Dave the Potter - Written by Laban Carrick Hill & Illustrated by Bryan Collier

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Dave the Potter is a beautiful picture book which tells the story of Dave, an African American slave. It is a heartwarming tale of how despite being enslaved, Dave still had the chance to flourish as an craftsman by being trained as a potter. This book is written in a very poetic style accompanied by detailed watercolour illustrations.

Laban Carrick Hill starts off the story by highlighting the difference between Dave and other people. This is done by contrasting how things (e.g., dirt) are perceived to us against what they mean to Dave. In addition, readers are given an insight into Dave's expertise as a potter and how it makes him special. Pottery is a specialised skill and even though Dave is a slave, he is highly skilled.

Bryan Collier's illustrations also help to demonstrate the amount of hard work and dedication Dave puts into his craft. By having each stanza accompanied by a painting, readers are able follow Dave every step of the way as he creates a piece of pottery.

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What makes Dave special as a potter is that he leaves little bits of poetry on his jars and pots. Some of his original writings are also included at the end of the book. Reading these provides greater insights into Dave's life and enables the reader to go through the book with greater understanding and empathy.

This book does an excellent job in telling readers about slavery without any negativity that sometimes accompanies the topic. It is a story of an empowered slave as even though he is a slave, Dave has the means to cultivate his craft. Hence, reading this picture book is great way to ease into the topic of slavery, especially with young readers.