ABSTRACT
January's Sparrow, written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco, has been well received and recognized by many reviewers as a picture book that can be a meaningful addition to classroom and school libraries. Polacco represents the family's fear and fortitude as they follow the North Star, walking through cornfields, climbing high bluffs, and making their way through muck and mud. Throughout the story, the narrator, a character named January, provides details about what all the characters think, feel, do, and witness. While Polacco represents a division of labor based on gender among Blacks, her book asserts that there was no difference between men and women when it came to the thirst and quest for freedom. The character January illustrates the strength of Black men by enduring and surviving a brutal beating, and Adam certainly shows courage in leading his family on a difficult journey to freedom.
