"Harlem" by Walter Dean Myeres

"Harlem" has a relatively relaxing tone for a poem picture book. It talks about everything that Harlem had to offer for many of the diverse people that inhabited it. Throughout the poem, the author talks about the different things to do, people, places, etc. of Harlem, and how they were special to the town. The illustrator uses a variety of creative illustrative techniques such as ink and collage to construct the world he is trying to convey. Each illustration has rigid sides, so it is fairly obvious to tell that they are all constructed from different magazines, newspapers, etc. I think a book like this would be beneficial to students learning about diversity - and how different American towns across the country play a role in making American the ever changing melting pot it is today.