Mondays, there were hogs to slop, mules to train, and logs to chop. Slavery was no ways fair. Six more days to Congo Square.
Slaves worked six days a week, but in Louisiana they had one day of rest, and one place that they could gather on that day: Congo Square. Here in Congo Square they could be free for a few hours. Markets flourished, drums beat, music came alive. Out of this gathering of freedom grew the inspiration for America's only original music genre: jazz.
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The vibrant, innovative illustrations are what snagged this book the Caldecott medal. The sparse story is told in a rhyming sing-song verse style, that doesn't always work. But the countdown to Congo square makes for a great tension, and a good discussion point about the hardships of slavery when reading this book to children.
![](/samples/Caldecott/congo1.jpg)
Review by Lauren Shearer
Lauren Shearer writes words for fun and profit. She also makes films, but everyone knows you can't make a profit doing that. Her other hobby is consistently volunteering way too much of her time. You can read more of her reviews
here.
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