This book is a must buy! This book was one that I purchased for my girls, but I found myself enjoying it even more than they did! It's a rare thing to find a book that i don't mind reading twice before bed! If you have children. but this delightful and beautifully illustrated book about Carter!

Carter Reads the Newspaper is the story of Carter G. Woodson, written for children. It is a picture-book biography of Carter G. Woodson, the man who created Black History Month.

He was born to two former slaves and would read the newspaper to his illiterate father. His father knew how important it was to be an informed citizen. Woodson’s needed to go to work to help support his family, so did not attend high school as a teen. While working in the mines he met a man named Oliver Jones, who was also illiterate. Like many former slaves, and civil war veterans, he valued learning and held meetings in his home to discuss current events. Carter attended and became a valuable part of this group because he could read the newspaper and research for them. Eventually continuing his education, he earned a PhD in history from Harvard. It was there that he met a professor who stated that Black People had no history. When Woodson argued that they did, the professor challenged him to prove him wrong. This motivated Carter to spend the rest of his life doing just that. Carter G. Woodson established what was then called Negro History Week in 1926, which eventually became Black History Month, a project that helped make Black history accessible to a non-academic audience.

Woodson’s relationship to newspapers anchors Hopkinson’s book. This picture book has a lot of text and because of that I think it is more appropriate for middle grades (ages 9 and up). The illustrations are quite nice with the theme of the newspaper running throughout. There is also a lot of information in the end pages including resources to learn more about Carter G. Woodson and other important Black Americans in U.S. history. This book would be a great addition to classroom, school and public libraries. A great resource for Black History month. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon my request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

Deborah Hopkinson makes history accessible to young readers through remarkably engaging and accessible children’s picture books. Her recent publication, Carter Reads the Newspaper, is no exception. Although I was planning on sticking to #ownvoices books throughout Black History Month, Hopkinson’s book is a wonderful description of Carter G. Woodson’s life and a moving description of the founding of Black History Month, so it seemed only fitting to include it.

Carter G. Woodson established what was then called Negro History Week in 1926. According to Hopkinson, he was partially motivated by his desire to prove a Harvard history professor, who told him Black people had no history, incorrect.

Woodson earned a PhD in history from Harvard and became a trailblazing public intellectual. Along with important academic contributions to Black American history, Woodson is known as the father of Black History Month, a project that helped make Black history accessible to a non-academic audience.

Woodson’s relationship to newspapers anchors Hopkinson’s book. He was born to two formerly enslaved Black Americans and, although his father was illiterate, he was invested in informed citizenship. Woodson would read newspapers to his father whenever he could.

Woodson’s high school education was deferred so he could work, earning money for his family. While working the mines of West Virginia, Woodson met a Black Civil War Veteran named Oliver Jones. Like, Woodson’s father, Jones was illiterate, but committed to learning. He invited Black men to his home to discuss current events, since Woodson was literate, he became a valuable member of the community, reading newspapers and researching information the men wanted to learn more about.

Woodson worked in the mines for three years before slowly pursuing his education, finally earning a PhD at thirty-seven-years-old.

Hopkinson’s picture book is fairly text heavy and most appropriate for readers over seven-years-old. She provides useful information in her backmatter, including resources to learn more about Carter G. Woodson and information about important Black figures in US History.

Carter Reads the Newspaper will make a strong edition to classroom libraries. Although, in many ways it reads like a biography, Woodson is clearly entrenched in communities, and inspired by the stories of the people in his life.

I received an electronic ARC from Peachtree Publishing via Netgalley.
A biography of Carter G. Woodson for elementary level readers. Hopkinson tells his story from childhood through working to establish Negro History Week - the forerunner of Black History Month. He was the son of former slaves who believed in education. He was not able to attend much school as a child and youth but found ways to learn. One venue was reading newspapers to himself and others.
The illustrations bring his story to life. They draw the reader into Woodson's world. Don't miss the various leaders drawn throughout the book (index at the end as well).
The text is for a middle level elementary reader. It concisely tells about Woodson's life.
Additional information included at the end of the book - Life timeline, citations for quotes, list of those included in the illustrations.
Would make a good read aloud for older elementary level.

The artwork was pleasant and I loved the theme of this book as it explained the history behind Black History Month and Carter's childhood. The writing itself felt a little unnatural and formal, hence my only giving it 4 stars.

Early in this book, Hopkinson refers to Carter Woodson as "a hero we often forget." I'd argue he's an hero we've never heard of. His was a name entirely unfamiliar to me and that is an absolute shame. What a compelling life story. This is a story of doing what is necessary to achieve your dreams, no matter how hard you have to work. Through his life, Carter worked around, through, or with his limitations. He saw challenges as sources of strength. In this book we not only get Carter Woodson as an example of persistence, we get the brief story of Oliver Jones, a man who opened his home and kept himself and his peers informed by whatever means possible. Several times in this narrative, Hopkinson gently points out to the reader how much one can achieve simply by being aware of the larger world. This easily understood book will resonate with young children and middle graders alike.

I truly enjoyed learning more about Carter and his contribution to Black History Month. I'm so glad this story will be a real book!

Great book to use all year, but especially during Black History month. It was simple but informative.

I love it when picture books teach me things.

Carter Reads the Newspaper is a picture-book biography of Carter G. Woodson, the man who created Black History Month. It's an interesting look at the importance of celebrating your history, even if it isn't included in the official narrative.

The book talks about Woodson's life from his childhood up until 1926 when he was trying to spread the word about Negro History Week (which would later become Black History Month). His idea was spurred by one of Woodson's Harvard professors who told him that black people had no history. When Woodson argued that they did, the professor challenged him to prove him wrong... and Woodson spent the rest of his life doing just that.

The illustrations are quite nice here, with the theme of the newspaper running throughout; some of the backgrounds feature soft, faded newsprint with washes of colour. On the endpapers are little portraits of a number of black leaders; mini biographies are included for these people at the back of the book.

This book would be great for the classroom, or for any kid who enjoys learning about history. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it just to black kids, either; Woodson is an important and inspiring figure that everyone could benefit from learning about.

Carter Reads the Newspaper is a great book as a read aloud for school libraries to create an awareness of how Black History Month came to be. It speaks to the influence that one individual can have first on their own community and then to watch that influence grow to others. This is a well-done narrative of an overlooked individual who brought about awareness of the rich history of the African-Americans.

This short biography of Carter G. Woodson emphasizes his role in making African American history more visible to everyone. While growing up, Woodson and his family dealt with poverty, but still had interest and drive to learn and celebrate their heritage. While completing a PhD at Harvard, he was told an instructor that his people had no history. Determined to change this view, he originated Black History Week, which then became Black History Month, and pursued knowledge about the African American past. This book clearly explains Carter Woodson’s contribution to our understanding of the past, celebrates his determination, and provides a glimpse of other African Americans to learn about. Deborah Hopkinson’s clearly written, engaging words and Don Tate’s detailed illustrations provide young readers an interesting and inspiring look at this important story.

Picture book biography on the early life of Carter Woodson. Woodson is most known for his fight against the idea that African Americans have no history and his establishment of black history week and later month. This is a great story of his life told for young independent readers. Tate's warm and friendly illustrations make it inviting. The Black leaders pictured throughout the book have labels and short descriptions in the back. Includes timeline. Smart features like this only enhance this biography. Needed in all public and school libraries. Must purchase.

Hopkinson's biography of Carter Woodson is a delight to read and a great introduction to one of many unsung heroes of American history that helped shape who we are today. Carter was taught very valuable lessons by many people in his life. One of those lessons was to never stop asking questions and learning. That lesson helped take him to Harvard. From there he became a national leader in the push to recognizing the contributions and lives of African Americans. This is a perfect book for both home and school libraries.

Thank you NetGalley and Peachtree for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy.