On this day in 1862, the Emancipation Proclamation was first issued, paving the way for the eventual abolition of slavery in America. Topics like slavery may be difficult for some of us to discuss with our own children today, wondering how to convey such a despicable chapter of our country’s history. Gloria Whelan’s new book, The Listeners provides an amazing opening for this very conversation.
This picture book for older children left me breathless upon my first read-through. I’ve read it several times since, trying to fully take in the breadth of emotions conveyed through the words and illustrations. Told in the voice of an enslaved child who is old enough to work in the cotton fields with the adults, there is a straightforwardness to the telling of the story, describing the special role that some children played as ‘listeners.’ Small enough to eavesdrop under windowsills unnoticed, the children report what they’ve heard back to their families in the slaves’ quarters– things that are immeasurably important to their lives. When they overhear the master raging about the election of Abraham Lincoln and his call to end slavery, the children get to be the ones to make the announcement to their mammies and daddies, sharing in the hopeful elation of a new day ahead. The last page of the book, depicting a long road to walk, emanates beauty and hope for the future.
Children are given a beginning understanding of what was expected from the slaves, with an emphasis on the work and meager living conditions, but the spirit of the community rises above, depicting the tenacity people could exhibit when facing an enslaved life. The characters wear their emotions in their expressions with Mike Benny’s realistic and hauntingly beautiful illustrations, truly showing how a story can be more deeply told when the pictures match perfectly. Gloria Whelan and Mike Benny give a voice to the slave experience, and it’s the wondrous, beautiful and awe-inspiring one of a child in The Listeners.
As a special giveaway, we have 5 copies of The Listeners for our readers: two copies will be given to randomly chosen commenters, and three will be reserved for commenters who are school or public library employees (teachers, administrators, reading specialists, librarians, etc).
Please indicate in your comment if you work professionally in any of these capacities to be considered for that portion of the drawing! (US and Canada only, please). We will announce the winners on September 30.
Dawn lives for reading and her family, two frequent topics of discussion on her blog, my thoughts exactly.
Subscribe to our feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter. Enter our other giveaways.
I would love to read this and then pass along to my kids when they grow up!
My wife works as a group piano teacher for Weber State University.
Me, I work for the federal government
I do not work in those professions.
Happy Autumn!
[email protected]
This sounds like an amazing book! I’d love to win it for my kids!
I would love to read this book! I do not work in any of these fields.
Sounds like a really great book!
I’d love to win a copy! I’m a homeschool mom to my own kids, and tutor to others in our homeschool group. Thanks!
I would love to win this for my granddaughter.
i would love to win this for my daughter..
please enter me..thanks
i do not work for any of those professions..
Please enter me – thanks!
Unfortunately I don’t work in those fields but I hope to win this for my little one!
I would love to win this for my daughter and I am also a library clerk at Eastern Virginia Medical School.
This sounds really good. If I won, I’d read it and then donate it to the school library – they always need more good books.
I’d love to win a copy of this book! My parents were both social workers and very interested in all kinds of human rights. Since they have passed, it would help my grandson see their point of view better, and our family traditions.
I’d love a copy of this one.
Thanks for the opportunity to win this giveaway!
I am not any of those employees but I would love to win a copy of this book to add to my library. Thanks
This sounds like an excellant read. I would love to win thsi.
I don’t work in any of those positions but please enter me for the other 2
please enter me in the book giveaway con5459(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you for the AWESOME GIVEAWAY.. Please count me in 🙂
This sure sounds like a great book. Sign me up…. I would love to win it.
I do not work in those fields but I would be willing to donate it to a local library after I have read this great book. Never heard of this until reading your blog and now I can’t wait to check it out.
titletowntreasures(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
I’d love to win a copy of this I’m not sure where I fit in to win since we homeschool. So you decide if I fit the bill for which one. The personal copy or the educator copy.
i am not a teacher or librarian, but my mom is a teacher and i would like to win for her.
Looks like a great book
This book sounds wonderful. I don’t work in any of the stated fields.
Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
For home 🙂