About two years ago, I was preparing to give a speech at a teacher conference. Distracted in my preparations, I wasn’t fully aware of the person introducing me. As it turned out, that person was Mrs. Christine King Farris, sister of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She sat through my presentation and afterward asked if I would be interested in working with her on a project-a book about her childhood with her brother. Of course, I was incredibly flattered. As a youngster, I had idolized this remarkable human being. She went on to say that I and the things I said during my presentation reminded her of her brother. I felt truly honored.

Christine and I kept in contact and soon Mrs. Farris’s editor at Simon and Schuster contacted me. Within a matter of weeks the book was underway. My first course of action, a trip to the King Center in Atlanta where Mrs. Farris, our editor, and I walked through the places of Dr. King’s childhood-his home, his church, the neighborhood firehouse where he and his friends spent much of their time-all while discussing what we thought this book should be. I snapped photographs and listened while Mrs. Farris regaled us with recollections of a childhood spent with a little boy who would grow up to change the world. I was moved beyond words and left Atlanta with the feeling of being a part of something historic.

I returned to Atlanta for a second time with my camera, lighting equipment, backdrop, and clothes for the models to wear. Because I paint realistically I need to use live models to ensure the main characters look the same from one angle to another. Christine greeted me at Ebenezer Baptist Church with southern graciousness and charm. She personally chose each model to represent the character in her story.

The boys who portrayed Martin Jr. and AD are Christine’s grandnephew. Christine’s daughter portrayed “Mother Dear”. The current pastor at Ebenezer Baptist portrayed “Daddy” King. Even Christine’s young granddaughter was an eager model. The rest of the cast were personal and close friends of the King family. The models shared with me interesting stories of their time with Dr. King, which helped me visualize the illustration process. All the models agreed their participation was a special tribute to Dr. King’s legacy.

Christine’s presence added another element of authenticity to my photo shoot. For example, did you know Aunt Ida did not go to church-so I made sure I did not paint her in a church scene.

As part of my painting process, I also sketched the original King’s childhood home on 510 Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, which is now preserved by The King Center.

The spirit and generosity from Mrs. Farris, the staff at both the Ebenezer Baptist Church and the National Historic Site, and the King family helped to make my work on MY BROTHER MARTIN as genuine and authentic as I think possible. It is my sincere hope that the part I played in the creation of this book helps Dr. King’s vision of justice and harmony live on. – Chris Soentpiet

Learn how you can preserve Dr. King’s legacy by visiting The King Center.

BOOK REVIEWS:

“A delightful biography for children.”
– ESSENCE

“…glimpses of the home that nurtured King’s dream.”
– PARENTING

“Anyone-especially kids-can relate to the warm family scenes depicted in the book.”
– TEACHING K-8

“This stunningly beautiful picture book for children of all ages features sunny watercolors that capture the King family at home with warmth and love. A few black and white watercolor paintings that focus on King’s adult life bring up the end, along with Mildred D. Johnson’s poem “You Can Be Like Martin” and an author’s afterward. Few books are a “must read. This is one.”
– Deborah Abbott (Chicago Sun-Times. Jan 2003)

“Farris’s stirring memoir of her younger brother “M.L.” focuses on a pivotal moment in their childhood in Atlanta. The conversational narrative easily and convincingly draws readers into the daily life of Christine and her two brothers, M.L. and A.D., as they listen to their grandmother’s stories, stage pranks and romp in the backyard with two white brothers from across the street. The adults in the King family-Daddy, a minister; Mother Dear, a musician; maternal grandparents (the grandfather is also a minister) and a great-aunt-try to shield the children from the overt racism of the times; the family rarely took streetcars, for example, because of “those laws [segregation], and the indignity that went with them.” When the white boys announce one day that they cannot play with M.L. and A.D. because they are “Negroes,” the young Kings are hurt and baffled. Mother Dear explains, “[Whites] just don’t understand that everyone is the same, but someday, it will be better.” M.L. replies, “Mother Dear, one day I’m going to turn this world upside down.” Soentpiet (Dear Santa, Please Come to the 19th Floor) illustrates this exchange with a powerful watercolor portrait of mother and son that encapsulates many emotions, including hope, pain and love.”
– Publishers Weekly 2003

“In the straightforward style of a master storyteller, Farris recalls the birth of her two younger brothers and relates anecdotes that demonstrate both the mischievous exploits of the siblings and the love and understanding that permeated the close-knit multigenerational family in which they grew up. Using plain language, she describes conditions in the South during her childhood that separated blacks and whites- “Because they just don’t understand that everyone is the same, but someday, it will be better.” From their father’s church sermons and his actions when confronting the hatred and bigotry, the children learned the importance of standing up for justice and equality. The warmth of the text is exquisitely echoed in Soentpiet’s realistic, light-filled watercolor portraits set in the King home, in their Atlanta neighborhood, and at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The simple directness of this short biography will help young children understand the concept of segregation and the importance of Dr. King’s message. An appended poem by Mildred D. Johnson reflects Farris’s own message: ” – it is important for young people to realize the potential that lies within each of them –.” This outstanding book belongs in every collection.”
– SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH)

“In the years since his death, too many biographers of Martin Luther King Jr. have made him so much larger than life that to the current generation of children he has become more of an idealized heroic icon than a real person. By sharing her memories of their childhood, Farris has opened a window to show Martin as a small boy in a loving extended family, a sometime prankster, protected for a while from the harsh reality of racism. When that reality became impossible to ignore, he and his brother and sister have the example of the strong faith, the encouragement, and the strength of their parents to guide them. Young Martin promises his mother that he will be an agent for change, that he will one day “turn this world upside down.” Farris tells the story simply and gently, remembering Martin as her little brother and as the man who indeed turned the world upside down. Soenpiet’s (Dear Santa, Please Come to the 19th Floor, p. 1628, etc.) watercolors are both meticulous in their detail and beautifully expressive of the family’s emotions. Farris’s afterword, graced by childhood photos of Martin, further explains her need to share these memories. A poem by Mildred D Johnson, written in 1968, is included as a reminder that all children have the potential for greatness. A very welcome addition to the King story.”
– KIRKUS REVIEW

“In this picture-book biography, Martin Lunter King’s older sister adds a personal stamp to King’s childhood experiences that other books have lacked. When Martin asks his mother why the white boys across the street have been forbidden to play with the King children, she explains about prejudice, prompting Martin to say, “Mother Dear, one day I’m going to turn the world upside down.” The richly detailed illustrations capture the times and are striking portrayals of the individuals, with Soentpiet including a note describing his use of King family members and friends as models. The respectful tone of the text is augmented by the large, handsome design, with metallic-blue endpapers and halftone photographs used to accentuate front and back matter. A one-page poem by Mildred D. Johnson, “You Can Be Like Martin: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” follows the short text, and an afterword adds context and personalizes the book. A testament to one person making a difference, the book is intended to be inspirational–and, in both art and text, it is.”
– BOOKLIST (Julie Cummins)

“Most people remember the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as the man who had a dream to change the world of its prejudice views. But what was he like before he became that famous man? Join his sister Christine along with their brother A.D. and find out what life was like growing up in the King household. Would you like to know what Martin’s nickname was? Did you know that he liked to play pranks? Find out about one that he played on his piano teacher. Learn how it was to grow up in a community where Martin could go anywhere and play with the neighborhood children. But one day he learned that he was not allowed to go certain places because of his skin color. Feel the hurt of the King family as they had to deal with the people who ignorantly treated them differently. However, there was hope, because as a child, Martin was determined to “turn the world upside down.” This book gives personal insight into the childhood of a great man as told by his sister. The illustrations are beautifully and realistically drawn. Teachers will enjoy using this book anytime of the year in their classroom.”
– CHILDREN’S LITERATURE (Simon and Schuster, White)

AWARDS

Parents Magazine Best Children’s Book of the Year 1998

National Parenting Publication Award Honor Book, Selectors’ Choice

NCSS-CBC Notable Trade Book in Field of Social Studies 1998

IRA Notable Book for a Global Society 1998

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Did you know the first African-American mathematician Benjamin Banneker’s grandmother was an indentured servant?

Researching this story was difficult because there weren’t many books with illustrative histories of 17th century America. I wanted my paintings to reflect that time in history. In one scene, I painted a black and white, Holstein cow. After I finished the artwork and “Molly Bannaky” was published a year later, a book reviewer approached my publisher at a reading convention and commented that the cow could not have existed during the 17th century in America (although it did exist in England). Naturally, my publisher was concerned.

 
The publisher asked me for the resource of that Holstein cow. Because I was already working on another project, I honestly could not remember the name of the book that documented the Holstein cow’s existence in America at that time. I wasn’t able to sleep for many nights. I was nervous that I may have messed up by painting a Holstein cow in the wrong era. I also worried that the wrong cow would ruin the book for the author and my publisher. After three weeks, I found the Holstein Cow Association. What a relief! They acknowledged that Holstein cows existed in America during the 17th century! They sent me a letter as proof and I showed it to my publisher. Sure enough, the book went on to win many awards including the Jane Addams Award and the International Reading Association Book of the Year. – Chris Soentpiet

BOOK REVIEWS:

“The oversized format and stunning watercolor paintings turn this fictionalized biography of the grandmother of Benjamin Banneker into an exciting visual experience. In clear, straightforward prose, McGill tells the story of an English dairymaid sent to the gallows for accidentally spilling “his lordship’s milk,” but saved because she could read from the Bible. She is exiled to America where she serves seven years as an indentured servant in Maryland. When finally granted her freedom, Molly Walsh stakes her claim and starts a farm attempting to grow tobacco, but soon realizes that she needs help. Colonial She purchases an African slave, Bannaky, vowing to treat him well and to set him free once her land is cleared. The two grow to love one another and break Colonial law by marrying. The story then jumps to the next generation and ends with Molly teaching her grandson Benjamin to read and telling him of his proud heritage. A historical note fills in some additional details. The large, double-page spreads throughout, in which Soentpiet brilliantly uses pace, tone, texture, and color, particularly in lighting up portions of each painting, bring depth and drama to the next. The lush green of tobacco leaves: the dark blue of ship, water, and sky: and the pervasive glow of candles, fires, and sunsets augment subtle symbols in composition and vivid characterization communicated through body language and facial expression. A good story in a fabulous artistic package.” – School Library Journal, Starred Review, October 1999

“Her grandson was Benjamin Banneker, the famous self-taught African American astronomer and mathematician; but Molly Bannaky’s own life story is just as astonishing. This handsome, large-sized picture book shows her as a woman who was strong enough not only to survive harsh times but also to break new ground. The historical fiction story starts in seventeenth-century Britain, where she is a dairymaid who is saved from the gallows because she can read the Bible. After being extradited to America, she is freed after seven years as an indentured servant. She stakes her claim in the wilderness and buys a slave, Bannaky, to help her. They fall in love, marry (even though it is forbidden by colonial law), build a successful farm, and bear four daughters, one of who marries an ex-slave and has a son, Benjamin. In the final double-page spread, Molly Bannaky is teaching her grandson to read and write. An afterward fills in the history, but the book’s focus is on the big, richly detailed watercolor narrative paintings that combine historical pageantry with close-up portraits of a towering woman and her family.” – BookList, September 1999

AWARDS

Jane Addams Book Award 2000 – an award promoting peace, social justice and the world community

International Reading Association (IRA)- Children’s Book Award 2000

International Reading Association (IRA)- Teachers’ Choice Award 2000

Skipping Stones Honor Award – a magazine promoting multicultural, international, and social awareness, as well as ecological sensitivity in children’s literature.

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While illustrating for “The Last Dragon” book,  I had the wonderful opportunity to work with editor, Dorothy Briley at Clarion Books. At the time, the Chinese New Year celebration had passed just as I was about to start my illustration process. So I missed the opportunity to take pictures of the event in San Francisco. However, I was able to recreate the festivities with help from the Chung Wah Senior Citizen center in New York’s Chinatown. While taking pictures at the center, I had no shortage of volunteer models. They shared with me how they celebrate the Chinese New Year, many Chinese customs and what the dragon means to the Chinese community. An interesting fact is  that although Susan Miho Nunes wrote this story based on San Francisco’s Chinatown, I illustrated the story to reflect New York City’s Chinatown. – Chris Soentpiet

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Susan Miho Nunes is very interested in the mix of cultures that make up American life. Nunes, a native of Hawaii and now a resident of California, has Japanese and Portuguese ancestry. Her son and nephews share this background, as well as different combinations of Jewish, Persian, African American, and American Indian ancestry.

Her interest in blended cultures is reflected in Nunes’s book The Last Dragon. She explains, “My mother used to say that the problem with children is that in time they wipe out yourhistory. Indeed, here in America that history is sometimes lost in the great brew. On one level, then, The Last Dragon is about a child who discovers something unique about himself and his culture. But I hope this ‘message’ doesn’t drown out other points. There is something about this dragon.” – Chris Soentpiet

BOOK REVIEWS:

“When Peter Chang’s parents send him to Chinatown for the summer to stay with his great aunt, he feels alienated and homesick-until he discovers a worn-out dragon, large enough for 10 men to carry, crammed in a shop window. His aunt reluctantly agrees to let him take it home, and he embarks on a summer long quest to restore the wrecked bundle of silk and wood to its former glory. He involves many others in the project: the tailor, Great Aunt’s mahjongg friends, the kite-maker, the herbalist, an artist, and, at last, the Buddhist priest, all of whom are touched by Peter’s determination. Watercolor paintings, reminiscent of Ted Lewin’s work, lovingly depict in glorious and enticing detail a close-knit Cantonese community in an unnamed big-city Chinatown…The well-written text, as substantial as the artwork in specific and authentic details, draws readers into Peter’s new world. A welcome story about contemporary Chinese life.” – School Library Journal

“Nunes text builds to a satisfying conclusion. The expansive watercolor illustrations are warm, colorful, and full of details unique to Chinatown.” – BookList

AWARDS

American Bookseller Pick of the List 1995

New York Public Library Top 100 Titles

Notable Children’s Trade Books in the field of Social Studies 1995

Smithsonian’s Notable Book 1995

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This story is set in the author’s hometown, Heflin, Alabama. I traveled there to get a feel of the place, take pictures, sketch and look for models to portray the main characters in the book. With the help of the town’s local elementary school, I met Luke. I asked him if he wanted to be in my book. The eight-year-old Luke grinned an aw-shucks grin and deflected his sweet smile.

Next, I needed a model for the grandmother. I was thrilled that the author’s own mom volunteered for the role – making this book an even better tribute to his remarkable “Mammaw”.

I read books and studied pictures from the 1960s to make sure the bike, clothes, tools in the kitchen, gas pump, and even the lawn mower in the paintings represented that time. – Chris Soentpiet

BOOK REVIEWS:

“Readers will have a hard time resisting this cover: a grinning boy of nine or ten is lord of the pile of treats in front of him: teacakes he bakes with his grandmother as the culmination of their Saturday visits. Also on the weekly agenda: mowing Mammaw’s lawn and enjoying sandwiches crafted with her just-picked tomatoes. Set in 1964 in Heflin, Alabama, there’s little tension in this vignette–riding his bike there safely through the rural countryside is the hardest part of the boy’s day. The impeccably rendered paintings illustrate with astonishing accuracy the slightly long text and capture the details of the time: gasoline pumps and automobiles in the service station, the boy’s bicycle, and kitchen furnishings that suggest an even earlier time. The author crafted this as a tribute to a childhood tradition with his grandmother, to whom the book is dedicated; while not all of us had his childhood, filled with sunshine and smiles, this nostalgic look back offers up the childhood many of us wish we’d had.” – Kirkus Reviews, February 2004

“Every Saturday morning, the young narrator pedals his bike through town, passing familiar landmarks like the bank and the gas station, until he reaches his grandmother’s house. The two share a special day talking, doing chores, and finally baking and feasting on Mammaw’s special teacakes. Drawing on his childhood in Heflin, AL, the author splendidly re-creates those nostalgic scenes, carefully bringing the memories to life by describing the sunny kitchen, the crunch of gravel under bicycle wheels, and the sweet aroma of the cakes. The brilliant watercolor paintings glow with light and idyllically capture the world of yesterday. Older readers may enjoy sharing this book with their grandparents, and teachers might incorporate it into lessons about writing descriptive memoirs.” – School Library Journal, April 2004

“In this heartwarming nostalgic book, the narrator recalls spending his childhood Saturdays with his grandmother. Every part of the day — riding his bicycle to her house, mowing her lawn, baking and eating sugary teacakes together — is expressed in elegant, evocative prose and resplendent watercolor illustrations.” – Child Magazine, February 2005

“Every Saturday morning, the young narrator pedals his bike through town, passing familiar landmarks like the bank and the gas station, until he reaches his grandmother’s house. The two share a special day talking, doing chores, and finally baking and feasting on Mammaw’s special teacakes. Drawing on his childhood in Heflin, AL, the author splendidly re-creates those nostalgic scenes, carefully bringing the memories to life by describing the sunny kitchen, the crunch of gravel under bicycle wheels, and the sweet aroma of the cakes. The brilliant watercolor paintings glow with light and idyllically capture the world of yesterday. Older readers may enjoy sharing this book with their grandparents, and teachers might incorporate it into lessons about writing descriptive memoirs.” – School Library Journal, April 2004

“The book tells the wonderful story of a boy’s memorable visits to his grandmother every Saturday afternoon. Lester explores that special love between a child and his grandmother with great honesty and integrity, for the story is autobiographical. The time-out-of-time interlude described brings all of us back to our own childhood’s enchanted moments.

The art is by Chris Soentpiet and is nothing less than extraordinary. The detail is so beautiful that the reader is totally enveloped in the magic of the world recreated by Laminack and Soentpiet.

Although the publisher states this books is for ages 4-8, we can see it as a lovely read at many levels, including being read to older family members and friends. We feel it’s something children will go back to again and again for the feelings of comfort and stability it engenders. Just $16.95 for this treasure at your local bookstore.” – Patricia Broderick and Allen Raymond for Teaching K-8, April 2004

AWARDS

Kansas State Reading Circle 2005

The Southeastern Booksellers’ Association

Georgia Children’s Picture Book Award 2005-2006

Children’s Book Sense 76 Pick 2004

Master Reading List, Volunteer State Book Award 2006-2007

Annual Exhibition of the Society of Illustrators 2005

BOOK & CD EDITION AVAILABLE

A book and DVD edition is also available  for purchase. Narrated by the author, Lester Laminack, the total running time is about 24 minutes.
ISBN # 978-1-56145-513-3;  $19.95
 

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I can honestly admit, I didn’t have to read the manuscript to agree to collaborate with the author, Cynthia Rylant. She’s a prolific storyteller who writes from the heart. I’d been a fan of her work since Missing May. SILVER PACKAGES is a great story with a surprise twist at the end. – Chris Soentpiet

AUTHOR:

“This story was inspired by two true events. One is the annual trip through the Appalachian mountains by the “Santa Train.” Each year volunteers throw packages from the train to the children living in the hills and hollows who don’t have much. The train started visiting in 1940 and has been “Santa” ever since.

And the second true event which inspired SILVER PACKAGES was my own longing as a child. I was living with my grandparents, who didn’t have much money. They took me to a place where poor children were given one Christmas present apiece. I saw a nurse kit and really wanted it, for my mother was away studying to become a nurse. But another child ahead of me chose the kit, and I didn’t get one.

The illustrator of this book, Chris Soentpiet, actually made a trip from New York City to West Virginia to see Appalachian mountains and homes. He visited Logan and Boone counties, which are very isolated and still look so much as they did fifty years ago. As a result, Chris’s paintings are both authentic and luminous.” – Cynthia Rylant

Cynthia Rylant has written many award winning books, including Missing May, winner of the Newberry Medal; Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds, which won the Boston Glove-Horn Book Award; and When I was Young in the Mountains, a Caldecott Honor book. Learn more about Cynthia on her website at:  cynthiarylant.com

BOOK REVIEWS:

“Rylant’s story is enhanced by the paintings of Chris K. Soentpiet, whose renderings of frosty Appalachian days and a young boy’s memories are vibrant. Together, Rylant and Soentpiet have created a story for children and parents too. That’s as it should be; books like this remind us all that the most important gifts can’t be found under any tree.” – New York Times, Sunday December 7, 1997

“Full page watercolor paintings provide panoramic views of the Appalachian countryside, with deep night-time blues and wintry colors, strengthening the sense of place. A well-rendered reflection on the importance of giving and sharing.” – School Library Journal

“Soentpiet’s handsome, realistic paintings captures the drama, rural landscape, and full range of human emotions. Spiritual, yet not religious, this Christmas story is recommended.”
– BookList

Silver Packages was featured in a Houston Chronicle article on December 24, 1997

AWARDS

American Bookseller Pick of the List 1997

65 YEARS OF CHRISTMAS CHEER:

The 65th annual CSX Santa Train eases through the crowd at Fort Blackmore, Virginia, on the former Clinchfield Railroad, on November 17, 2007. It will stop at the crossing so Santa and his helpers can toss toys and candy from the open platform office car to the waiting children and their families. Since 1943 the train has made its 110-mile run from Shelby, Kentucky, to Kingsport, Tennessee, bringing holiday cheer to the isolated Appalachian villages along the route. – Railfan and Railroad Magazine; February 2008

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Margot Theis Raven, the author of such inspiring children’s books as Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot and Let Them Play, relates the story behind one of the most famous and oft-sung songs in the world.

Margot Theis Raven’s award-winning books are often set against powerful historical backdrops such as America’s civil rights period. Her books for Sleeping Bear Press include America’s White Table and Let Them Play, which was named a 2006 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People. Margot lives in Charleston, South Carolina.

BOOK REVIEWS:

“The story behind these words and music is truly an American tale of a large loving family blessed to share their creativity with those around them. Two Kentucky sisters, Patty and Mildred Hill–teacher and composer–created the song as a second verse to their “Good Morning to You” melody, which was shared with Ms. Patty’s kindergarten class on a daily basis. A lovely succession of watercolor paintings depicts the latter half of the 19th century in Louisville and illuminates the thoughtful expressions and joyful faces of the Hill family. With a final historical note, readers find the record of the Hills’ service to education and eventual recognition in the academic world. Forget what you remember about Irving Berlin’s connection with the tune–the copyright for this title was correctly assigned 45 years after it was composed, an eye-opener for history and trivia lovers in all libraries.”
– Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX;  School Library Journal; December 2008

“Open my mail and what do I see? Happy Birthday to You! The Mystery Behind the Most Famous Song in the World. Okay, I think to myself. This title must be a picture book celebrating birthdays that everyone in elementary can pull out over and over… Wrong! It is far more.

This is the title that I shall read aloud to classes before emphasizing my lesson on copyright and giving credit to the original writers of information. The pages “Footnote to History” take this book beyond a beautifully illustrated celebration of how a song was created to an insightful understanding of the need for and process of obtaining copyright for original material.

If you have ever been frustrated when you are in a restaurant and the staff converges on some poor person to shout out some “altered” version of Happy Birthday, to You, then you need to read this book. I admit being resentful that no one could sing the correct version in public anymore because they were afraid they’d have to pay money. “Who are these stingy, greedy people?” I wondered.

Turns out these simple sisters from Kentucky that helped disseminate the concept of kindergarten in the late 1800’s wrote a song book called Song Stories for the Kindergarten where they included a song of “Morning Greeting.” They had a history of changing the words to that simple tune for all kindergarten events – especially birthdays, so they really were the creators of this tune and words.

It was only when the Birthday Song showed up in a Broadway musical that sisters Patty and Jessica became furious and took their case to court. The song “Happy Birthday to You” was copyrighted in 1935 giving credit to sisters Patty and Mildred. The copyright ends in 2030.

Want to know how much revenue is earned each year? You’ll have to get the book. I will tell you that the revenue benefits the Hill Foundation and early childhood education. There, do you feel better about it being copyrighted?

You must add Happy Birthday to You! to your collection to satisfy teacher’s needs in the classroom. The illustrations by Chris Soentpiet (Soon peet) fill each page with rich color and joy. My only gripe is that the cover illustration is so very tiny that you have no idea of the luscious art work waiting inside. Chris Soentpiet won my heart with Molly Bannaky and with Coolies. He has also illustrated More Than Anything Else, My Brother Martin, and Peacebound Trains. I have always thought his work reminded me of Ted Lewin’s for it’s dramatic impact. Imagine my surprise when I read on Chris’s web site the Cast of Characters of his life.

Author Margot Theis Raven also wrote America’s White Table, Let Them Play, Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot, and many others. Thanks Margot for writing two stories in one – the joyful celebration of a creative family and the importance of copyrighting creative and original work.”
– Diane Chen; “Teaching Copyright with Happy Birthday to You!”; School Library Journal; September 2008

AWARDS

Bill Martin Jr. Picture Book Award Finalist. (runner-up, 2010)

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About two years ago, I was preparing to give a speech at a teacher conference. Distracted in my preparations, I wasn’t fully aware of the person introducing me. As it turned out, that person was Mrs. Christine King Farris, sister of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She sat through my presentation and afterward asked if I would be interested in working with her on a project-a book about her childhood with her brother. Of course, I was incredibly flattered. As a youngster, I had idolized this remarkable human being. She went on to say that I and the things I said during my presentation reminded her of her brother. I felt truly honored. 

 
Christine and I kept in contact and soon Mrs. Farris’s editor at Simon and Schuster contacted me. Within a matter of weeks the book was underway. My first course of action, a trip to the King Center in Atlanta where Mrs. Farris, our editor, and I walked through the places of Dr. King’s childhood-his home, his church, the neighborhood firehouse where he and his friends spent much of their time-all while discussing what we thought this book should be. I snapped photographs and listened while Mrs. Farris regaled us with recollections of a childhood spent with a little boy who would grow up to change the world. I was moved beyond words and left Atlanta with the feeling of being a part of something historic.

 
I returned to Atlanta for a second time with my camera, lighting equipment, backdrop, and clothes for the models to wear. Because I paint realistically I need to use live models to ensure the main characters look the same from one angle to another. Christine greeted me at Ebenezer Baptist Church with southern graciousness and charm. She personally chose each model to represent the character in her story.

 
The boys who portrayed Martin Jr. and AD are Christine’s grandnephew. Christine’s daughter portrayed “Mother Dear”. The current pastor at Ebenezer Baptist portrayed “Daddy” King. Even Christine’s young granddaughter was an eager model. The rest of the cast were personal and close friends of the King family. The models shared with me interesting stories of their time with Dr. King, which helped me visualize the illustration process. All the models agreed their participation was a special tribute to Dr. King’s legacy.

 
Christine’s presence added another element of authenticity to my photo shoot. For example, did you know Aunt Ida did not go to church-so I made sure I did not paint her in a church scene.

 
As part of my painting process, I also sketched the original King’s childhood home on 510 Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, which is now preserved by The King Center.

 
The spirit and generosity from Mrs. Farris, the staff at both the Ebenezer Baptist Church and the National Historic Site, and the King family helped to make my work on MY BROTHER MARTIN as genuine and authentic as I think possible. It is my sincere hope that the part I played in the creation of this book helps Dr. King’s vision of justice and harmony live on. – Chris Soentpiet

Learn how you can preserve Dr. King’s legacy by visiting The King Center.

BOOK REVIEWS:

“A delightful biography for children.”
– ESSENCE

“…glimpses of the home that nurtured King’s dream.”
– PARENTING

“Anyone-especially kids-can relate to the warm family scenes depicted in the book.”
– TEACHING K-8

“This stunningly beautiful picture book for children of all ages features sunny watercolors that capture the King family at home with warmth and love. A few black and white watercolor paintings that focus on King’s adult life bring up the end, along with Mildred D. Johnson’s poem “You Can Be Like Martin” and an author’s afterward. Few books are a “must read. This is one.”
– Deborah Abbott (Chicago Sun-Times. Jan 2003)

“Farris’s stirring memoir of her younger brother “M.L.” focuses on a pivotal moment in their childhood in Atlanta. The conversational narrative easily and convincingly draws readers into the daily life of Christine and her two brothers, M.L. and A.D., as they listen to their grandmother’s stories, stage pranks and romp in the backyard with two white brothers from across the street. The adults in the King family-Daddy, a minister; Mother Dear, a musician; maternal grandparents (the grandfather is also a minister) and a great-aunt-try to shield the children from the overt racism of the times; the family rarely took streetcars, for example, because of “those laws [segregation], and the indignity that went with them.” When the white boys announce one day that they cannot play with M.L. and A.D. because they are “Negroes,” the young Kings are hurt and baffled. Mother Dear explains, “[Whites] just don’t understand that everyone is the same, but someday, it will be better.” M.L. replies, “Mother Dear, one day I’m going to turn this world upside down.” Soentpiet (Dear Santa, Please Come to the 19th Floor) illustrates this exchange with a powerful watercolor portrait of mother and son that encapsulates many emotions, including hope, pain and love.”
– Publishers Weekly 2003

“In the straightforward style of a master storyteller, Farris recalls the birth of her two younger brothers and relates anecdotes that demonstrate both the mischievous exploits of the siblings and the love and understanding that permeated the close-knit multigenerational family in which they grew up. Using plain language, she describes conditions in the South during her childhood that separated blacks and whites- “Because they just don’t understand that everyone is the same, but someday, it will be better.” From their father’s church sermons and his actions when confronting the hatred and bigotry, the children learned the importance of standing up for justice and equality. The warmth of the text is exquisitely echoed in Soentpiet’s realistic, light-filled watercolor portraits set in the King home, in their Atlanta neighborhood, and at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The simple directness of this short biography will help young children understand the concept of segregation and the importance of Dr. King’s message. An appended poem by Mildred D. Johnson reflects Farris’s own message: ” – it is important for young people to realize the potential that lies within each of them –.” This outstanding book belongs in every collection.”
– SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH)

“In the years since his death, too many biographers of Martin Luther King Jr. have made him so much larger than life that to the current generation of children he has become more of an idealized heroic icon than a real person. By sharing her memories of their childhood, Farris has opened a window to show Martin as a small boy in a loving extended family, a sometime prankster, protected for a while from the harsh reality of racism. When that reality became impossible to ignore, he and his brother and sister have the example of the strong faith, the encouragement, and the strength of their parents to guide them. Young Martin promises his mother that he will be an agent for change, that he will one day “turn this world upside down.” Farris tells the story simply and gently, remembering Martin as her little brother and as the man who indeed turned the world upside down. Soenpiet’s (Dear Santa, Please Come to the 19th Floor, p. 1628, etc.) watercolors are both meticulous in their detail and beautifully expressive of the family’s emotions. Farris’s afterword, graced by childhood photos of Martin, further explains her need to share these memories. A poem by Mildred D Johnson, written in 1968, is included as a reminder that all children have the potential for greatness. A very welcome addition to the King story.”
– KIRKUS REVIEW

“In this picture-book biography, Martin Lunter King’s older sister adds a personal stamp to King’s childhood experiences that other books have lacked. When Martin asks his mother why the white boys across the street have been forbidden to play with the King children, she explains about prejudice, prompting Martin to say, “Mother Dear, one day I’m going to turn the world upside down.” The richly detailed illustrations capture the times and are striking portrayals of the individuals, with Soentpiet including a note describing his use of King family members and friends as models. The respectful tone of the text is augmented by the large, handsome design, with metallic-blue endpapers and halftone photographs used to accentuate front and back matter. A one-page poem by Mildred D. Johnson, “You Can Be Like Martin: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” follows the short text, and an afterword adds context and personalizes the book. A testament to one person making a difference, the book is intended to be inspirational–and, in both art and text, it is.”
– BOOKLIST (Julie Cummins)

“Most people remember the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as the man who had a dream to change the world of its prejudice views. But what was he like before he became that famous man? Join his sister Christine along with their brother A.D. and find out what life was like growing up in the King household. Would you like to know what Martin’s nickname was? Did you know that he liked to play pranks? Find out about one that he played on his piano teacher. Learn how it was to grow up in a community where Martin could go anywhere and play with the neighborhood children. But one day he learned that he was not allowed to go certain places because of his skin color. Feel the hurt of the King family as they had to deal with the people who ignorantly treated them differently. However, there was hope, because as a child, Martin was determined to “turn the world upside down.” This book gives personal insight into the childhood of a great man as told by his sister. The illustrations are beautifully and realistically drawn. Teachers will enjoy using this book anytime of the year in their classroom.”
– CHILDREN’S LITERATURE (Simon and Schuster, White)

AWARDS

Parents Magazine Best Children’s Book of the Year 1998

National Parenting Publication Award Honor Book, Selectors’ Choice

NCSS-CBC Notable Trade Book in Field of Social Studies 1998

IRA Notable Book for a Global Society 1998

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I was fortunate that my editor, Richard Jackson gave me an opportunity to illustrate this story. I had long admired the passion and drive of Booker T. Washington. When I first read the story I was struck by the poetic writing style of Marie Bradby. It is told with such honor and integrity. Marie and I finally met for the first time at the International Reading Association’s conference where we both received an IRA Book Award for our contribution to this book. – Chris Soentpiet

WORDS FROM THE AUTHOR, MARIE BRADBY:

“I wrote More Than Anything Else for my son, then five years old, who was beginning to learn to read. It was a wonderful time, watching and helping him learn. Reading is one of the most important skills that a person can learn, especially in this age of communication. So I wanted to celebrate my son’s literacy–this very important time in his life.” – Marie Bradby

BOOK REVIEWS:

“Soentpiet’s beautiful watercolor paintings show individual portraits lit up front the surrounding darkness. Booker dreams of light of literacy and the freedom it will bring. The story will hold kids and make them want to find out more about the person and the history.”
– BookList

“An evocative text and dramatic watercolor provide a stirring, fictionalized account of the early life of Booker T. Washington.”
– Horn Book

AWARDS

International Reading Association (IRA) Children’s Book Award 1996

International Reading Association (IRA) Teachers’ Choice 1996

Chicago Tribune Top 10 Children Books 1996

American Library Association (ALA) Notable Book 1996

Black History Top 25 Pick for Youth 1996

IRA Notable Books for a Global Society Award 1996

American Bookseller Pick of the List 1996

Book Links Salutes a Few Good Books

School Library Journal, Starred Review

International Reading Award (IRA) Notable Book 1996

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This heartwarming story reminds me of my old neighborhood in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. My friend’s daughter Latisha is an aspiring actress. She loved modeling while I sketched and took pictures of her. “Something Beautiful” is an inspirational story with a powerful message. A must read for every age.  – Chris Soentpiet

WORDS FROM THE AUTHOR, SHARON DENNIS WYETH:

“When I was eight years old, I asked my mother, whose name is Evon, for “something beautiful.” She gave me one of her wedding gifts: a small white china pitcher with a golden handle and a golden rose embossed on it. I put the pitcher on my windowsill so I wouldn’t have to look at the alley outside. I called the pitcher my something beautiful. When Mommy gave me the gift, she cautioned me not to forget that I already had something even more beautiful-the something beautiful I had inside. I still have the little pitcher. I keep it next to my bed. It helps keep alive the memory of childhood and my mother’s love.” – Sharon Dennis Wyeth

BOOK REVIEW:

“This is a book that touches on adult themes such as poverty, homelessness and community responsibility with a tender hand and a poet’s voice, by Sharon Dennis Wyeth and illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet. The story stands out as much for its important storyline as it does for its beautiful artistry.”
-EBONY! Magazine

 

AWARDS

Parents Magazine Best Children’s Book of the Year 1998

National Parenting Publication Award Honor Book, Selectors’ Choice

NCSS-CBC Notable Trade Book in Field of Social Studies 1998

IRA Notable Book for a Global Society 1998

 

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]]> https://chrissoentpiet.com/product/something-beautiful/feed/ 0 https://chrissoentpiet.com/product/america-the-beautiful/ https://chrissoentpiet.com/product/america-the-beautiful/#respond Mon, 08 Jan 2018 01:49:33 +0000 https://chrissoentpiet.com/?post_type=product&p=21858 With spirited pictures, ten distinguished children's book artists interpret the popular song "America the Beautiful." Inspiring presidential quotes paired with the artwork deepen our experience of this beloved patriotic song.

“America the Beautiful” first appeared in print in the weekly journal The Congregationalist, on July 4, 1895. The lyrics were written while on an 1893 summer lecture series at Colorado College in Colorado Springs.

Looking at the view of the Rockies from Pikes Peak, its author, Katharine Lee Bates recalls, "It was then and there, as I was looking out over the sea-like expanse of fertile country spreading away so far under those ample skies, that the opening lines of the hymn floated into my mind. When we left Colorado Springs the four stanzas were penciled in my notebook, together with other memoranda, in verse and prose, of the trip. The Wellesley work soon absorbed time and attention again, the notebook was laid aside, and I do not remember paying heed to these verses until the second summer following, when I copied them out and sent them to The Congregationalist, where they first appeared in print July 4, 1895. The hymn attracted an unexpected amount of attention. It was almost at once set to music by Silas G. Pratt. Other tunes were written for the words and so many requests came to me, with still increasing frequency, that in 1904 I rewrote it, trying to make the phraseology more simple and direct."

In addition to simplifying the phrasing and text, Bates made one change in the wording of the third stanza adding “beautiful”. The new version was published in The Boston Evening Transcript on November 19, 1904. While the poem was sung with a variety of tunes, it has almost exclusively adapted Samuel A. Ward’s “Materna” as its melody.

Katharine Lee Bates was born on August 12th, 1859 in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Moving to Wellesley as a child, she attended Wellesley high school graduating in 1874. She continued her education at Newton High school and then entered Wellesley College graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wellesley College in 1880. From 1880 to 1925, Bates taught at Wellesley College as a professor of English Literature. She also studied at Oxford and earned a masters degree in arts from Wellesley.

Bates was a noted scholar, poet and writer. She was a prolific author publishing many volumes of poetry, books on her travels to Europe and the Middle East and stories, verses and plays for children. She also published several books on Shakespeare and pre-Shakespearean English Religious drama.

In 1915, Bates was a founder of the New England Poetry Club and served as its president. She was involved in social reform activities, working for labor reform and planning the College Settlements Association with Vida Scudder. Bates lived for 25 years with Katharine Coman. She never married and had no children. In 1925, Bates retired and spent the remaining years in Wellesley. Katherine Lee Bates died on March 28, 1929.

Bates remarked on the immediate and lasting success of the song stating: “That the hymn has gained, in these twenty odd years, such a hold as it has upon our people, is clearly due to the fact that Americans are at heart idealists, with a fundamental faith in human brotherhood.

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]]> PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:

“Yuyi Morales, Jon J Muth, and LeUyen Pham are among 10 top-drawer illustrators that form a more perfect union of sorts, interpreting lines from Bates’s popular patriotic song; each spread also features a stirring quote from a famous American. Some artists take a direct approach: Harry Potter illustrator Mary Grandpré, who has “For amber waves of grain,” and a quote from Thomas Jefferson (“I believe… that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another”) shows a trio of children in a radiant field of grass, turning a weathered tree trunk into a literal prairie schooner. Sonia Lynn Sadler, one of several artists that go the mural route, contributes the book’s most striking and least literal image; she uses “Above the fruited plain” (paired with the opening of the Gettysburg Address) to imagine a quilting bee where Americans of all ages and backgrounds stitch together patches celebrating the nation’s greatest hits (the Statue of Liberty, the St. Louis arch, the space shuttle), a smart outlet for her folk-art style. A visually rich and much-needed reminder of America’s collective resilience. All ages.”

 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:

“K-Gr 5-When illustrations from 10 prominent children’s book artists are combined with the words from Bates’s “America the Beautiful” and quotations from a range of United States presidents, the result is a beautiful, patriotic ode to the best of our nation. This multifaceted concept is elegantly executed in a book that will be useful to anyone seeking to engage children in learning more about American history, landmarks, and symbols. Words from Jimmy Carter set the tone, saying, “We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.” Each illustration, masterfully rendered by artists such as Yuyi Morales, Jon J Muth, LeUyen Pham, and Chris Soentpiet, among other stars, depicts a multiethnic, multicultural view of the possibilities America represents. The book design successfully integrates the various elements. Pictorial spreads leave one panel open for the quotations, while Bates’s words appear in large type at the bottom or top of each illustration. The quotations all focus on helping others and being our best selves, individually and as a country. In a time when political debate is sharply divided, this book reminds us that some ideals are part of our national heritage and stand above the disagreements.” – Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher’s School, Richmond, VA; Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

 

KIRKUS:

“What better way to make this patriotic song meaningful to kids than with these lively illustrations by 10 different illustrators? Each spread portrays a line or phrase from the song with a sidebar quote from a president (cherry-picking from Washington to Obama). For “For amber waves of grain,” Mary Grandpré depicts three kids and a dog pretending to be sailing on a boat that’s a dead tree amid a field of wheat; this is paired with a quote from Thomas Jefferson: “I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another.” An interior spread (“with brotherhood”) by LeUyen Pham repeats the cover, picturing kids wearing red-and-white striped outfits representing the flag’s stripes and kids in blue sweaters with stars completing the flag. The quote is from Theodore Roosevelt: “Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground.” The other illustrators are Diane Goode, Jon J Muth, Yuyi Morales, John Hendrix, Bryan Collier, Chris Soentpiet, Ral Colon and Sonia Lynn Sadler. Handsomely designed, this is a beautiful tribute to America and Americana.” – Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

 

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