Review: Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz: The Testimonies of Children Detained at the Southern Border of the United States

Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz: The Testimonies of Children Detained at the Southern Border of the United States by Warren Binford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Heartbreaking Book That Is A Call to Action

Heartrending. That is the word that would best describe my feelings as I read Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz: The Testimonies of Children Detained at the Southern Border of the United States compiled by Warren Binford for Project Amplify. This is a powerful account of the stories of immigrant children trapped in the horrible conditions of the “camps” at the borders and other areas of the country.

The beautiful compilation of illustrations by 17 Mexican and Mexican-American artists serves as a tapestry for conveying the hard truth of the suffering of these children. As a mother and a human being, my heart broke reading the testimony of these children. The stories are actual testimony of children who are being held by the U.S. government. The book is written in both English and Spanish.

This book is in the format of a children’s book, but don’t make any mistakes, it is for adults too. Children need to read and discuss this book so they don’t grow up and become perpetrators of this type of trauma on other human beings. Adults need to read it so they can wake up and take action. Don’t skip the portion at the end of the book titled “Give Children A Voice” which details the Flores lawsuit, as well as “Questions to Ask and Think About for younger readers and suggestions for how you and your family can help with the situation.

This book is a great candidate for a community read in addition to being read in K-12. Discussion needs to occur so that this issue doesn’t fade to the background and out of sight. Also, one of the bonuses of this book is that if you do purchase it, proceeds will go to support Project Amplify.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital review copy of this book.


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Review: The ABCs of Black History

The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The ABC’s of Black History by Rio Cortez and illustrated by Lauren Semmer is a colorful alphabet book that is packed with history from A to Z. It begins with the Black National Anthem and mentions movements like the Great Migration, Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights along with figures like Ruby Bridges, Jean -Michel Baquiat, Queen Nandi and Malcolm X. The artwork takes you on a visual journey from one letter to another. 

This amazing children's alphabet book has so many layers of goodness packed between its covers! I loved the way Black children are represented as well as the diverse set of historical figures that are mentioned that goes beyond the super famous few and challenges you to think about historical figures that don’t get mentioned as often. I got way more than what I expected in a children’s book about Black history. It starts with ABCs and Black History, but it also includes vocabulary, rhyming/poetry, and so many research and field trip opportunities. 

I will read this with my own little children and I would recommend this in the classroom. Even as an adult who thinks they know a decent amount about Black history, I learned quite a few new things. For elementary kids, you can explore the rhymes, the alphabet, the images and vocabulary along with the history. For older kids, you can push them into an inquiry stance and ask them which historical figures mentioned in the book they would like to learn more about. This is supported by the both the Explore Page in the beginning of the book and the Terms & Figures section in the back of the book that gives additional info on the history that is mentioned with each letter. Thanks to Workman Publishing Company for providing a digital arc. 

Would I Read It Again? Yes, absolutely!

Recommend: Yes! This is a perfect opportunity to use a picture book in a secondary classroom, whether English or Social Studies. 

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