School Library Journal - 01/01/2008 Gr 1-5-A rich and varied portrait of the African-American experience presented in an alphabet format. The words selected range from the generic, such as cowboys, politics, and quilts, to specific events and people, such as the March on Washington, the Great Migration, the Little Rock Nine, and Malcolm X. A rhyming couplet highlights the significance of the chosen term. For example, "Poetry, paintings, photography-the stage!/Hit songs at the top of the chart;/H is for Harlem Renaissance,/a great birth of culture and art." Lewis's powerful watercolor illustrations depict the essence of the topic. This is an inspirational look at the contributions, experiences, struggles, and triumphs of African Americans.-Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information. - Copyright 2008 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 09/01/2007 A is for abolitionists. P for politics. R for roots. X for Malcolm X. Each letter is presented on a double-page spread with a four-line poem; a long, informative historical note; and a beautiful watercolor painting that evokes the period and people. The historical sequence isn’t chronological, but each page includes plenty of discussion material. True to each time period, the stirring illustrations, many in sepia tones with occasional bright colors, are packed with emotion, from the close-up of a woman stitching a beautiful quilt at home to the overview of the famous March on Washington. The unforgettable painting of the Great Migration evokes old photos of a family leaving home, unsure but brave and looking forward. An excellent reference list includes up-to-date books and Web sites. - Copyright 2007 Booklist.