Briefly Noted

“It will go down as one of the best books, one of the most important books, ever written for kids.”

“DuBois uses free verse for Abbey’s first-person narration, skillfully conveying her protagonist’s pained and halting thoughts, occasionally integrating a lone, subtly meaningful rhyme.” 

All morning Big Mama tells young Tansy, “It’s a big day!” But what’s so special about this day? Tansy soon learns the importance: the right to vote! This heartfelt story celebrates Agnes Sadler, the first Black woman to legally vote in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1919.

“Land zippily careens through topics such as growing up in the South…and the oddity of millennials’ language…, but also offers moments of seriousness in which she explores how her faith has given her perspective and encourages readers to reassess their priorities, change, and grow.”

“A nuanced, smart collection that argues that politicians will ignore rural America only at their peril.”

“This charming early reader, written by Morgan Simmons and illustrated by Don Wood, also includes a glossary of facts about aquatic life in the Smokies.”