Sky Sash So Blue

by Benny Andrews, Elizabeth Hathorn, Libby Hathorn

Book Overview

Susannah has a treasure: a beautiful blue sash all her own. But there's an even bigger secret. Susannah's older sister is getting married -- married to a free black man. This story of a wedding gown... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689810903
• ISBN13: 9780689810909
• Release Date: June 1998
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 1 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.3" x 13.3"
• Age Range: 5 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

a sad happy time

This is a very touching story... I agree with the previous reviewer, we just got it out of the library for the cover and didn't expect it to be about slavery. But I'm glad I got it. Even though I'm not sharing it with my daughter now, this will definitely be a book for when she gets older. Sissy's husband-to-be, a free man, walks from far away to their wedding but Sissy's owner refuses to give them a preacher or to do anything to validate the couple. Undeterred, Ma'am (her mother) gathers every scrap of white fabric she can find and stitches together an all-over dress of white and conducts the ceremony herself. "She decides she'll be the one/To pray them, sing and bless/For she's miracl'd something already/and out of next-to-nothing/Stitched a wedding dress." They have to take the dress back apart after the ceremony and return all the cloth: "In the kitchen, jelly net spilled through fingers/ I'm the wedding dress, I'm the wedding dress." When John Bee comes back with enough money to buy Sissy's freedom, her mother and sister have to stay but they know that he will return when he has saved up enough money and one day they all can be together. This is a wonderful story, celebrating the strength of family, determination in the face of adversity, and finding joy where you can. I think it should be a part of every elementary school library and read often, not just in February.

A pleasant surprise

My 2 1/2 year old daughter picked this book, almost randomly, from the library shelf. I think she was attracted to the beautiful picture on the front cover. I tried to talk her out of it because the book is obviously advanced for her, but we took it home anyway. She asked for the book several times and listened to the entire story both times (high praise from a toddler). The words were beautifully written. The rhythm is slow and soothing. I still think the book is a little mature for a toddler, but I intend to buy it and read it to her again when she's older. I love that the story of slavery is told from a child's view. I don't expect my daughter to ever understand what it would be like to be born into slavery, but this book makes this very important subject more attainable to a small child. A also like that this is a universal story about a mother's unlimited love for her children.