Overview

Glenda Armand imagines Frederick Douglas as a young boy in 1820s Maryland, trying to understand why he can't live with his mother, who is a slave on another plantation. During a brief night-time visit, Mama answers Frederick's questions by describing what each mile of her journey is for - remembering, listening, praying, singling, and finally, love. Her strength to travel the distance between them is a poetic testament to the human spirit, showing Frederick that although the road through life is full of hardships, hope, joy, and dreams can grow along the way.

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9781620142547

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Reviews

Share this with young readers as a series of homilies on dreams and a family love strong enough to overcome any adversity. -- Kirkus Reviews As an ode to the love a mother has for her son, it is sweetly successful. -- School Library Journal Bootman's beautiful, double-page watercolor spreads show mother and son together in the candlelit kitchen, Bailey as a strong woman at work in the cornfields, and finally on her long, tough, moonlit journey, during which, she tells her son, each mile is special... Starting with the boy's elemental question, Mama, why can't I live with you?, the words and pictures tell the family separation story in all its heartbreak and hope. -- Booklist Inspired by the childhood of Frederick Douglass, Armand's debut reveals a poignant conversation between young Frederick and his mother, paired with Bootman's arresting and emotive paintings...Armand's narrative smoothly transitions between each of Mama's preoccupations: I pray that one day we will all be free. And all that praying makes me feel like singing. Bootman (A Storm Called Katrina) deftly uses candlelight and moonlight to give his art a lovely iridescence, and presents intimate portraits of mother and son. -- Publishers Weekly This poignant story, based on Frederick Douglass's childhood, tells how his mother, a slave, would walk twelve miles at night for a brief visit with her son. Soothing text describes how she overcomes the monotony and loneliness through songs (joyful and sad), the solace of prayer, and love. Emotional paintings capture moods, especially the joy of reunion that wipes away weariness. -- The Horn Book In a story brimming with hope and love, the real-life horrors of slavery lie elsewhere, where an older audience can grapple with them. The author's note gives additional information about Frederick Douglass, who changed his surname in order to obscure his identity from the master he escaped. Douglass wrote that his mother, Harriet Bailey, taught him a powerful lesson: that he was not only a child but somebody's child. How remarkable that she accomplished this under such constrained circumstances. But let us leave the mother with her miles to go before she sleeps. We can all use a comforting story of love, even--or especially--if it is ripped from a brutal past. -- NY Journal of Books

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Share this with young readers as a series of homilies on dreams and a family love strong enough to overcome any adversity. -- Kirkus Reviews As an ode to the love a mother has for her son, it is sweetly successful. -- School Library Journal Bootman's beautiful, double-page watercolor spreads show mother and son together in the candlelit kitchen, Bailey as a strong woman at work in the cornfields, and finally on her long, tough, moonlit journey, during which, she tells her son, each mile is special... Starting with the boy's elemental question, Mama, why can't I live with you?, the words and pictures tell the family separation story in all its heartbreak and hope. -- Booklist Inspired by the childhood of Frederick Douglass, Armand's debut reveals a poignant conversation between young Frederick and his mother, paired with Bootman's arresting and emotive paintings... Bootman (A Storm Called Katrina) deftly uses candlelight and moonlight to give his art a lovely iridescence, and presents intimate portraits of mother and son. -- Publishers Weekly This poignant story, based on Frederick Douglass's childhood, tells how his mother, a slave, would walk twelve miles at night for a brief visit with her son. Soothing text describes how she overcomes the monotony and loneliness through songs (joyful and sad), the solace of prayer, and love. Emotional paintings capture moods, especially the joy of reunion that wipes away weariness. -- The Horn Book In a story brimming with hope and love, the real-life horrors of slavery lie elsewhere, where an older audience can grapple with them. The author's note gives additional information about Frederick Douglass, who changed his surname in order to obscure his identity from the master he escaped... We can all use a comforting story of love, even--or especially--if it is ripped from a brutal past. -- NY Journal of Books

Author Information

Glenda Armand is the author of many picture and chapter books. She won Lee & Low's New Voices Award for the manuscript Love Twelve Miles Long. Glenda has had a long career as a teacher and school librarian. She loves reading about history and is passionate about sharing the stories of important but little-known historical figures. She lives in Los Angeles, California. To learn more, visit glenda-armand.com. Colin Bootman has illustrated numerous award-winning books for children, including Almost to Freedom, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Honor Book. Bootman grew up in Trinidad and the United States. Much of his artwork portrays the rich diversity of experiences among people of African descent. In addition to creating illustrations for books and periodicals, Bootman enjoys teaching students and young artists. He lives in Texas, and can be found on the Web at colinbootman.net.

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