One of her decisions was to make a lot of the book about Douglass’s childhood, which might be of greater interest to the target audience of grades 3-5. In fact, Douglass’s life was so remarkable I can’t imagine how the author was able to narrow it down to the confines of a picture book. Rappaport then takes us through the events of his life using lyrical free verse along with Douglass’s own words. The author begins with this quote from Douglass's autobiography: The author incorporates quotations from Frederick Douglass’s into this biography for children, which showcases how poetic and stirring Douglass could be. * 'Concisely written and yet poetic, this is a first purchase for every library.'Īfter Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery, he went on to educate himself and take a prominent role on the national stage during the time of Lincoln, the Civil War, and the struggle for black suffrage that followed. * 'Theodore Roosevelt's big ideas and big personality come together in this splendid picture-book biography.' A truly inspiring tribute to a seemingly larger-than-life U.S. * 'his lavish picture-book biography deftly captures the legendary man's bold, exuberant nature. * 'Once again Rappaport celebrates a noble, heroic life in powerful, succinct prose, with prominent, well-chosen, and judiciously placed quotes that both instruct and inspire.Celebrate women in history and in politics with this picture-book life. * 'Exceptional art, along with Rappaport's and Lincoln's words, makes this a fine celebration of a man who needs little introduction.' * New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2001 London Ladd's strong and evocative illustrations combine with the text to create a moving portrait of an extraordinary life. In this installment of the critically acclaimed Big Words series, Doreen Rappaport captures Frederick's journey from boy to man, from slavery to freedom, by weaving Frederick's powerful words with her own. It is Douglass's words, as well as his life, that still provide hope and inspiration across generations. He believed that all people-regardless of color or gender-were entitled to equal rights. When Frederick was twenty, he escaped to the North, where he spread his abolitionist beliefs through newspaper articles, autobiographies, and speeches. Frederick read newspapers left in the street, and secretly collected spellings from neighborhood children. He suffered hunger and abuse, but miraculously, he learned how to read.

He was taken from his mother as a baby, and separated from his grandparents when he was six.

Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport