They Built Me for Freedom

Starred review from March 25, 2024
“They built me to remember.// June 19, 1865./ The day enslaved people found out the truth” writes Duncan Ellis in this moving tribute to Houston’s Emancipation Park, narrated in the park’s voice. Rousing first-person prose lingers on the park’s creation (“They built me to show they were strong.... to celebrate.... to play”) as well as its seasonal transformation during years of use, neglect, and rejuvenation. Mohammed’s layered application of color and printmaking textures reflect the past and present—in one spread, contemporary park-goers observe the sky, where the ghostly images of formerly enslaved people appear to march toward a new day. Subsequent page turns transport readers to 1865, then forward in time as the park is built, a later celebration banner notes the “25th Year of Freedom,” and protest signs read “Power to the People.” Now, “a different generation visits,” as present-day park-goers of various abilities, body types, and skin tones make use of the spot of nature in a bustling city, recalling “their ancestors and all they overcame..../ Singing songs of jubilee... running free.” A contextualizing note concludes. Ages 4–8.

Starred review from July 1, 2024

PreS-Gr 3-Though nonfiction, this lyrical picture book is narrated in the voice of the Emancipation Park in Houston, TX, itself, exploring its history and its promise. Land for the park was purchased in 1872 to commemorate Freedom Day, the precursor to Juneteenth. Evocative phrases-"They built me to show they were strong" and "Singing songs of jubilee ... running free"-capture the essence of each spread. Vignettes throughout the book illustrate different eras, with the first few illustrations set in a contemporary celebration. The setting then jumps back to the time of the Emancipation Proclamation, showing figures rejoicing over the news. Other scenes include the establishment of the park, the public pool for Black families during Jim Crow, protest marches, and a melancholy view of the park in decline. The upbeat images as neighbors gather to give the park a makeover replace the grays of the neglected park with the joyful colors seen earlier. As the book comes to a close, the illustrations circle back to the modern setting; a crowd dances to the music of a band playing. Meanwhile, backstage is aglow with images of ancestors lifting their arms as chains break free. Ellis compresses a lot of history into a flowing narrative, perfectly borne out in Mohammed's paintings, while an afterword provides more details of the park's history and its rededication in 2017, including the involvement of architect Philip Freelon in the renovation plans. VERDICT A moving portrayal of community and appreciation for the past, this book is a fine addition to all collections.-Suzanne Costner

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2024
Preschool-Grade 2 Who doesn't love a pleasant park? Ellis' picture book celebrating the history behind Emancipation Park, a public Houston park ""built . . . for freedom,"" emphasizes all the ways people currently enjoy the space: running, playing, gathering. The story then shifts back to the original Juneteenth, when enslaved people in Texas finally learned about President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. Those freed people eventually pulled together to build the oldest green space in Texas near their homes, giving them a place to celebrate, picnic, swim, play games, protest injustice, and more, even as Jim Crow laws prevented Black Americans from using other public parks in the city. Eventually, though, the park fell into disuse. Recent efforts to restore the space have brought it back to life with splash pads, public art, and space to hold Juneteenth celebrations. Mohammed's illustrations seem infused with sunlight, white space haloing the clear colors of greenery, children of many hues, and blue skies puffed with clouds. A happy book that shows young readers how public spaces can be created and saved to serve their communities.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2024
A joyful ode to freedom from the perspective of a park in Houston, Texas. Emancipation Park was built on land purchased in 1872, to commemorate the holiday that would become known as Juneteenth; in 1918, it was made into a municipal park. Here, residents of the city's Third Ward could celebrate the freedom of their ancestors. As the book opens, we see people--predominantly Black and brown--enjoying a summer day. Readers are then transported to June 19, 1865, when the enslaved people of Galveston found out that, two years earlier, Abraham Lincoln had ended slavery by signing the Emancipation Proclamation. Later, the park in Houston was built to honor that triumphant day. From then on, it became a community gathering spot, where people played, held concerts, and hosted sporting events. When Jim Crow and segregation laws proliferated, the park also housed the only pool that allowed African Americans. Eventually, the park fell into disrepair until it was rededicated in 2017 and given new life. Most spreads open with a reason the park was built: "They built me to celebrate." "They built me to play." Ellis writes in spirited, succinct verse. Mohammed's bold, active illustrations give rise to powerfully poignant words. Butterflies and plant life can be seen throughout; as the park goes through its life cycle, so, too, do those elements. A beautifully layered story just as rich as the history it represents. (background information about Emancipation Park) (Informational picture book. 4-8)

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