Sienna's Scrapbook: Our African American Heritage Trip Book

In scrapbook style, this work collects photographs, stories, and a young girl's love of donuts in order to present young readers (best for 3rd - 5th graders) with a new take at African American history. As a sample of Sienna's narrative: "Boy. So much of our history is all about the problems we faced, but as Dad says, we not only survived, we thrived. Amen to that! Our history is so rich. I wish everybody could take this awesome trip" (54). Some of the writing is reductive (e.g. Sienna likes the "great women of the civil rights" display at the Great Blacks in Wax museum "because I'm a girl, of course!"), but it's still an engaging read and a nice way to introduce someone to American history. I am familiar with Parker's outstanding contributions to supporting diverse children's literature and wish she could see the growing "we need diverse books" movement that is happening a decade after her death.