Annie Mae Jumps the Broom

Diane Williams is a family friend. She's a Mississippi storyteller, bringing the past to life through oral and written narrative. This charming picture book is about a slave couple who decides to get married. Williams revisits a time when marriage was illegal for Black slaves. This injustice gave birth to the tradition of jumping the broom.  Here's a review from her website:

"The book Annie Mae Jumps the Broom mimics history and folklore. This story helps explain a tradition that has been revitalized in African-American weddings today. The celebration and rich culture in this story will captivate any reader’s interest. Annie Mae Jumps The Broom is the story of two slaves who were in love and wanted to get married. Aunt Minnie, the counselor on the plantation encouraged the couple to wait a few days until they were sure. Finally the day arrives and everyone was excited. They fixed up a mess of food and Cousin Sue made a cake. Immediately after the ceremony, Old Master came over the hillside looking all around for that cake Cousin Sue had baked! 'He always did like something sweet, you know.' Annie Mae Jumps the Broom is an intermediate children's color picture book." - 

The First Four Years

It's official! Laura has agreed to marry Almonzo "Manly" Wilder. They wed in a simple ceremony to the displeasure of Almonzo's mother and sisters, who had something a little bit larger in mind. Some things change very little over the years : ) Besides saying "I do", Laura also agreed to be a farm wife for three years. Manly promised her that if he doesn't make a successful living for them by that time, he'll move anywhere Laura desires. Sounds reasonable...right? Now the question is whether or not these young newly-weds can make it through the first three years. Farm life on the South Dakota prairie is challenging, to say the least. Add a baby to that mix and your work is definitely cut out for you! The pioneer spirit of The Little House books have enthralled generations of American readers; you'll have to read this conclusion to the series *tear, sniff, sniff* to discover whether or not that pioneer spirit is enough to sustain Laura and Almonzo through the harsh reality of prairie life.