The Day Madear Voted

Personal and political history intertwines in a warmly affirming tale of two Black siblings witnessing a milestone event—their mother voting for the first time in 1969 Louisiana. An unnamed narrator and younger brother admire Madear, smartly dressed to vote. Concise narration outlines the U.S.’s history of Black voter suppression before following the family to the polling station, which “felt just like being at church, with people greeting us enthusiastically.” Voting still requires courage, but exiting the curtained booth to friends’ “Amen!”s, Madear discusses how good the action feels. She also speculates on a world in which Black people will be elected to political office, an idea shown as actualized when Madear votes in the 2008 Presidential election. In brown-outlined digital watercolor and mixed-media images by Tate, Madear’s hands-on-hips stance embodies power and pride in an intergenerational book about a woman who “walked into a voting booth... and allowed us to imagine a different future.” Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Creators’ notes conclude. Ages 3–7. (July)