We Wait For The Sun by Dovey Johnson Roundtree and Katie McCabe has to be one the most beautiful picture book biographies I have ever read.
Civil Rights Trailblazer Dovey Johnson Roundtree was a lawyer, minister, and one of the first women to be commissioned by The United States Army, but this story isn’t directly related to any of these accomplishments. This story is about the most important relationship in Dovey’s life, the one she had with her grandmother Rachel Millis Bryant Graham.
In We Wait For The Sun, we visit one of Dovey’s most cherished memories of her Grandma Rachel, picking blackberries before sunrise as a child. Her Grandma Rachel taught her that the darkness of the early morning was nothing to be afraid of, and she carried that lesson of bravery with her through her lifelong fight for justice and equality.
The lush, vivid text combined with the beautiful illustrations by Raissa Figueroa give the memory a peaceful, dreamy atmosphere. I also love the progression of light entering the pages through blues, purples, pinks, and finally golds. The memory starts out in the darkness, but as Grandma Rachel said, “If you just wait a while, your eyes will learn to see, and you can find your way.”
We Wait For The Sun is a stunning tribute to both Dovey Johnson Roundtree and her grandmother. You can truly feel the love Dovey had for Grandma Rachel, and the respect Katie had for Dovey in every single page.
The back of the book also has quite a bit of information about both women, for those who are looking to learn a bit more.
We Wait For The Sun is available next week (February 9, 2021), but you can preorder it today wherever books are sold, including Bookshop and Amazon. (Please note: These are affiliate links. Affiliate links allow me to receive a small commission for recommendations at no cost to you. This commission is used to maintain this site and continue bringing content to you. Your support is always appreciated!)
Katie McCabe is an award-winning author who has dedicated her writing career to bringing stories of unsung heroes to light. To learn more about Katie and her work, please visit her website at www.katiemccabeauthor.com.
Raissa Figueroa is a children’s book illustrator based in San Diego, CA. She is also the illustrator of Oona, by Kelly DiPucchio. To learn more about Raissa and her work, please visit her website at rizzyfig.com.
Thank you so much to Roaring Brook Press and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing me with a review copy of We Wait For The Sun. It is an honor to be able to share Dovey’s beautiful story.
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