More Than Anything Else

Written By: Marie Bradbie
Illustrated By: Chris Soentpiet
Publisher: Orchard Books on September 1st 1995
Picture Book - Multicultural

"A fictionalized story about the life of young Booker T. Washington. Living in a West Virginia settlement after emancipation, nine-year-old Booker travels by lantern light to the salt works, where he labors from dawn till dusk. Although his stomach rumbles, his real hunger is his intense desire to learn to read.... 

I love this book, because it gave hope to a little black boy who wanted to learn how to read. It showed more the after fact of the slavery laws when the blacks were allowed to read, but just barely starting to. It shows will power and confidence in culture.

**** 4 stars out of 5
8 points