Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco

Title: Pink and Say

Author: Patricia Polacco

Publisher: Philomel; First edition

Release date: September 1994

Pages: 48

ISBN-13: 978-0399226717

Summary:

Amazon: 

"This picture book set during the Civil War is a departure for Polacco in terms of content and audience. It is certainly the deepest and most serious book she has done. Sheldon Curtis, 15, a white boy, lies badly wounded in a field in Georgia when Pinkus Aylee, an African American Union soldier about Sheldon's age, finds him and carries him home to his mother, Moe Moe Bay. Sheldon, known as Say, is nursed back to health in her nurturing care. But then she is killed by marauders, and the boys return to their units. They are then are captured and taken to Andersonville, where Pink is hanged within hours of their capture. One of the most touching moments is when Pink reads aloud from the Bible to Moe Moe and Say. Say tells them that he can't read, but then he offers something he's very proud of: he once shook Abraham Lincoln's hand. This is a central image in the story, and is what ties the boys together for a final time, as Pink cries, "'Let me touch the hand that touched Mr. Lincoln, Say, just one last time.'" The picture of their clasped hands, with the hands of the soldiers wrenching them apart, is exceptionally moving. Polacco's artwork, in fact, has never been better. She uses dramatic perspectives, dynamic compositions, and faces full of emotion to carry her powerful tale. History comes to life in this remarkable book."

http://www.amazon.com/Pink-Say-Patricia-Polacco/dp/0399226710/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1288588297&sr=1-1

In the classroom:

This book is yet another example of the racial issues that took place during the Civil War and allows students to see that diversity is a good thing and that having friends that come from different backgrounds and races is something positive.  It shows them to now focus on the outer appearance of an individual.  Due to the time period that the story is taking place, during the Civil War, it also allows for a lot of historical background.