The 1619 Project: Born on the Water

(Hardback)

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Description

The 1619 Project's lyrical picture book in verse chronicles the consequences of slavery and the history of Black resistance in the United States, thoughtfully rendered by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and Newbery honor-winning author Renee Watson. A young student receives a family tree assignment in school, but she can only trace back three generations. Grandma gathers the whole family, and the student learns that 400 years ago, in 1619, their ancestors were stolen and brought to America by white slave traders. But before that, they had a home, a land, a language. She learns how the people said to be born on the water survived. And the people planted dreams and hope, willed themselves to keep living, living. And the people learned new words for love for friend for family for joy for grow for home. With powerful verse and striking illustrations byNikkolas Smith, Born on the Water provides a pathway for readers of all ages to reflect on the origins of American identity.

Reviews

An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller
An NPR Best Book of 2021
A TIME Magazine Best Children's Book of 2021
A Barnes & Noble Book of the Year finalist
A Barnes & Noble Best Picture Book of 2021
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2021
A School Library Journal Best Nonfiction Book of 2021
A New York Public Library Best Book for Kids 2021
An Evanston Public Library Great Book for Kids 2021: Poetry
A Chicago Public Library Best Informational Book for Older Readers of 2021
A News & Observer Best Book of 2021
An American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) Blog Best Book of 2021
An Amazon Best of November: Ages 6-8 of 2021
An Amazon Best childrens book of 2021: Ages 6 to 8
A 2022 ILA Notable Books for a Global Society Award Winner
A 022 Irma S. Black Award Silver Medalist
A 2022 Bank Street College The Best Childrens Books of the Year
A 2022 AAMBC Literary Award Nominee
A 2022 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award for Childrens Poetry Winner
A 2022 NCTE/CLA Notable Childrens Books in the Language Arts Award Winner
A 2022 SDUSMP Phillis Wheatley Book Award Winner
A Seattles Child Best Book of 2022
A King County Library System Best Children's Book of 2022
A 2022 Cybils Award Winner (blog)
An American Library Association 2022 Notable Children's Book
A 2021 Black Caucus of the American Library Association Best of the Best
A 2022 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book
An Indiana Read Aloud Selection
A Maine Student Book Award Selection
A Rhode Island Childrens Book Award Selection
A Capitol Choices (DC) Master List Title
A Volunteer State (TN) Book Award Selection

PRAISE FOR THE 1619 PROJECT: BORN ON THE WATER

"A gift to Black Americans and everyone else who reads it." Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Black history is not merely a story of slavery and suffering but one of perseverance and hope." Publisher's Weekly, starred review

"A stunning work, providing a glimpse into the history of the Black experience before and after the slave trade; the poetic language and breathtaking artwork will have a lasting effect on readers." School Library Journal, starred review

"Written in lovely and loving verse, with dynamic, expressive, and expansive illustrations that convey the emotional journey of a resilient people, this book provides a moving, informative answer to an essential question." Horn Book, starred review

Author Bio

Nikole Hannah-Jones is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter covering racial injustice for The New York Times Magazine and creator of the landmark 1619 Project. In 2017, she received a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, known as the Genius Grant, for her work on educational inequality. She has also won a Peabody Award, two George Polk Awards, three National Magazine Awards, and the 2018 John Chancellor distinguished journalism award from Columbia University. In 2016, Nikole co-founded the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, a training and mentorship organization geared towards increasing the numbers of investigative reporters of color.