Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco

Plot Summary:

Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco is about two unlikely characters that interconnect in unusual circumstances. Patricia Polacco sets this book during the Civil War. It begins in a field in Georgia when a 15 year old white soldier, Sheldon Curtis or Say, is coming in and out of consciousness is due to a wound. A passer by, An African American Union soldier, Pinkus Aylee or Pink, finds him and carries him home to his mother, Moe Moe Bay. With the care of Moe Moe Bay, Say is slowly nursed back to health. While Say is healing, he discovers that Pink can read. Say confesses that he can’t. He also tells Pink that he is afraid to fight. Pink urges him to go back to the unit to help the others and the cause. Say tells Pink that he once shook the hand of President Abraham Lincoln. Pink immediately wants to touch the hand that touched the president. In the end, Moe Moe Bay is killed and the boys are taken. Right before the boys are torn apart, Pink cries out to Say, “Let me touch the hand that touched Mr. Lincoln, Say, just one last time.” Pink is killed and Say survives to tell the story of a solider who saved his life.

Impression about the book:

Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco is one of my favorite picture books. The visual elements of this book exceed the qualities of a high-quality picture book. The uses of lines in Pink and Say are curved. The lines construct the wonderful images of the book. The lines direct the viewer’s eyes from the text to the enjoyment of each illustration. The two-dimensional objects representing the illustrations in Pink and Say are angular shaped, giving the human characters life on the pages. The lines construct appealing sight to the viewer, allowing the viewer to appreciate the shapes on each page. The color used in Pink and Say is considered warm. The value is light in color with a bright saturation capturing the great storyline Patricia Polacco is trying to convey. The texture in Pink and Say is depicted as smooth. The visual elements in Pink and Say well depict the author’s intention. The unification of both text and illustrations complement one another creating this great picture book. The great use of object dominance attracts certain images as a powerful symbol of the book. For example, the illustration depicting the departure at the end of the book is a great example of object dominance.

Reviews / Reviews Excerpts:

Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco is by far one of the most touching picture books on the shelves today. The visual elements uniquely make this picture book an instant classic. The story line is so well thought-out, that it leaves the reader with the sense of hope for the true optimist in the world. The words, “Let me touch the hand that touched Mr. Lincoln, Say, just one last time,” will forever be the most impactful image etched in the minds of the readers.

Suggestions for library use:

Librarians could use this book as a read aloud as an insight of two young adults who are fighting in the Civil War. Also, this book can be a recommendation for those seek a serious, yet easy read. The librarian can show the pictures to have the students to captivate the wonderful storyline.