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Winner of the 1997 Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration
An ALA Notable Book
An American Bookseller "Pick of the Lists"
A Time Magazine Best Children's Book of the Year
Winner of the Christopher Award
An IRA/CBC Children's Choice
Schroeder, Alan. 1996. MINTY, A STORY OF YOUNG HARRIET TUBMAN. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780803718890.
This is a must for any library! I have heard about Harriet Tubman and facts about her all of my life, but this picture book is a beautifully told story of what her childhood was probably like. This story tells of the short time that she worked as a house slave, and then ended up working in the fields. It tells of her frustration and anger at having to be a slave: having nothing of your own, and having no say in where you work, what you do, or even if or when you will be sold away from your family.
Her father is portrayed as a very loving and caring person, trying to teach Minty, the name she was called as a child, all of the lessons that she would need to survive in the wilderness, if she should try and run away some day. Minty was taught to love the Lord through Bible stories and songs. She kept her faith close to her, as she later led others, using the North Star as a guide, to their freedom. She is a true beloved American hero and this book is a wonderful tribute to her.
Jerry Pinkney truly out did himself with the stunning and beautiful watercolor pictures in this book. There is so much detail, and the depictions are lifelike. You can almost feel the movement in the pictures as Minty is taught to swim by her father, or as she contemplates jumping on a horse, and running away to freedom. The way he draws the people makes them feel real: their faces, their clothing, and their living quarters, all appear to be accurate respresentations of African American slaves.
Alan Schroeder has placed cultural markers throughout the book to give it a realistic feel to this time in history. The African American slave language patterns are illustrated in their conversations between each other. Minty says to her mother, "I'm gonna run away, I am." Her mother replies, "Oh, no you're not. That's what you always say, and it ain't never gonna happen. You know what my daddy done tol' me? 'If your head is in the lion's mouth, it's best to pat him a little.' Your head's in his mouth, Minty, but you sure ain't doing' any pattin. You're just fixin' to get your head bit off. Pat the Lion, Minty, It ain't gonna kill you."
There are other cultural markers used throughout the story to establish the credibility and reliability of the story. One is the use of names. Minty's parents are called Old Ben and Old Rit. Also, the clothing that is shown and described in the story is accurate. The women wore bandannas while working in the fields. "Tell your mama to make you a bandanna, or girl, you gonna fry your brains out." Bandannas were worn in the fields to keep the sweat from dripping down into their eyes.
This is a book to be read aloud to children in a library or classroom setting. It begs for further discussion and more information. Kids will love the introduction to Harriet Tubman and want to know more. This book could be used as an introduction to a social studies unit on pre-civil war life in America, or a unit about famous women heroines. It could be paired with poetry or other pictures books, or even novels, about this great woman. Children could be encouraged to do their own research and to prepare a presentation on this topic. This should stimulate some wonderful teaching and learning moments.
From Publishers Weekly
This fictionalized account of Tubman's childhood on a Maryland plantation provides a cruel snapshot of life as a slave and the horrid circumstances that fueled the future Underground Railroad leader's passion and determination. At eight years old, Minty (so-called as a nickname for Araminta) boils with rebellion against her brutal owners and bucks their authority whenever possible. Deeming her too clumsy for housework, Mrs. Brodas banishes Minty to harder work in the fields. Toiling in the hot sun only intensifies Minty's desire to run away to freedom, and soon her father teaches her how to survive in the wild, so that she'll be prepared to make her break one day. Schroeder's (Ragtime Tumpie; Carolina Shout!) choice of lively vignettes rather than a more traditional biography is a wise one. With color and feeling he humanizes a historic figure, coaxing readers to imagine or research the rest of the story. Pinkney's (John Henry) full-bodied watercolors evoke a strong sense of time and place. Laudably, Pinkney's scenes consistently depict young Minty's point of view, giving the harshness of her reality more resonance for readers. A formal author's note follows the text and both Schroeder and Pinkney have included personal messages about the history of the book project. A firm stepping stone toward discussions of slavery and U.S. history. Ages 5-9. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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