Pink and Say, Patricia Polacco, copyright 1994, Philomel Books

                      The symbolism of Polacco is all here in this civil war era picture book.  She stays true
     to the time period and her folk art patterns do not grace every page, but instead where they are not
     so readily noticed, like a bed quilt, and the mother's dress.  The archways, hands and "lighted"
     areas are all in this book.  Polacco's background and formal training in art history shine through on
     these pages.  She can draw a face with so much expression and detail that you see and feel
     instantly what she wants conveyed.  I personally found it intriguing that in this selection she drew
     the people at Andersonville ("It was one of the worst of the Confederate camps.") almost
     ghost-like facial features.
                      This could go into historical fiction in my opinion and be used as a good segue to civil
     war studies.  Universal emotional issues about war can be talked about.  Racial equity, the
     importance of learning to read and write (a Polacco theme), true charity and friendship, and slavery
     are just a few of the topics that this book can be used to introduce or close a unit on.  Art students
     should study her extraordinary drawings of facial expressions.
 

Link to Reaction paper sample