Little legends Exceptional men in black history

Gr 3--7--Harrison's biographies of trailblazing men are brief enough for elementary school children but enjoyable for readers of any age. The subjects include Benjamin Banneker, the inventor of the first full-size clock; Thurgood Marshall, the first African American member of the U.S. Supreme Court; and André Leon Talley, former editor-at-large for American Vogue. Harrison's ideas are thoughtful, thorough, and accessible. She acknowledges that not every exceptional black man in history could be included and adds several mini-biographies at the back of the book with accompanying illustrations. VERDICT This striking book will resonate with readers in search of biographies of pioneering black men in history.--Sara Jurek, Children's English Library, Stuttgart, Germany

Harrison celebrated black women of note in Little Leaders (2017); here, with an assist from Johnson, she presents a companion volume of profiles from black history, this one focusing on black men.This is a book many have been waiting for, and it does not disappoint. The winning formula that endeared Little Leaders to readers is employed again here: One page of biographical text faces a full-page portrait of a young-looking figure with a serenely smiling brown face with closed eyes. The figure's clothing and the background setting design represent his field of contribution. The text begins with each leader's early life and is held together with a thread showing how the leader found an interest, learned and improved, worked hard, and made his work matter in the lives of others. Ordered chronologically, the names include well-known figures such as Frederick Douglass, Alvin Ailey, and Prince, but there are also many lesser-known names, such as historian Arturo Schomburg and astronaut Leland Melvin. Included also are international legends, such as Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembne and British Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye. Whereas hairstyling details created an illusion of visual variation in Little Leaders, here the uniformity of the portraits' faces is more pronouncedyet this allows readers to see that a black boy can play at and ultimately grow into any one of these roles. A "Draw Your Own Little Legend" spread at the end invites readers into Harrison's creative process.Inspiring and healing as it educates, this volume belongs beside its companion on every bookshelf. (further bios, further reading, sources) (Collective biography. 7-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.