The Great Migration: An American Story – An ALA Notable Picture Book About Courage and Family for Children (Ages 4-8)

I believe that this book and its contents are key to helping students understand how the African-Americans have an amazing migration story beyond slavery. As a teacher, I have my students read about the migrations from Europe and China to the United States. We read about Ellis Island and Angel Island. We googled all the racists and exclusionary writings and photographs we can find about those who came. It was very powerful to see things like a "No Irish Need Apply" sign or the racist political cartoons of the time depicting Chinese or German or Polish people in a derogatory light. Then we read Jacob Lawrence's book, The Great Migration. We made charts and graphs that showed how and why each ethnic/racial group left home. We talk about what they faced in the "promised land." We also discussed the migrants coming to America today. Suddenly, the students were discussing both the modern and the historical issues on a different level. Most importantly, I saw my Black students find a piece of history that they could touch. Many still had family living in the South. As they looked at Mr. Lawrence's Art and the pictures and gathered information online, they found themselves. Their story was unique, but yet, finally they had a story that matched other people's migration stories. The reason Jacob Lawrence wrote the book was because he lived it and wanted people to always remember this amazing event. The art in this book is wonderful. It is possible to learn about Jacob Lawrence and his Migration Series through the internet or visit his work at The Phillips in Washington DC. This should be a standard document in every classroom that studies migration.

Before I read the book, I knew nothing about Jacob Lawrence and just bits about the Great Migration. Lawrence is considered one of the greatest African American artists of the 20th century. In this book, his 60 paintings tell the painful challenges of the migration and the courage of those who sought a better life. Should be included in every social justice collection.

I found this small volume while searching for a possible affordable print of one of Jacob Lawrence's Migration paintings. I got more -- the whole of his Migration series with notes from him, in a very affordable format. Learn from it: the early 20th Century diaspora of African Americans in America, the strength of people seeking a better life that is playing out even now in many parts of the world, importance of artists (in this case, one artist) as social critics and historians,. CR

This is a terrific introduction, for kids, to the phenomenon of the Great Migration of 1940s - 1970s of blacks moving to the North to escape the racism of the South. The story is told in beautiful paintings, small on wood boards, by Jacob Lawrence, son of a couple who were part of this movement and who settled in Harlem. Reading Lawrence's words and studying his paintings is a vivid way for kids to learn about this important piece of American history that is far from over today. I recommend highly.

culture culture culture we need to know and learn these stories.

The art is very good and the simply written stories convey feelings and emotions of the era well. Good book for any home or classroom as it explains an era in American history so easily overlooked.

The art is directly from the artist and tells an important part of American history in a child-appropriate way. My son is in kindergarten and enjoys this story, and the art is great.

This is a gift for my grandson. I hope he likes it.

Magnifique livre de Jacob Lawrence qui retrace avec des dessins très contemporains, très poignants, très beaux, l'histoire de la Migration des noirs du sud des Etats Unis. Ce livre est un grand livre d'ART.

Les très belles reproductions sur papier glacé de ce livret donnent envie d'en savoir plus sur ce peintre méconnu en France.