Illustrated by Ekua Holmes

Starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus & SLJ

Selected as the 2019 Texas Great Read

Honored by ALSC, CBC, ILA, NCSS, NCTE & TLA

Also available in Spanish (¿Qué haces con una voz así?)

Even as a child growing up in the Fifth Ward of Houston, Texas, Barbara Jordan stood out for her big, bold, booming, crisp, clear, confident voice. It was a voice that made people sit up, stand up, and take notice.

So what do you do with a voice like that?

Barbara took her voice to places few African American women had been in the 1960s: first law school, then the Texas state senate, then up to the United States congress. Throughout her career, she persevered through adversity to give voice to the voiceless and to fight for civil rights, equality, and justice.

New York Times bestselling author Chris Barton and Caldecott Honoree Ekua Holmes deliver a remarkable picture book biography about a woman whose struggles and mission continue to inspire today.

48 pages
Ages 4 and up
2018
Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781481465618

Named one of the best children’s books of the year by:

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Find it at your nearest library or local bookstore

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Bibliography for What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?

Collected posts about What Do You Do with a Voice Like That? on my blog, Bartography

Let's Talk About It

Biography Clearinghouse teaching support for What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?

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TeachingBooks resources

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A discussion and activity guide

Praise for What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?

*Starred Review* Striking mixed-media illustrations capture the relationships between people and the influence of place. Barton’s narration is colloquial, appropriately relying on rhetorical devices… A moving portrait of a true patriot who found ways to use her gift to work for change.

KIRKUS REVIEWS

*Starred Review* [L]yrical, inspiring language that will be easily accessible for young audiences, and … vibrant multimedia illustrations … Whether expressing her own beliefs or speaking out on behalf of others, she made sure that she was heard — and young readers are encouraged to do the same.

BOOKLIST

*Starred Review* In a timely yet subtle call-to-action, Barton exemplifies the importance and power of using one’s innate gifts and interests to affect positive change. … “What do you do with a voice like that?” [I]f you’re Barton and Holmes, you create an extraordinary book… Everything succeeds in this collaborative effort.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

*Starred Review* Barton’s strong, engaging text is well-matched by the stunning hues and bold textures of Holmes’s mixed-media illustrations. Differing type sizes and colors, along with a generous trim size and strategic use of blank space, make the text easily readable and each illustration stand out.

SHELF AWARENESS

Barton presents a timely, lyrical celebration of Congresswoman Barbara Jordan. … Holmes’s dramatic compositions blend painterly forms with layered, cut-paper collage work, displaying brilliant jewel tones and eye-catching patterns.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

This large book, with its lush, vivid, mixed-media illustrations, makes an artistic statement as bold as groundbreaking African American congresswoman Barbara Jordan’s own giant voice. Smart page-turns — often prompted by a series of questions and frequently repeating the titular one — lead readers to think about, rather than simply learn about, Jordan’s life.

THE HORN BOOK

[W]e go from Jordan’s modest upbringing in Houston to her civil rights activism to the halls of Congress and back to Texas after a multiple sclerosis diagnosis takes her out of public life. All the way, Jordan’s distinct “big, bold, booming, crisp, clear, confident voice” guides us.

THE NEW YORK TIMES

[T]he book instructs its readers about an extraordinary woman, but it also invites them to find their own voices and put them to use to make the world a better place. I need to give myself a copy, since my grandson is tired of loaning me his.

THE CHRISTIAN CENTURY

Honors

Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association
Notable Children’s Books, Middle Readers – 2019

California Reading Association
Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Awards – 2018 Honor Book

The Children’s Book Council and the National Council for the Social Studies
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People – 2019

Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) of the International Literacy Association
Notable Books for a Global Society – 2019 Winner

Children’s Literature Assembly of the National Council of Teachers of English
Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts – 2019 Award Books

Cybils (Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards)
Elementary/Middle Grade Non-fiction – 2018 Finalist

Mountains & Plains Independent Bookseller Association
Reading the West Book Awards, Picture Books – 2018 Shortlist

National Council of Teachers of English
Orbis Pictus Award – 2019 Recommended Book

The Texas Center for the Book at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas Great Read – 2019

Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities
Barbara Jordan Media Award, Children’s Book – 2018 Winner

Texas Institute of Letters
Best Children’s Picture Book – 2019 Winner

Texas Library Association
2020-21 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List

Texas Library Association
2022-23 Tejas Star Reading List

Writers’ League of Texas
The Writers’ League of Texas Book Awards, Picture Books – 2018 Winner

American Library Association &
Children’s Book Council Joint Committee
2020-21 Reading Beyond Book List for Children in Grades 2-3 Reading at a 5rd Grade Level

Other Links

AASL Knowledge Quest: What Do You Do with a Voice Like That? The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan

Abilene Reporter News: Texas Reads

The Alcalde: New Books from the Longhorn Universe to Read this 2018 Holiday Season

Austin American-Statesman: New books: Stories of Barbara Jordan, Rosa Parks and Ruth Bader Ginsburg to inspire kids

The B&N Kids Blog: From the Big Bang to the Barnyard: 10 New Picture Books

The Bay State Banner: Ekua Holmes illustrations to be featured in two new books

Beth Anderson, Children’s Writer: What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?

Booklist: Top 10 Biographies for Youth: 2019

Bookshelves of Doom: What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?: The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, by Chris Barton

D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice: Learning About the Power of Voice from the Story of Barbara Jordan

The Horn Book: Profile of 2019 CSK Illustrator Award winner Ekua Holmes

Houston Bar Association: Constitution Day Readings

Houston Chronicle: Local booksellers serve up holiday picks

ILA Literacy Daily: Looking Back at 2018 Nonfiction

Kid Lit Frenzy: Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Favorite Nonfiction Picture Books of 2018 Part I

Kid Lit Frenzy: Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?

Librarian’s Quest: Heads Turned. People Stopped And Listened.

Lone Star Literary Life: Chris Barton on encouraging children’s natural gifts, the joys of collaborating with a gifted illustrator, and what the late Honorable Barbara Jordan might say in 2018

Lone Star Literary Life: Top Twenty Texas Books of 2018

Nerdy Book Club: 22 More Barbara Jordan Books, Please

The Nonfiction Detectives: Best Biographies of 2018

The Nonfiction Detectives: What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?

Out of the Box: Picture-book biographies of pioneering women 2019

PechaKucha: What was left out of What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?

Penn Today: Children’s literature as ‘seed work’

Publishers Weekly: An Anti-Racist Children’s and YA Reading List

PW ShelfTalker: The Power of Silence

This Picture Book Life: Ekua Holmes’ Picture Book Life

Reading Style Guide: Texas Legend

San Francisco Chronicle: Roundup of children’s books, Nov. 25

School Library Journal: Honoring African American Women and Girls, Past and Present

Social Justice Books: Women’s History Month: A Book Every Day

Texas Library Association: 2019 Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List

This American Life: Where Have You Gone, Barbara Jordan? Our Nation Turns Its Lonely Eyes to You

What’s Not Wrong?: Review: What Do You Do with a Voice Like That? The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan by Chris Barton

Wonderland: What Happens If You Plant 10,000 Sunflowers At The Heart Of Boston’s Black Community?

A Year of Reading: Making Time and Space for Nonfiction–Some NF Books to Add to Our Classroom Library