Lift Your Light a Little Higher [hc]
The Story of Stephen Bishop
Written by Heather Henson [Kentucky] & illustrated by Bryan Collier
Welcome to Mammoth Cave. It’s 1840 and my name’s Stephen Bishop. I’ll be your guide, so come with me, by the light of my lantern, into the deepest biggest cave in all of the United States. Down here, beneath the earth, I’m not just an enslaved man. I’m a pioneer. I know the cave’s twists and turns. It taught me to not be afraid of the dark. And watching all these people write their names on the ceiling? Well, it taught me how to read, too. Imagine that. An enslaved man, reading. But like I said, down here I’m a guide. I’m a man. And this is my story. 32 pages
"Collier's strikingly symbolic collage illustrations often draw a stark line between what appears above and below the ground, emphasizing the covert nature of Bishop's achievements." -Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review (Ages 4-8)
"This is a fitting tribute to a historical figure who led so many yet had to remain behind." -The Horn Book Magazine (Primary)
September 6, 2016
AR Level=3.7; Lexile Level=670 AD Adult-Directed Text
