A Sweet Smell of Roses
By Angela Johnson; Eric Velasquez (Illustrator)
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Paperback, 9781416953616, 32pp.)
Publication Date: December 26, 2007
Other Editions of This Title: Hardcover
Categories: Historical - United States - 20th Century, People & Places - United States - African-American
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There's a sweet, sweet smell in the air as two young girls sneak out of their house, down the street, and across town to where men and women are gathered, ready to march for freedom and justice. Inspired by countless children and young adults who took a stand, two Coretta Scott King honorees offer a heart-lifting glimpse of children's roles in the civil rights movement.
Eric Velasquez was awarded the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent for his first picture book, The Piano Man by Debbi Chocolate. Since that time he has gone on to illustrate several acclaimed picture books, including Carole Boston Weatherford's The Sound That Jazz Makes, Jim Haskins's Champion: The Story of Muhammad Ali, and Candice F. Ransom's Liberty Street. The stirring black-and-white images in this book were inspired by the work of noted Civil Rights movement chroniclers Harvey Dinnerstein and Burt Silverman. Eric lives in Hartsdale, New York, with his wife, Deborah.
"The pervasive smell of roses is an effective metaphor for the scent of freedom in the air, and Johnson's poetic text is powerful."
-- Horn Book
"This book is not only about segregation; it's also about the crowds of people 'walking our way toward freedom,' the thrilling portrait of Dr. King, and the two brave kids who cross the line." -- Booklist
"Powerful and moving."
-- Kirkus Reviews
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