 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave
- By Laban Carrick Hill
- Genre: Picture Book
Common Sense Media says
Amazing award-winning historical story told in free verse.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that, when it comes down to it, this book is about a slave in 1800s America. As such, the subject matter might engender questions about slavery. However, the poetry and drawings of the book deal solely with Dave's artistry and craft, and parents can decide how much they want to discuss his life as a slave.
What's the story?
Dave was a real person, a slave who lived in South Carolina in the 1800s. He was a potter who somehow learned to read and write, and inscribed many of his pots with whimsical short poems, and the date they were created. The story, written in verse, focuses on his painstaking craft as he creates clay pots.
Is it any good?
It is difficult to convey the story of an artist slave in a picture book, but the author and illustrator of this 20011 Caldecott Honor book succeed by focusing on the difficult, painstaking art of pottery. As kids get older, they will understand the historical significance of Dave's story and can delve into the final pages of the book, which present a guide to his life as well as resources for further reading. As such, the book celebrates, as the illustrator writes, "the power of the human spirit, artistry, and truth, and that cannot be silenced by bondage of any kind."
This book was a 2011 Caldecott Honor book for its vivid, textured
illustrations. On the surface they are about a potter; delve deeper and
he creates his art against backdrops of slave life in 1800s America, from images of slaves working in fields to the hint of an owner's mansion.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about art. What are the different types of art that people can create? Which medium do you like to work with most -- clay, paint, crayon, something else?
Some families can use the information in the back of the book to explore Dave's life. Who was Dave? In which conditions did he live? How does his life story make his art more significant?
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AGE
Sanford Pottery Festival in Sanford, NC is the best!
DAVE THE POTTER is the best illustrated book! A pure book about poetry in motion. Pottery is poetry in motion. I loved the plot, the biography and the elements of poetry in motion. Many thanks to Mr. Don Hudson and Mr. Ken Nielsen - Sanford Pottery Festival in Sanford, North Carolina. They are the BEST! Thank you for providing us the opportunity to experience poetry in motion - pottery! Contact D.K. Clay Pottery at 1214 Hawkins Avenue, Sanford, North Carolina 27330 for more details. Great! DAVE THE POTTER was introduced to elementary students before the Festival and the book, A SINGLE SHARD, by Linda Sue Park is a must read before the Sanford Pottery Festival held in May each year. Thanks again, Sue Cox at Broadway Elementary School in Broadway, NC 27505
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| Author: | Laban Carrick Hill |
| Illustrator: | Bryan Collier |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Picture Book |
| Publisher: | Little, Brown and Company |
| Publication date: | September 7, 2010 |
| Number of pages: | 40 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 4 - 8 |
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