#29 She Sang Promise

Title:  She Sang Promise

Author:  Jan Godown Annino

Illustrator: Lisa Desimini

Publisher:  National Geographic

Copyright: 2010

Pages:  41

Genre/Category: Multicultural

I chose this book because the illustrations looked interesting and it was based on the story of Betty Mae Jumper, a Seminole Tribal Leader. She Sang Promise is a story about Betty Mae Jumper, from when she was born in Florida as a member of the Seminole Tribe. She had many roles in her village as she grew up. From storyteller to alligator-wrestler to nurse.  Later, she became one of the first women elected tribal leaders in modern times.

The illustrations in this book were painted. The illustrations take up about ¾’s  of a two page spread, with the text sequestered to one side. The pictures in this book are deep and rich, with deep golds, greens, and browns. The illustrations are very detailed, from the characters’ expressions to the background details. 

I would recommend this book for second or third graders and up. This is a fairly long book and I think younger students would become bored with it. It is however, a very interesting read and is a good retelling of Betty Mae’s life. This would be a good introduction to modern Native Americans and would be a good book to read aloud to a class. I think this book would be great to do a timeline and have the students pick out key details from the story to create their timeline.