Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman

From blackwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
File:Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman.jpg

Grace loves stories, whether they're from books, movies, or the kind her grandmother tells. So when she gets an opportunity to play a part in Peter Pan, she knows exactly who she wants to be. Remarkable watercolor illustrations give full expression to Grace's high-flying fantasy. [1]   

Summary

Mary Hoffman's 1991 picture book Amazing Grace tells the story of Grace, who loves stories and especially loves acting them out. Filled with fantasy and breathtaking flair, Grace decides that she will play the part of Peter Pan when her teacher tells the class that they are going to act the play. One student tells her, "You can't be Peter -- that's a boy's name." And then another student informs her, "You can't be Peter Pan. He isn't black." But Grace keeps her hand up to indicate that she wants to play this role. When Grace goes home and tells her mother and grandmother what happened at school, they tell her that she can be Peter Pan if she wants to do so. "You can be anything you want, Grace, if you put your mind to it," her grandmother says. Soon after, Grace's grandmother takes her to the ballet to see an African American ballerina play Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. After the ballet, Grace dances around her room, telling herself, "I can be anything I want." After the class meets for auditions, everyone in the class votes for Grace to be Peter Pan. The play is a great achievment and Grace is an "amazing Peter Pan." This story inspires discussions about race, gender, role models, the limits to our ambitions, and the importance of imagination. [2]

Pros

Featuring colloquial conversation and endearing characters, Hoffman's ( My Grandma Has Black Hair ) story is truly inspiring. First-timer Birch contributes evocative, carefully detailed watercolor paintings, which add their own share of affecting power and personal passion [3]

Each of us is awesomely made in the sight of God and each of us are given our individual gifts. In God’s sight we are all created equally. It is available for Grace, an African American girl to believe that she can be anything that she wants to be, with hard work. [4]

More people gave their comment about this book, Casey mention about the watercolour illustrations in here are just gorgeous. It's lovely to see the tones of black people's skin painted with such care and detail even the wrinkles on the grandmother's hands and feet! She loves the detail of the cat, who is often accompanying Grace on her acting adventures. [5] 

References