Angela Johnson
Biographical Information
Born June 18, 1961 in Tuskegee, Alabama
Worked at a kids' summer camp
Used to wear a razor blade necklace & write "punk" poetry
Likes to travel, garden and hang out with friends
Attended Kent State University
Now lives in Kent, Ohio
Has won the Coretta Scott King Award twice
Was awarded $500,000-John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Grant !!!
Complete Bibliography
I chose to include a complete listing of Angela Johnson's books because of her strong emphasis on family and friendship. I think it is very important for children to see the importance of the family as a unit, regardless of its makeup. Families come in different configurations and children need to see that each and every family unit is normal in its own way. All of Johnson's books are books that should be in every school library!
Picture books:
Aunt in our house. New York: Orchard, 1996. ISBN 0531088529.
Daddy calls me Man. New York: Orchard, 1997. ISBN 0531071758.
Do like Kyla. New York: Orchard, 1990. ISBN 0531058522.
Down the winding road. New York: DK Ink, 2000. ISBN 0789425963.
Girl who wore snakes. New York: Orchard, 1993. ISBN 0531086410.
I dream of trains. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2003. ISBN 0689826095.
Joshua by the sea. New York: Orchard, 1994. ISBN 0531068463.
Joshua's night whispers. New York: Orchard, 1994. ISBN 0531068471.
Julius. New York: Orchard, 1993. ISBN 0531054659.
Just like Josh Gibson. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004. ISBN 0689826281.
Leaving morning. New York: Orchard, 1992. ISBN 0531059928.
Mama bird, baby birds. New York: Orchard, 1994. ISBN 053106848X.
One of three. New York: Orchard, 1991. ISBN 0531059553.
Rain feet. New York: Orchard, 1994. ISBN 0531068498.
Rolling store. New York: Orchard, 1997. ISBN 0531300153.
Shoes like Miss Alice's. New York: Orchard, 1995. ISBN 053108664X.
Tell me a story, Mama. New York: Orchard, 1989. ISBN 0531057941.
Those building men. New York: Blue Sky Press, 2001. ISBN 0590665219.
Violet's music. New York: Dial Books, 2004. ISBN 0803727402.
Wedding. New York: Orchard, 1999. ISBN 0531331393.
When I am old with you. New York: Orchard, 1990. ISBN 0531058840.
Young Adults:
Bird. New York: Dial, 2004. ISBN 0803728476.
Cool moonlight. New York: Dial, 2003. ISBN 0803728468.
First part last. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2003. ISBN 0689849222.
Gone from home: short takes. New York: DK Publishing, 1998. ISBN 0789424991.
Heaven. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998. ISBN 0689822294.
Humming whispers. New York: Orchard, 1995. ISBN 0531068986.
Looking for Red. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2002. ISBN 0689832532.
Maniac monkeys on Magnolia Street. New York: Knopf, 1999. ISBN 0679990534.
Other side: shorter poems. New York: Orchard, 1998. ISBN 0531331148.
Running back to Ludie. New York: Orchard, 2001. ISBN 0439293162.
Songs of faith. New York: Orchard, 1998. ISBN 0531330230.
Toning the sweep. New York: Orchard, 1993. ISBN 0531054764.
When mules flew on Magnolia Street. New York: Knopf, 2000. ISBN 0679890777.
Comparison/Contrast
Since I chose to read some of Johnson's books for young children, I would like to compare and contrast three titles instead of two:
Daddy calls me Man
Tell me a story, Mama
When I am old with you
Daddy calls me Man is a story told by Noah, whose parents are artists. Both parents work out of the family home. Noah reacts to different paintings hanging in their studio. There is a painting called "Big Shoes," and Noah makes a connection between the painting and his desire to be like his dad. Another painting, called "Spin," entices Noah to romp and spin around and play with his older sister. "Baby Sister," another painting, brings Noah's true emotions to the forefront when he displays his love for his little baby sister. This brings about a special bond with Noah's father, as they are the only two "men" in the family.
Tell me a story, Mama is a dialogue between a young girl and her mother. The girl asks her mother to tell her about when she was a young girl. The girl, however, does all the story-telling, recounting the stories she has heard over and over again about her mother's childhood. In her retellings of the stories, the girl beams with pride over how smart, how caring, or how brave her mother was. The girl also makes connections to her grandparents through the stories. At the end, she begs her mother to tell her more stories.
When I am old with you is the story of a young child who dearly loves his grandfather. He dreams of the day that he and his grandfather will be able to do certain things together. The child imagines he will be the same age as his grandfather when they do these things together. He talks about sitting in the rocker and having talks, about playing cards, and of the many other activities they are actually sharing right now!
These three stories, all written in very different styles, evoke the same message: family bonds. Johnson successfully shows three very unique children who happen to have a strong, positive relationship with someone in their family. These books reinforce the message that family love is undying and the one thing that will remain a constant throughout a child's lifetime. One beautiful aspect of the three titles is the fact that the characters are universal. The characters in all three books are depicted as African American; the love and respect for family members transcends any shade of skin color. The illustrations in Tell me a story, Mama and When I am old with you are by David Soman. Soman's light watercolor illustrations give a feeling of peace within the family units. The characters are contemporary. Their dress, the setting, etc. represents the families in modern day America. Rhonda Mitchell was the illustrator for Daddy calls me Man. She uses bold, bright colors and dramatic shadows to contrast the different moods contained in Johnson's text. All three families are shown to be physically close, just as the stories intend.
The three stories are good, positive reflections of different types of families. Young children can appreciate the special ties between children and their parents or grandparents. The majority of Johnson's other books also focus on families. Her Young Adult titles concentrate on issues that affect families in different ways: divorce, teen parenthood, and even mental illness. Nonetheless, each of Johnson's books are sure to strike a chord with readers of all ages and abilities.
Reviews
When I am old with you, from
School Library Journal, 9/1/1990:
"The bond between grandparent and grandchild transcends time, and sometimes
transcends an adult's sense of logic, reaching a deeper level of truth. . .
"
Tell me a story, Mama, from School Library Journal, 3/1/1989: "Both language and art are full of subtle wit and rich emotion, resulting in a beautifully realized evocation of treasured childhood and family moments."
Daddy calls me Man, from Kirkus Reviews, 7/15/1997: "Family love and the shared stories and symbols that connect the generations are pervasive themes (as they are in all of Johnson's works)."
Lesson Plans
When I Am Old With You (#1) Heaven (discussion guide)
When I Am Old With You (#2) First Part Last
Humming Whispers (discussion guide)
Reference List
African American Literature Book Club. Available from http://authors.aalbc.com/angela.htm. Accessed 24 July 2004.Amazon book reviews. Available from http://www.amazon.com. Accessed 20 July 2004.
Angela Johnson Teacher Resource File. Available from http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/angelajohnson.htm. Accessed 20 July 2004.
Houghton Mifflin Reading. 2000. Meet the author: Angela Johnson. Available from http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/mtai/johnson.html. Accessed 20 July 2004.
Ohio Authors and Illustrators for Young People. Available from http://green.upper-arlington.k12.oh.us/ohioauthors/johnson,angela.htm. Accessed 14 July 2004.
VisitingAuthors.com. 2004. Available from http://www.visitingauthors.com/visiting_author_presents.html. Accessed 17 July 2004.
This author study was created by Julie Hoy as part of a class assignment for LS5903/Multicultural Literature for Children & YA @ Texas Woman's University. 20 July 2004.