Our Children Can Soar: A Celebration of Rosa, Barack, and the Pioneers of Change

Many African American children might not know that president being African American is a big deal. In other words, they do not know that African Americans had to sacrifice so that he could reach this achievement. However, Our Children Can Soar provides young people with a historical overview that can be beneficial to their understanding of the historic figures that allowed Barrack Obama to become president, the book gives a brief biography of each person featured in the book, therefore, it teaches children to respect the past and honor the present.

A soldier proudly stood ready to defend his family and envisioned those unfortunates who tried to escape with their families through swamps in an effort to evade being caught by a brutal slave catcher. This young soldier paved the way for the likes of George Washington Carver so he could revitalize southern agricultural crops. In turn, George paved the way so Jesse Owens could fly like the wind and make his people proud. Next Hattie McDaniel would hold her head up high and raise an Oscar in her hand. She was a winner! Ella Fitzgerald would sing from her heart and soul and pave the way for Jackie Robinson who would effortlessly glide into home plate. Rosa Parks, one of America's most precious treasures, did nothing but sit. It was an unsurpassed act of courage, seldom seen before or after. Ruby Bridges learned to be brave from those who came before her and marched up those school steps and endured countless jeers and threats. And then came Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall and Barack Obama. And so it is now said that "Rosa sat so Martin could march. Martin marched so Barack could run. Barack ran so our children can soar!" Watch out ... here they come! I loved this story. The text uses a "minimalist" approach with few words, but joined with the art work provides a very powerful message to all people. In the back of the book there are brief portrayals of all the people in the book, short notes on the professional lives of the illustrators and a quotation as to how they feel about the person they so beautifully captured in this book. Everyone has a purpose in life and, as illustrated in this book, unknowingly can pave the path for someone else to succeed.

I bought this book for my son's fourth birthday. The illustrations are fantastic. I love the connection between history (Jesse Owens, George Washington Carver, Rosa Parks) and the future of our children. It includes a biography of each person mentioned in the book.