very much, so they make and send him some of the family's traditional holiday recipe - Belly-hum jam. This jam is so good, Pap is able to use it to sweeten the sour attitudes of the foremen, Mr. Mead and Mr. Evans, who send the men home to celebrate with their families. Luckily for us readers, the recipe follows the story.
Once again the Pinkneys have brought us a wonderful, meaningful story, this one a touching holiday tale. The scratchboard illustrations are beautiful. I always look for new books by this family of authors and illustrators to add their work to my school library's collection.

I THINK THAT IT IS SAD THAT A LOT OF GIRLS DO N0T READ THE CHEETAH GIRLS THES GIRLS GOT IT GOING ON ! IF YOU READ THE CHEETAH GIRLS YOU ALLREDY KNOW THAT THEY ARE 5 GIRLS WHO CAN SING AND ARE LOOKING FOR A RECROD DEAL IN THIS BOOK THEY COME CLOSER TO THER DREAM WHEN THEY SING AT THE OKIE-DOKIE CORAL AND THER RIVLES THE CASH MONEY GIRLS (CMG) WHO EACH MEMBER IN THE GROOP HAS A NAME OF A DEAD PREZ ( ABRAHMMA)COME TO SING WITH THEM AND THEN THE CHEETAH GIRLS ARE ACUSD OF COPING THE CMGS LERICS !

The story is touching and deals with several sensitive issues beautifully. The drawings bring the characters to life. They are lively and expressive

Just Like Martin, I found at a bookstore when I was traveling in
Maryland. Not thinking I was down to my last few dollars I bought it. I was very disapointed until I started reading it. This book taught me to never give up and know I keep on reading it over and over. 2 big thumbs up!!!

Just Like Martin
By: Ossie Davis

What do you get when you take out the d, I, s, c, r, I, m, I, n and put in an H before the a? You get hate! Have you e ver been discriminated before? I think everyone has been in some way. African Americans have tried their best to stop it. They seldom did anything and they were just beaten to death from people like the K.K.K.'s. People like Martin Luther King Jr. who tried to stand up for what they had believed in. I learned in the book, a reverend of the local church has been organizing a peace march with server al other church organizations, and they had members from their church ridge private busses to Washington to march. They wanted the white people to know that there was no reason for them to be treated like this. One of the fathers in the story went to war with the reverend to defend The United States of America. They were at war with Korea. Since the war, the father has been very disturbed. He now carries a gun in his glove compartment of his pick-up truck. IN December when Dr. King held a service he had asked that the people in the service sing a "Negro Spiritual" ...
I though the book was great. It gave me a taste of what it was like to live back then if I were black. IT made me really think if I were black, would I want someone to do things like hang me, throw rocks at me, shoot high pressured water at me? I though for a while, why is different bad, but I sti9ll don't understand why because people of all different races, shapes, sizes are discriminated all the time. ...

"I Have A Dream"

In the book Just Like Martin there is a boy named Stone who is really trying to spread non-violence across the nation. There is a huge event where all black people come together and march. Martin Luther King was a leader in the march. He said his "I Have A Dream" speech.
Some bad things started to happen at the end of the book. It might change the meaning of discrimination forever. Read this good book to find out.
I really liked this book. It was exciting and it shows you that if you really work toward something that it might actually come true.

I "I Smell Honey..." is a tasty treat of color, rhyme and familial togetherness. A favorite of my two year old, she never tires of hearing this beautifully written story of cooking a "feast" with mom; full of colorful food groups. Your five senses will be tantalized by a preparation of catfish, beans, collard greens and--who can resist sweet potato pie?! A cultural must read! My only criticism lies in the illustrations. Though vivid in color, the people pictured were a bit visually stilted.

My son received this book as a first birthday present. We read it at the party and it became his absolute favorite right then and there. If you have a child who is musically inclined or even if you just want a book that can link you and your child with your African heritage without being dogmatic and boring, this is the book for you. But beware! The rhyme is so catchy, you'll have to read it at least 6 times per sitting! Oh yeah, and you'll probably want to go out and get a shekere yourself...

I read Silent Thunder. I thought it was a great book. Because you can learn about war and how most slaves got free. I think everyone who wants to learn about slaves and how to people got free. This book is based on a real story about a boy that is around 13 and an unidentified girl. I recommend it to kids around the age of 10 to 14.I think others that like civil war stories then take a peek or you should read it if you want a great and interesting book about action, thrill and sadness. If you want all of that stuff then you should read this great book.

This story tells about a brother and sister growing up during the time of the civil war. Read this book to see life from a slave childs perspective during war.

Searching for a book in my school's library. I did what anyone kid would do randomly picked a book of the shelf. It wasn't like what I thought it would be. I felt like I was in the book. I love how Andrea Davis portrays the characters, it really does make them seem real. The author really did her job on researching the facts for this book. She gave the characters such vivid description I felt like I knew them. It was creatively written. It was definetely a book I couldn't put down!

Seven Candles for Kwanzaa is a change from the original Cristams story. This Kwanzaa loving picture book is by Andrea Davis Pinkney. And the stunning pictures are by Brian Pinkney. This book is about you guessed it Kwanzaa. Seven Candles for Kwanzaa tells you everything from the traditions of Kwanzaa to the candles. The colorful illustratins help show what each of the candles specifically stands for and what is done on the days as they are one by one lit on the Kinara. Seven Candles for Kwanzaa gives any one who os not to sure what goes on during the Kwanzaa holiday a very in depth description of what goes on.
I would think twice before spending your hard earned money on this book. In my opinion Seven Candles for Kwanzaa was about 5 pages too long. I would make sure you are really into Kwanzaa before you get this book. And if you are this is the book for you. No mater what you celebrate, it is good to be familiar what other cultures do.