Weatherford, Carole Boston. Troubled Waters: A River’s Journey Toward Justice. Bryan Collier, Illus. Bloomsbury, 01/2026. [36]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $20.99. 978-1-6811-9818-7. GRADES 2–5. OUTSTANDING.
In this unusual book on the U.S. Civil Rights movement, the Alabama River is the narrator, describing the original indigenous Choctaw and Cherokee people, enslaved people from Africa, sharecroppers, and others who later crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge to seek equal rights. The text has a poetic quality, including phrases from spirituals such as “Wade in the Water,” lines from famous speeches, and brief paragraphs giving historical context. The deeply-colored illustrations have a three-dimensional quality, using acrylics with watercolor paintings collaged on top (according to a note on the verso), depicting many Black subjects close-up, showing serious facial expressions. Back matter includes a timeline and illustrator’s note that add helpful factual details. Teachers could find this useful to inspire a school assembly for the Dr. King holiday or similar cultural celebration.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool