Courtni C. Wright
Courtni is a native of Washington, DC and for many years taught school. She went to Trinity College and later earned a master's degree in education from Johns Hopkins. While developing curriculum materials, Courtni noticed that there was not much African American history in the textbooks. Friends suggested that she was the ideal person to write such books. She contacted Holiday House and submitted a proposal for a chapter book. The material ended up being separated into three picture books, all illustrated by Gershom Griffith. They have been adopted for use in the CORE knowledge curriculum.
Jumping the Broom (1994, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95) tells the story of life on a plantation and preparations for a wedding between two slaves. The people are poor, but they do everything possible to brighten up the wedding day by preparing food and making a wedding quilt and household items for the couple's cabin. Journey to Freedom features Harriet Tubman as she leads a group of runaway slaves on a harrowing and exhausting journey to safety in Canada. (1994, Ages 4 to 8, $16.95 and $6.95).
The third story, Wagon Train (1995, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95) follows a family of former slaves as they head out on the Oregon Trail and later settle in California. Before and after the Civil War, many slave families took this route to freedom. In her book, Courtni's family faces the hardships of a long journey with its hot dusty trails, lack of water and fresh food, and even a rattlesnake bite. In spite of slavery, people struggled and families like the one she has depicted did survive. To write these books, Courtni spent many hours undertaking research in libraries and visiting museums to see the actual artifacts from the slave quarters and plantation homes.
As with most authors, Courtni never met the illustrator, but she did see pencil sketches and made suggestions. Since she was writing historical fiction, accuracy was important. She has lots of ideas for other books some of which involve black families and life in the West, while others are more contemporary. At the moment, Courtni is writing adult romances, but she has a strong desire to return to writing for children. I am sure it won't be long before we are reading more of her books.
Contributor: Marilyn Courtot
Reviews
Jumping the Broom
Courtni C. Wright
Illustrated by Gershom Griffith
Wright tells the story of life on a plantation and preparations for a wedding between two slaves. The people are poor, but they do everything possible to brighten up the wedding day by preparing food and making a wedding quilt and household items for the couple's cabin. Since there is no preacher to preside, the bride and groom jump over a broom lying on the ground. It is a symbol for sweeping out the old and welcoming the new as their married life starts. 1994, Holiday House, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
Journey to Freedom
Courtni C. Wright
Illustrated by Gershom Griffith
It is a long and arduous journey, but to the slaves who are escaping on the Underground Railroad, the future as free men and women is worth the hardships they suffer. Wright's story features Harriet Tubman as she leads a group of runaway slaves on their harrowing and exhausting journey to safety in Canada. It ends on a safe and happy note for this family, which was not always the case with runaway slaves. 1994, Holiday House, Ages 4 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
Wagon Train: A Family Goes West in 1865
Courtni C. Wright
Illustrated by Gershom Griffith
Like many others, African American families moved west. Ginny tells the story of her family's journey from a Virginia plantation to California following the Civil War. She recounts the hazards: their father being bitten by a snake, their encounter with Indians, the chores that needed to be done and a varietyof other adventures. They finally arrive in California where they will start a new life. 1995, Holiday House, Ages 6 to 11, $15.95. Reviewer: Leila Toledo
ISBN: 0-8234-1152-4
Added 1999
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