February is designated as African-American history month and the year 2000 seems a year of reflection and celebration. Collision of these two calendar events have me remembering how, in my childhood, I was exposed to only a narrow band of the past and I celebrate the many new books that allow children to learn a richer, more diverse history. African-American history themes inspire four new non-fiction biographies and three fictional picture books whose characters animate bygone eras . The heroine of Alice McGill's picture book, Molly Bannaky (Houghton Mifflin, $16.00; ages 6-10), is neither black, nor American. She was a 17th century woman who defied class, racial, and gender prejudice and was also the grandmother of celebrated African-American scientist and mathematician, Benjamin Banneker. As a young woman, Molly Bannaky committed a minor misdeed and only escaped an English death sentence by becoming an indentured servant in America. After release, she bought a farm and an African slave, who later became her husband. The introduction of Benjamin Banneker comes at the very end of the story and is a lovely surprise for those who know his fame. The illustrations by Chris Soentpiet are realistic and his obvious research and predominately monochromatic watercolors represent the period well.
For those who don't know of Bannaker, I recommend preceding a reading of Molly Bannaky with the recently paperback, Dear Benjamin Banneker (HBJ, $16.00; ages 6-10 ) by Andrea and Brian Pinkney. Scratchboard illustrations and writings filled with quotations give a sense of this man of mixed race who corresponded with Jefferson about social injustice, unraveled mysteries of the skies and seasons and published almanacs to share his knowledge with others. James E. Ransome has been a constant contributing children's book illustrator. Now he joins forces with his wife, Lesa Cline-Ransome, on her first book, Satchel Paige (Simon and Schuster, $16.00; ages 6- 10) . Ransome's bold illustrations compliment his wife's dramatic storytelling voice which ebbs and flows with rhythms and expressions that make the great Paige more mythic and the pacing speed like Satch' s fast ball. Lesa places Paige's playful quotes in a simile-studded, vivid-verb fortified narrative. These conjure up images of Satch's gift, his love of the game, the hard choices poverty presents, and one man's ability to make his own rules in a world limited by prejudice.
Ruby Bridges tells her own story in Through My Eyes (Scholastic, $16.95; ages 9 and up) . Bridges remembers 1960, the year when, at the age of six, she walked through a raging crowd of segregationists to integrate a New Orleans' school. Her writing is succinct and with her childhood perspective preserved, Bridges recounts of the isolation that came from being the only child in class, the caring of her teacher, her confusion at the angry crowds, the national publicity, portrayals by John Steinbeck and Norman Rockwell, and the courageous people who came forward to support her and change the course of history. Though Bridge's story takes center stage, the book is filled with powerful monochromatic photographs and the anecdotes of others who were part of her experience. Strong words by Walter Dean Myers and bold illustrations by Leonard Jenkins combine for a memorable biography in Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly (HarperCollins, $15.95; ages 6-10) The book takes us from Malcolm's tragic younger childhood, through transformations that first turn this bright child into a prison convict, later into an avid learner, and finally, the Muslim leader who altered black history forever. Myers does a great job of blending the biography of one man with how he was impacted and then impacted his world. Malcolm's quotes are peppered through the telling and Myers' fiery writing renders the passion with which this man flamed the feelings of those whose lives he touched. Three new fiction books give a sense of different periods of history. Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard's Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys (Simon and Schuster, $16.00; ages 7-10) is based on remembrances of the author's great uncles, specifically their descriptions of the Reconstruction period when slaves were "learning to be free." Virgie is a feisty young girl with a hunger for knowledge and a willingness to walk seven miles with her five brothers to attend the Quaker school where they remain all week. Virgie won't be dissuaded by her parents' worries about the distance and her age, nor one brother's gender bias, nor another's threat that "Raw Head and Bloody Bones might grab you in those woods on the way." Finally, persistent Virgie arrives at the school, stares in wonderment at desks and books, and imagines sharing all with Mama and Papa so it "might seem like they've been to school too". Depiction of the period and the story's emotions are furthered by EB Lewis' expressive watercolors. Casey Jones is the focus of many tales and songs, but his lesser-known African-American fireman is the viewpoint character in Nancy Farmer's fictional flight of fancy, Casey Jones's Fireman: The Story of Sim Webb (Phyllis Fogelman, $15.99; ages 7 -10) . Casey Jones, "the best engineer in the country" prides himself on his speed, but Sim, a man of strong intuitions, is suspicious when a mysterious red-haired stranger offers Casey a whistle more powerful than any known. He worries when Casey, bent on building up the speed needed to blow the whistle, urges Sim to "lay on more coal" Sim, who warns against the dangers of this recklessness, sees a train rushing at them, and manages to throw himself from the doomed train as Casey dies in a wreck that avoids collision and spares the lives of all aboard. The story's imagery and details revive 19th century railroad life and the afterwards points up the amazing feats of a black man who makes his mark in history despite difficulties of advancement.
Robert San Souci's The Secret of the Stones (Phyllis Fogelman, $16.99; ages 7-10) is a retelling drawn from primarily from Arkansas folk tales, but has older sources in an African Bantu legend. Childless John and Clara are hard-working cotton farmers who find two white stones that seem to perform household tasks while they sleep. The mystery is solved by Aunt Easter who can see "hants", knows cures, and helps them outwit the conjure-man who has transformed two orphaned children into stone. Threaded with dialect, the story is also made richer by its poetic verses, African-American traditions, and the vivid illustrations by James Ransome.
Last month, children's book fans had a red letter day when the Newbery was announced. The award-winner, Christopher Paul Curtis' Bud, Not Buddy (Delacorte, $15.95; ages 10 and up) , is a book that follows a young African-American boy as he struggles to find the home during the Depression era. Curtis takes on a difficult time and seemingly sad plot, but Bud, the hero, has humor and originality that will open new doors of understanding about this era.