Marching with Martin

Perhaps the most personal entry in celebrated sculptor Pace's ambitious African American Quartet is this first-person remembrance of what Martin Luther King Jr. meant to Pace while growing up in Alabama and Chicago. The design of the book, and indeed the entire quartet, features two-page spreads of wild, almost Basquiat-like art incorporating paint, jewelry, paper, plastics, and anything else that captures Pace's fancy. On the left-hand page goes the prose, which, though simple, is packed with restrained emotion: Many years ago, in 1949, to be exact, when I was a little boy in Alabama, I saw signs that I did not understand. On the right-hand page, set atop the collage, is a historic photograph (in this case, a shot of white and colored water fountains). The effect is certainly busy but works toward Pace's electric presentation the overwhelmingness is mostly effective. What gives this volume its punch is Pace's willingness to incorporate his own biography. His family photos have just as much impact as the historical ones, which tend to be lesser-seen pictures: MLK sitting for a mug shot and the chaotic aftermath of his assassination. The latter is splotched with bloodlike paint and confetti a good example of the unusual and brave look and feel of Pace's work.--Kraus, Daniel Copyright 2015 Booklist

K-Gr 2-In 2001, artist Pace (best known for his sculpture Triumph of the Human Spirit, which commemorates an African burial site discovered in New York City's Foley Square), wrote Jalani, the story of his ancestor who was enslaved as a young boy. More than 10 years later, Rosen is now rereleasing the book, along with three new titles on the African American experience. Though fairly light on material and lacking features such as an index and table of contents, these new additions make the political personal, as Pace injects his own experiences and feelings. Dynamic, mixed-media collages add to the kid appeal. Featuring vibrant, childlike images and a rhythmic text, Jalani remains a strong choice. VERDICT Solid, age-appropriate selections for introducing a difficult subject to young readers. © Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.