{"title":"Illustrated by James E. Ransome","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9780689871672","title":"Freedom Bird","description":"\u003cb\u003e“Powerful storytelling and immersive art.” —\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e“Vibrant writing and magical realism lift this story to one of triumph.” —\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e“Nolen's lively prose style recalls the richness of the oral tradition in this tale of triumphant courage and abiding hope.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Horn Book\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “\u003cb\u003eA moving choice for children’s collections.” —\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eA Parents’ Choice Silver Award Recipient\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eIn this inspiring story in the tradition of American black folktales, an enslaved brother and sister are inspired by a majestic and mysterious bird to escape to freedom in this dramatic and unforgettable picture book.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThere was nothing civil about \u003c\/i\u003ethat war\u003ci\u003e. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eThey should have called it what it was: a big, bad war.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eBrother and sister Millicent and John are slaves on Simon Plenty’s plantation and have suffered one hurt and heartbreak after another. Their parents had told them old tales of how their ancestors had flown away to freedom just as free and easy as a bird. Millicent and John hold these stories in their hearts long after their parents are gone. “Maybe such a time will come for you,” their parents said. Then one day a mysterious bird appears in their lives. The bird transforms them and gives them the courage to set their plan into motion and escape to freedom.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56292879008117,"sku":"9780689871672","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780689871672_21359e3a-fc85-4606-8308-ec90c10fbca7.jpg?v=1786014533"},{"product_id":"9780823459094","title":"The Story of the Saxophone","description":"\u003cb\u003eBrassy, smokey, melodious. There's nothing like the saxophone. This incredible work from the award-winners behind \u003ci\u003eBefore She was Harriet\u003c\/i\u003e includes a poster of jazz music's greatest talents.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYou may think that the story of the saxophone begins with Dexter Gordon or Charlie Parker, or on a street corner in New Orleans. It \u003ci\u003ereally\u003c\/i\u003e began in 1840 in Belgium with a young daydreamer named Joseph-Antoine Adolphe Sax—a boy with bad luck but great ideas.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCoretta Scott King Honoree Lesa Cline-Ransome unravels the fascinating history of how Adolphe's once reviled instrument was transported across Europe and Mexico to New Orleans. Follow the saxophone's journey from Adolphe's imagination to the pawn shop window where it caught the eye of musician Sidney Bechet and became the iconic symbol of jazz music it is today. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDeflty retold, this history is paired with the gorgeous artwork of James E. Ransome, including an attention-grabbing poster of iconic jazz musicians you can find inside the jacket.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56368220930421,"sku":"9780823459094","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780823459094_cd6f0429-e730-4b4a-b8f1-9385406e5d25.jpg?v=1786016096"},{"product_id":"freedom-to-read","title":"Freedom to Read","description":"Three starred reviews! “A thoughtful double portrait that reaches forward and back.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) From Newbery Honor author Lesa Cline-Ransome and ALA Children’s Literature Legacy Award recipient James Ransome, this “important picture book biography” (School Library Journal, starred review) tells the story of Mary Peake, a courageous teacher who started a secret school for Black children.   So many found sanctuary in Mary’s secret schoolhouse. They found freedom in letters. In Mary’s teaching, they found a refuge.  Mary Peake was born free in 1823 in Norfolk, Virginia, and from a young age she hungered for learning. Mary attended a colored school in her youth, but when Virginia lawmakers outlawed education for colored students, both enslaved and free, the schools had to close their doors. Mary wanted nothing more than to share the gift of education, so she opened up her home as a secret school, risking punishment in order to teach.    When the Civil War broke out, Mary and her community found refuge in a Union camp, and Mary set up a new schoolhouse under the branches of a proud oak tree. Shoulder to shoulder, students of all ages gathered to hear Mary teach.    Mary’s crusade for education became a model for one of the first historically black colleges, Hampton University. Her story is a celebration of one woman’s sacrifices for the freedom to read.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57504922993013,"sku":"9781534463509","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781534463509.jpg?v=1786953841"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/illustrator-james-e-ransome.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}