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Table of Contents
About The Book
Bolstered by the love and wisdom of his large, warm family, young Malcolm Little was a natural born leader. But when confronted with intolerance and a series of tragedies, Malcolm’s optimism and faith were threatened. He had to learn how to be strong and how to hold on to his individuality. He had to learn self-reliance.
Together with acclaimed illustrator AG Ford, Ilyasah Shabazz gives us a unique glimpse into the childhood of her father, Malcolm X, with a lyrical story that carries a message that resonates still today—that we must all strive to live to our highest potential.
About The Illustrator
AG Ford is the illustrator of many books for children, including the New York Times bestseller Barack by Jonah Winter, Michelle by Deborah Hopkinson, and Goal! by Mina Javaherbin. He also contributed to Our Children Can Soar: A Celebration of Rosa, Barack, and the Pioneers of Change by Michelle Cook. He lives in Frisco, Texas, with his wife, Brandy. Visit him at AGFordIllustration.com.
Product Details
- Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (January 7, 2014)
- Length: 48 pages
- ISBN13: 9781442412163
- Grades: 1 - 5
- Ages: 6 - 10
- Lexile ® NC1190L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®
Browse Related Books
- 1st Grade
- 2nd Grade
- 3rd Grade
- 4th Grade
- 5th Grade
- Age 4 - 8
- Age 9 - 11
- Lexile ® 1091 - 1190
- Children's Non-Fiction > Biography & Autobiography > Cultural, Ethnic & Regional
- Children's Non-Fiction > Family > General
- Children's Non-Fiction > Biography & Autobiography > People of Color
- Children's Non-Fiction > Biography & Autobiography > Social Activists
Raves and Reviews
"The childhood of the controversial African-American activist was shaped by parental love and white racism.
Writing with the fervor and intensity of a motivational speaker, Shabazz recounts her father’s early years, which were filled with the loving support and teachings of his parents as well as the hate and destruction of the Ku Klux Klan.... With the passion of a preacher, she celebrates love, respect, tolerance and education without restraint.... Ford’s oil paintings, framed on the page, are lush and filled with detail.
A daughter’s proud...tribute to her father and his parents."
– Kirkus Reviews, November 2013
"Shabazz (Growing Up X) pays affectionate tribute to her father, Malcolm X, and his parents in this account of the activist’s childhood.... Shabazz relays...Malcolm’s resolve to succeed and remain true to his parents’ values after he loses his father “to the brute force of racism and the narrow-mindedness of the Ku Klux Klan,” and his mother is deemed “no longer fit to care for her children.” Ford’s (My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) oil paintings render joyous and desolate moments with equal skill."
– Publishers Weekly, October 2013
"The author of this handsome, inspirational offering is Malcolm X’s daughter–an educator, activist, and motivational speaker. . . . Ford’s oil paintings are accomplished and historically accurate."
– School Library Journal, January 2014
"Before he became the black nationalist leader known as Malcolm X , Malcolm Little was a boy who loved fishing and butterflies. His daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, aided by AG Ford's vivid paintings, outlines a childhood marked by love and tragedy."
– Usa Today, February 2014
Awards and Honors
- Eureka! Excellence in Nonfiction Award Honor Title (CA)
- MSTA Reading Circle List
- Wisconsin State Reading Association's Reading List
Resources and Downloads
Common Core Suggestion
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Malcolm Little Hardcover 9781442412163
- Author Photo (jpg): Ilyasah Shabazz Photograph by Phillip Van Nostrand(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit