Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave

Understand the award love for this book (and the slight controversy surrounding the title), but wished the book had more robust text, especially as this story is going to be unknown by almost all readers.

Many years ago, before my son was born, we borrowed this picture book from the local library. Now, that my son is seven, it was his turn to hear the story, however, the library purged their copy and I haven't been able to acquire one for our needs. However, the audiobook was miraculously available through our digital library and we were able to borrow it and listen to the fourteen minutes of story and extras including poetry and factual matter about David Drake, the early nineteenth-century slave, the Potter from Edgefield, South Carolina, a land of my ancestry. Many years ago, before children, book reviewing, or marriage even occurred to me I spent my summers and other trips in genealogy research. While on a trip learning about my ancestors of Mount Willing and beyond, I remember an afternoon in the Edgefield Square when my father and I visited a room with pottery everywhere and learned of the local history of David Drake. Why is this book not everywhere? Why is it not constantly covered when slavery history is brought up? What snippets we have from Dave, the Potter are amusing, tongue in cheek, and smart. With the limits imposed by the time and the cultural era, how wonderful to see remnants of history where he obviously fought the odds in his own way. This book is interesting and beautiful to my memory. To the audio, it is educational and interesting. The overall story is a great window and gateway to so many conversations to be had. It is great for my younger children, but it is great for any adults as well.

I do not own a copy, but I would love to one day. This book is also recommended for further reading with Sonlight Curriculum K 2020 Exploring American History in Heroes and Happenings, Vol. 1.

This one made me especially sad.