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“Then she felt the magic, the African mystery. Say she rose just as free as a bird. Light as a feather”

“Suddenly, tons of people are free. The master and his henchman are shocked by this- they never realized what power these people had, not only as individuals, but together“

I enjoyed reading this book because the setting is placed in a culture that is different than my own. It is also interesting to see how different history can be interpreted from different cultures. I think this would be a useful tool in allowing students to explore this time period and African culture.

This is an example of myths and religious stories. The story is about Africans being taken from their homes to become slaves in America. The Africans could fly but their wings were stripped when they were taken to America. Once in America, the Africans were treated terribly but their savior, Toby, reminded them of who they were in Africa and they began to fly away.

“The people who could fly kept their power, although they shed their wings. They kept their secret magic in the land of slavery.“

The moment when the slaves start singing and their bodies start to lift of the ground and fly to freedom.

This story is a fantasy. This story is about African Americans who were enslaved and grew wings and flew away to freedom. The African Americans who were slaves began to sing ancient African magic words in order to fly to freedom.

This book would be perfect for a unit on slavery in America since it highlights a story told from the perspective of an enslaved person. You could ask the students questions like where did the people who could fly go? Why couldn‘t the rest of the people fly?

This book depicts the cruelties of slavery and the triumphs of the human spirit. Framed as a tale passed down from the generations of enslaved people in America during the 19th Century, the story takes place on a southern plantation. An old man named Toby speaks secret words to others on the plantation allowing them to fly away to freedom.

“She flew clumsily at first, with the child now held tightly in her arms. Then she felt the magic, the African mystery.“

I feel as if this picture book could be best utilized in later elementary school classroom which children ranging from eight to thirteen years old. Specifically, to be useful in correlation with a social studies class and or lesson. I believe that this story could help students understand the lives in which individuals lived during the years of slavery. As well as how hard individuals fought in unity to escape slavery and seek freedom.

This book is an example of a myth and religious story which is a specific type of traditional literature. The piece of literature tells the story of enslaved individuals from the African culture who all had wings. The individuals all sang African chants that lifted their bodies into the air and flew them away for slavery and to nearby freedom opportunities. The moral of this story focuses on the triumph of human spirit and the fight for freedom.

“The ones that could fly shed their wings.“

This book would be amazing in a classroom to inform children on slavery. It has such a rich and deep meaning that all children should hear about.

The People Could Fly is an American Black Folktales published in 1985. This tale was retold by Virginia Hamilton and illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. It is a fantasy tale of the slaves who possessed the ancient magic words that enabled them to fly away to freedom.

This tale is very well written as it expresses the value of fighting for freedom. I could use this in my classroom to teach students grades 3-5 about the violence of slavery. This folktale offers great insight into the many challenges enslaved people faced.

The book The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton is an African-American folktale. This book is about a fantasy tale that slaves who possessed ancient magic words could fly away to freedom. The tale is beautifully written and illustrated as it emphasizes the powerful message of fighting for freedom.

“The old man Toby spoke to them poor souls and he was flying on so they say the overseer told it the one called master said it was a lie a trick of the light, and the driver kept his mouth shut.“

This book would be great when introducing or talking about slavery. I think it gives a good perspective of how the enslaved people were feeling in those desperate times. I think it is also important to read to students when discussing how stories can be passed down to help explain certain events.

The People Could Fly is an American Black Folktale that fits into the Myth and religious story category. This story explains how enslaved people thought and dreamed about escaping slavery and how magically being free would be. The story describes the religious aspect of what some of the enslaved people believed in.

“Go as you know how to go” I really liked this quote because Toby said this to the first woman who flew.

This story was beautifully written and beautifully illustrated. I like the moral of the story and the hope that it brings within it. This book is great to use during black history month.

The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton. Myth. This tale is about slavery and freedom. It was about a boy who knew the magic words that would help the slaves to fly to freedom. The illustrations of this tale show movement by the people flying diagonally.

“And they flew like blackbirds over the fields. Black, shiny wings flappin against the blue up there.”

This historical fiction book follows the real story of people who were enslaved. It brings in a fictional feel expressing the people's triumph and spirit as a traditional magic in their culture. Them coming together is expressed as their ability to fly to freedom. It highlights different cultures and the the strength of the human spirit. It would be good in a classroom.

I think we've all heard different versions of these stories. I'm glad I took time read this.

“They say some people could fly. Say that long time ago in Africa, some of the people knew magic.”

I really like that Virginia Hamilton retold these stories using the original dialects to stay true to the history of African slaves in America.

This book is a composition of 24 stories that kept African culture alive during slavery. It is comprised of folk tales that are American-Blake folklore. I think this would give children a new perspective on culture and create a really valuable learning experience.

This book was extremely emotional to listen to. The pictures captured the emotional essence of the book as well. I really loved the metaphorical use of wings and flying. It is a great book to read to older children who understand what slavery is and the impact it has on our nation. This book is too mature for a younger audience because of it's hard content. I teared up listening to this book.
TRADITIONAL LITERATURE
RATING 4.5/5.

“Kum yali, Kum buba tambe”

Some Africans were always able to fly before they were captured as slaves. This would be beneficial to an older age group of children.

Tells a story of Africans who had the ability to fly, but lost that ability when they came to the U.S. as slaves.
-traditional lit

“She flew like an eagle, until she was gone from sight.”

I would definitely read this book to my students, as it has a lot of meaning behind it. This would be a good book to read to students when talking about slavery and how brutal it really was.

Genre: Traditional Literature
This book was definitely different and had an underlying meaning that had to be thought about. I interpreted the events in this book as slaves finally being free and being able to “fly away” from their slavery. I enjoyed this book and its meaning.

“‘Don‘t you know who I am? Don‘t you know some of us in this field?‘”

“They say the people could fly. Say that long time ago in Africa, some of the people knew magic”

Sad, but meaningful story that tells a story of hope for the slaves.

Traditional literature, 1985. Symbolic story about slavery. Mother sarah works hard with her child on her back. The master and over-seer whips the slaves and old man Toby helps certain ones fly away. Could be symbolic of their flight towards freedom or heaven.

I thought that this was a great story and I have never heard one like it before. This would be great to use in a history lesson for older kids. I don‘t think young kids would be able to comprehend the significance and it might be too much for them.

I have never heard this story before! I think that the overall message is definitely to keep hope. The setting definitely suggests the historical plantation and Africa. The reader gets to know Toby the best & that he wants to help everyone & he‘s old and wise. I wouldn‘t use this book with young kids but perhaps older ones.

It is time to go now. Go, go as you know how.

This book is good for multicultural purposes!

The characters were African American who had magical powers but kept them hidden. The setting represented what it was like back in the day when there was slavery. The theme of the book is how ordinary people turn into flying hero‘s within seconds and shows a good representation of transformation! Genre: traditional literature (folk tale); Published: 1985; Illustrator: Leo and Diane Dillon

Working on this beautiful book. It's stories are so intriguing and amazing. I can't wait to read more!

“The ones that could fly shed their wings. They couldn‘t take their wings across the water on the slave ships.”