Charles R. Smith Jr., Author
Floyd Cooper, Illustrator
Amistad an Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, Historical Fiction, 2013
Suitable for Ages: 5- 9
Themes: Building the White House, Slave labor, Trade, Buying Freedom
Opening: “Under a hazy, hot summer sun, many hands work together as one. The president of a new country needs a new home, so many hands work together as one. Black hands, white hands, free hands, slave hands.”
Synopsis: President George Washington needs a new house. It took both skilled and unskilled free men and slaves working together to dig, break, chisel and transport stone to lay the foundation for the president’s home. Even children worked with clay, sand and water to make the bricks. Hands are an important theme in the story because machinery didn’t exist. The laborers worked 12-hour days which was hard on their hands bodies. The title of the book Brick by Brick highlights how the White House was built by hands.
Why I like this book: This book is a beautiful tribute to the laborers who worked under harsh conditions in the middle of nowhere to clear the forest in 1792 to build the president’s house. Charles R. Smith, Jr., beautifully captures the rhythm and power of the workers through rhyme. Throughout his poetic text, Smith scatters the first names of workers adding a sense of realism and dignity to the forgotten heroes in American history. You have to love the power in his rhyme:
“Slave hands saw twelve hours a day,/ but slave owners take slave hands’ pay./ Slave hands bleed under a hot, hazy sun,/ slave hands toil until each day is done”.
“Slave hand learn/new trade skills/using chisels,/saws,/hammers,/and drills.” “Skilled hands earn/one shilling per day,/reaching slave hands closer/to freedoms with pay.”
Although the conditions were horrible, many slaves were learning skills and trades brick by brick that eventually yields shillings that buy freedom for their families. And, they play and important part building the history of their country. Floyd Cooper’s illustration evoke emotions of exhaustion, anger and pride. His illustrations are in soft brown and yellow colors that show uniformity and match the mood of the era. Great teamwork between Smith and Cooper who are both former Coretta Scott King Award winners.
Resources: The author includes a page at the end of the book about why slaves were used to build the White House, which was later burned by the British on Aug. 24, 1814. Smith also includes resources for further study. A good classroom activity would be to write a story about one of the many characters in his illustrations. The facial expressions are so lively they speak to you. Visit Charles R. Smith Jr. at his website.
Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books (PPB) with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books.
I really admire Floyd Cooper’s work. I’ll have to check this one out!
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Yes, I love Floyd Cooper’s work too. The bold illustrations really tell the story.
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Beautiful! Very intriguing. History is one way to get me to read picture books, lol.
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LOL — and I’ve been publishing a lot of historical fiction lately. This is a story I didn’t know, so I had to read and review. Gorgeous artwork!
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Pat, On the eve of Washington’s birthday, this is a perfect selection. Like Cathy, I too am a huge fan of Floyd Cooper’s work. Was lucky enough to hear him speak at one of the NJSCBWI conferences.
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I reviewed this book last fall and decided to hold until President’s Day. Thought it would be a nice share and something a little bit different. You were lucky to hear Cooper speak at a NJSCBWI conference. I admire his work.
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Great review, Pat. Thanks for sharing – and timely too, given next Monday’s holiday. I read this last year, but think I’ll check it out again.
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Thanks Sue. I timed it for President’s Day as I thought it was a different twist. It’s worth reading again and again.
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You find some seriously awesome books, Pat! I am definitely going to check out this one. I love PB history books .
By the way, do you prefer Pat or Patricia? I don’t want to keep calling you the wrong name. 🙂
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Glad you enjoyed Brick by Brick. I love PB history too.
I go by both. People who know me call me Pat.
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I love that this is your President’s Day post–so important for kids to see that there are people who create the symbolic buildings around our government, and sounds like an approach that will help children get the injustice of slavery. Diamond Life, Charles R. Smith’s collection of baseball poetry, is a favorite at our house. I look forward to seeing his words in this picture book.
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Yes, I felt I was about to offer something about the history of the White House on President’s Day and the history around the slaves that built if for Black History Month. This is how so many slaves earned money to buy their freedom. Love Floyd Cooper’s illustrations.
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I don’t know why I have always been interested in WH history – but I am! Looking forward to learning more in a beautiful format!
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Me too, and I have never visited the White House. Just drove past it as a teen. You will love the illustrations, Julie.
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I’ve been once. It’s worth it, Patricia!
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An excellent piece of American history for children to learn from.
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It is an excellent piece of history. I never really thought about it, but of course it would have been slaves who built it. Beautiful illustrations!
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So important, these vignettes of history and to remember those who build our countries. I love the metaphor of hands.
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Yes, I the hands is a lovely metaphor. The text is so empowering and the illustrations are so beautiful.
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Beautiful cover on this one. I love Floyd Cooper’s work. I haven’t read this but your description reminds me of Me and Mama and Big John by Mara Rockliff where the focus is on one brick of a cathedral. Brick by Brick is a good metaphor for life. 🙂
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Wow, I haven’t heard of this. How timely for your President Holiday. Beautiful illustrations. I loved hearing about the history of other countries so this was intriguing. Thanks for sharing Pat.
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Oh my gosh! I certainly never learned about this in the history books! Now I’m intrigued. I’m learning all kinds of new things every day.
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I never learned about the slaves building the White House either in history class.
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Very important for kids to learn about this, Pat.
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Yes, especially since it wasn’t taught in school when I was a kid. Love the metaphors or the hands and the bricks. Would make a nice poem. Hint. Hint!:)
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I need to read this one. Thanks for recommending it.
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Am happy you found it interesting. I’m sure your library carries it.
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Great selection for this weekend. I’ll be tracking this one down. Thanks for the heads-up
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Glad you enjoyed my selection. I loved the metaphors of the hands and the bricks.
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Great rhyme! Highlights what I love about NF. Thanks, Patricia!
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Thanks Joanne. I really enjoyed learning about a piece of history I didn’t know about.
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This sounds like a marvelous book! 🙂 Was this the White House in Philadelphia? I saw the foundation of it – it was the first White House. I wonder if it is the White House they are talking about in the book.
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Yes, the first White House was in Philadelphia, then move to D.C. where they established that’s where the capital and center of the government would be.
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