The Walk (a Stroll to the Poll) - by Winsome Bingham (Hardcover)

About the Book

As a little girl accompanies her grandma on a walk to the polling station, members of their community join and the grandmother explains the importance of their journey.

Book Synopsis

From award-winning creators Winsome Bingham and E.B. Lewis, The Walk (A Stroll to the Poll) is a powerful picture book story celebrating a journey crucial to our democracy: the walk to vote. Perfect for sharing with young readers during election season.

Granny and her granddaughter are going on a walk. But this is not just any walk. It's a walk that must not be missed; one that is more important than ever but has been made increasingly difficult for many to participate in.

It's a walk that joins together a community; that lifts voices; that allows us to speak up, stand up, and say what's on our minds. It's a walk for hope.

Where are all these treasured souls going? Just WALK ON and find out.

My granny is taking me on THE WALK.
"Because leaders are not born," she says. "They're made through molding and modeling."
"What's the walk?" I ask.
"You'll see. And there's a few treasured souls coming too."

Review Quotes

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Serious but not solemn, this picture book is an excellent readaloud choice for classroom units on democracy, civil rights, and voting."

--Booklist

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Bingham effectively carries readers through an important yet simple event while conveying its significance as a milestone for an individual, a family, a community, and a nation. The child's-eye view of the day, clear prose, and strong relationships between characters make this an engrossing read, while statements about injustice are communicated subtly in comments between adult characters and the length of the walk itself--layers that can be unpacked with children who are ready to learn more. Lewis' work is at its best here; detailed watercolor paintings immerse readers in the life of a multicultural community on a bright day. This lovely introduction to an essential topic will be a new classic."--Kirkus

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Gorgeous writing paired with luminous art and combined with an impactful message make this work an essential purchase."--School Library Journal

***STARRED REVIEWS***
"Portraiture-centered watercolor illustrations from Lewis bring a clear-eyed realism to thoughtful conversational text by Bingham; together, the two tackle a weighty topic by leaving plenty of room for additional discussion."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Winsome Bingham is a soul food connoisseur, master cook, US Army war and disabled veteran, and the author of one of the New York Times Best Books of the Year, Soul Food Sunday. She received both bachelor's and master's degrees in education and has more than 15 years of teaching experience. You can find her cooking up soul food or taking THE WALK to the polls with friends and family. She lives in Connecticut.
E.B. Lewis is the award-winning illustrator of numerous books for children, including Coming on Home Soon (a Caldecott Honor Book), Talkin' About Bessie (a Coretta Scott King Award winner), and The Bat Boy and His Violin (a Coretta Scott King Honor book). In 2003, the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota purchased a collection of original watercolors from Lewis's first 50 children's books. Today, his works are displayed in museums, owned by private collectors, and sold by art galleries throughout the United States and Europe. He lives in New Jersey.