#25 We March

Title:  We March

Author:  Shane W. Evans

Illustrator: Shane W. Evans

Publisher:   Roaring Book Press

Copyright: 2012

Pages:  31

Genre/Category:  Historical Fiction

I chose this book because of its simplicity. I mean that in a good way. Though the text was very simple and straightforward, this book had a strong impact. We March tells the story of a family in the 1960’s who participated in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. This was also where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. 

The illustrations in this book are painted. The brush strokes on each page are easily recognizable.  There are also what appears to be pencil outlines on the people and some of the important details in the story. The colors are very bright and warm, with a lot of warm and cool colors mixed. The backgrounds are relatively simple, with one color representing the sky and some squiggly trees and the Washington monument making a debut. 

I would recommend this book for all ages, though for preschool and kindergarten especially, as it is a very straightforward story. The text is very simple, with little more than 3-5 lines per page in most cases. I counted a total of 61 words in the whole book. There is an author’s note at the end that tells about the march and Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech that is somewhat lengthy.  This would be a great book to read during Black History month to introduce students to this event. It would also be a great book to include in a center or as a book that the students can read independently.