Polacco, Patricia.  Pink and Say.  Philomel Books, 1994.  ISBN 978-0-399-      22671-7  Fiction.
Summary	Tells of the friendship between an African American Union soldier and his poor white comrade, as one nurses the other and they are imprisoned in Andersonville.
Media	Illustrations are stunning and heartbreaking.  Quote from Polacco’s website: I USE PENTEL ACETONE MARKERS. I ALSO WILL PAINT INTO THEM WITH ACRYLIC PAINT, NUMBER 2 AND 6 B PENCILS, AND OIL PASTELS. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU SEE PHOTOS OF PEOPLE IN MY BOOKS -(LIKE ON A DRESSER IN FRAMES) I ACTUALLY PASTE THE PHOTOS INTO THE ARTWORK SO THAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE IT BELONGS THERE...THE PHOTOS THAT APPEAR IN MY BOOKS ARE USUALLY PICTURES OF THE PEOPLE THAT THE BOOK IS ACTUALLY ABOUT.
Literary     Devices	Symbolism in illustrations
Curriculum Connection	5th – 8th grades  American history, Civil War Excellent read aloud
Rating	5Q  5P
Theme/extra	Based on a true story. Courage, war, family, slavery http://www.patriciapolacco.com/books/pink_and_say/ps_index.html

Mary Smartt 8/2/09

 

 

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Pink and Say, by Patricia Polacco. New York: Philomel Books, 1994.

 

Summary: Sheldon Russell Curtis (Say), a white boy soldier, and Pinkus Aylee (Pink), a black boy soldier, meet on the fields of a battle of the Civil War. They forge a friendship, until they are captured by Confederate soldiers.

 

Rating: 5Q, 5P

 

ISBN: 0399226710

 

Medium: Pencil/pastel(?)

 

Curricular Connections: Great for History (Civil War), English curriculum

 

Age Group: 5^th – 7^th Grades

 

E.K. 7/29/09

++++

 

Citation;  Pink and Say Patricia Polacco and Patricia Polacco, Ill. New York:  Philomel Books, 1994. 

ISBN:   978-0-399-22671-7.

Annotation:  Say Curtis tells the story about how Pinkus Aylee saved his life during the Civil War. Pinkus is an African-American Union soldier murdered by the Southern soldiers. This book is his legacy.

Media: Watercolors

Personal Rating:  5Q/4P

Curricular Connections: This is a good read aloud to introduce the Civil War, which is taught in Eighth Grade History. Abraham Lincoln is a symbol of freedom and students can learn about him in this book.  It is also a useful tool for exposing students to oral histories, which are primary sources.  It is good for teaching “Social History” because it celebrates Pink who was forgotten in traditional history texts.  It is useful for teaching memoirs and the importance of family and family history. Students can write their own family histories. They can also research child soldiers in the Civil War and connect them to child soldiers today. Students can learn about the 48^th Outfit, which was an African-American Regiment.  They can write oral histories from the point of view of soldiers and illustrate them. This book won the A.L.A Notable Best Book and it is an excellent tool for teaching American History.

Grade Level or Age Range: Middle School, especially Eighth Grade.

Themes: Friendship is a theme because Say becomes a better man because of his friendship with Pink.  There is also the theme of heroism. Pink rescues Say and fights for freedom. The theme of slavery is evident. Pink is a slave and is sacrificed in his fight for freedom. There is the theme of love. Moe Moe Bay’s love for both Pink and Say make her a symbol of unity. There are also historical themes such as the theme of freedom during the Civil War.

Symbol:  Moe Moe Bay is the symbol of love and unity in the book. She sacrifices herself to the Southern troops in order to save Pink and Say.  She also nurtures both Pink and Say after their injuries. She is the reason both boys fight for freedom. Abraham Lincoln is also a symbol of peace and unity as symbolized by the handshake. Say shook Lincoln’s hand and he shakes Pink’s hand to symbolize their unity.

Artwork:  Polacco uses dramatic and emotional images.  The boys’ clasped hands are wrenched apart in an extreme close-up as they are being taken to prison.  Polacco uses powerful browns, reds, and blues to create emotional impact.  She uses dynamic patterns and double page spreads.  Moe Moe Bay envelops Say in a patchwork quilt to comfort him, which symbolizes her acceptance of him. She draws characters using dramatic perspectives and angular lines.  Polacco has an expressionistic style.  Moe Moe Bay’s murdered body is elongated and her gunshot wound is amplified by the red pattern on her dress. The faces are drawn with crosshatching to emphasize the characters’ anguish.

By: Joanne Maher July 23rd, 2009

 

Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco.  New York: Philomel Books, 1994.

ISBN:  0-399-22671-0.                            Subject:  Civil War, historical fiction                   Grades: 4-6

Curricular Connections:  could easily be used as part of a Civil War history lesson.

Young African American soldier finds wounded fellow white soldier Say and carries him to safety. They are captured while returning to their units and subsequently separated at a Confederate camp.

Q/P: 5/4 : Polacco's emotive illustrations are successful in conveying the emotions of both young soldiers, as well as Pink's mother. Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco.  New York: Philomel Books, 1994.

BVG, 7/21/09 

Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco. New York: Philomel Books, 1994. ISBN: 0590630997.

 

 

Civil War soldiers Say Curtis meets black soldier Pinkus Aylee when they are imprisoned by southern troops.  A story of friendship that transcends race while illustrating the constrictions of a country torn apart by racial injustice. 

 

Color illustrations.

 

 

Curriculum Connections:

Social Studies

 

 

 

(DM 4.28.08)

 

Polacco, P.  (1994).  Pink and Say.  New York: Philomel Books.  0399226710.  5Q/5P.  Original paintings.

 

 

The true story of Pinkus Aylee and Sheldon Russel Curtis, two boys who fought in the Civil War.

* Grade 6-8, Subject: American History, Civil War

 

jw 05/06/08

 

 

 

 

ISBN:  0-399-22671-0.                            Subject:  Civil War, historical fiction                   Grades: 4-6

Curricular Connections:  could easily be used as part of a Civil War history lesson.

 Fifteen year old African American Pink finds wounded fellow white soldier Say and carries him to his mother's home for a safe recovery. They are captured while returning to their units and subsequently separated at a Confederate camp.

Q/P: 5/4 : Polacco's emotive illustrations are successful in conveying the emotions of both young soldiers, as well as Pink's mother.