#942 of 1001 · February 28, 2023

Virginia Hamilton and Leo and Diane Dillon show the power of story to strengthen and uplift in The People Could Fly. This deeply emotional work follows a group of African people captured, stolen, and enslaved. Forced to work in cotton fields, they begin to lose hope in the face of ceaseless violence and abuse. An old man known as Toby sees the suffering of his people and comes to their aid: he whispers words of ancient mysticism into their ears, and so grants them the gift of flight, the ability to escape their oppressors for good. Hamilton’s language conveys a horror all too real, while the Dillons’ rich art depicts the sublime grace of the people as they fly forever beyond their tormentors’ reach. #people #fly #flight #escape #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbook #beautifulbooks #beautifulbookcover #beautifulbookcovers #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookillustrations #picturebookart #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks