Description
Review
Starred Review from Booklist Excerpt: Stunning hand-painted linoleum block print illustrations by Coretta Scott King Award winner Minter are awash with color and light, as from a stained glass window, and capture the nuances of Doc and Jim's life together perfectly. The narrative's quiet tone conveys a sense of respect for Doc's life and legacy, while back matter offers an extended biography, archival photos of Doc and Jim, and source notes. This beautiful, picture-book homage to Doc and Jim is nothing short of enthralling.
Starred Review from Kirkus! Excerpt: Minter's acrylic-painted linoleum-block prints combine with Bowman's story of a former slave who trained a brilliant horse for a memorable book. . . . An incredible story that ought to be widely known--a must-read.
Starred Review from Publishers Weekly. Excerpt: Though debut author Bowman focuses on Doc's relationship with Jim, a substantial afterword will leave children eager to learn more about DocKey's remarkable life, including his reluctant service work with Confederate forces during the Civil War and his efforts to free the enslaved.
Junior Library Guild Selection for fall 2016! A Horse that can read, write, and do math? Ridiculous! That's what people thought until former slave and self-taught veterinarian Dr. William Key, with his "educated" horse Beautiful Jim Key, proved that, with kindness, anything is possible. Over nine years of exhibiting across the country, Doc and "Jim" broke racial barriers, fueled the humane movement, and inspired millions of people to step right up and choose kindness.
* 2016 Orbis Pictus Recommended Book. * 2016 Cybils Finalist* Download the Step Right Up Kindness Pledge from the author website.
Product Description
William "Doc" Key had a special way with animals. Growing up an enslaved child in Tennessee, Doc was sent to plantations around the state to care for sick and wounded animals. When the Civil War ended and Doc was freed, he began to dream of breeding a winning racehorse. But those dreams were dashed when his colt was born weak and sickly. Although many people would have euthanized the colt, Doc nursed him back to health and named him Jim.
Noticing a level of curiosity and eagerness in the horse, Doc began teaching Beautiful Jim Key first to recognize letters, then to read, write, add, subtract, and more. Doc soon took his talented horse on the road, spreading a message of patience and kindness, over cruelty, to all animals.
With striking illustrations by Daniel Minter, Step Right Up is the inspiring story of one man and one horse who showed the world the power of kindness.
This biography explores Common Core English Language Arts Standards and Social Studies Standards.
From School Library Journal
Gr 2–6—A profile of William "Doc" Key and his relationship with animals, specifically his skilled horse Jim. Key was born a slave in Shelbyville, TN, in the 1830s. After the Civil War, he stayed in Shelbyville and built a veterinary where he sold his homemade remedies, and became very successful. Referred to as "Doc" Key, he traveled extensively while pursuing various entrepreneurial goals. Key eventually trained a clumsy colt named Jim to amaze audiences with his uncanny ability to spell and do math. He donated portions of his proceeds to humane societies and was instrumental in raising awareness for the compassionate treatment of animals. Minter's linoleum block prints, painted with acrylic, add the perfect historic feel to an incredible true story. The extensive back matter will be useful for student reports. VERDICT A solid purchase for most collections with an interest in biographies and animal rights.—Jennifer Steib Simmons, Anderson County Library, SC
From the Back Cover
"Once in a blue moon you come across a story that is so unbelievable--seemingly impossible to make up--that it has to be true. That's just what we find in the deeply inspiring duo, Wiliam "Doc" Key and Beautiful Jim Key. Their relationship sp