Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books the story is straightforward and Ransome's paintings offer literal support for the text. This engaging picture book demonstrates how the legal right to vote was derailed for many AfricanĪmericans in the mid-twentieth century.Ransome's beautiful, lifelike watercolors show important,Īccurate period details, and the faces of onlookers telegraph the prevailing attitudes of the time. Ransome's emotive watercolors strongly convey the grandfather's dignity and Michael's quiet pride as he reaches a milestone that was kept from his forebear. The plainspoken text offers a slice-of-life example of the injustices endured by African Americans during the mid-twentieth-century.īandy and Stein succinctly explore a close family bond, set against historical injustice.

This seemingly simple read-aloud to introduce young readers to the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act achieves complexity in its images.Ī visually detailed tale of patience and delayed triumph that highlights an important aspect of history. Ransome renders the story in warm, realistic watercolors.It's a message so crucial it almost can't be delivered with too much sentiment, and the authors and illustrator of 'Granddaddy's Turn' spare none. 'synopsis' may belong to another edition of this title. But can Michael be patient when it seems that justice just can't come soon enough? This powerful and touching true-life story shares one boy's perspective of growing up in the segregated South, while beautiful illustrations depict the rural setting in tender detail. One morning, when Granddaddy heads into town in his fancy suit, Michael knows that something very special must be happening-and sure enough, everyone is lined up at the town hall! For the very first time, Granddaddy is allowed to vote, and he couldn't be more proud.

Even when there isn't a bite to catch, he reminds young Michael that it takes patience to get what's coming to you.

Life on the farm with Granddaddy is full of hard work, but despite all the chores, Granddaddy always makes time for play, especially fishing trips. Based on the true story of one family's struggle for voting rights in the civil rights-era South, this moving tale shines an emotional spotlight on a dark facet of U.S.

Granddaddy's Turn by Michael S. Bandy