Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave

Written by Laban Carrik Hill

Narrated by Kevin R. Free

Laban Carrick Hill, the bestselling author of the National Book Award Finalist Harlem Stomp, here delivers an inspiring and lyrical story of a gifted craftsman who lived in South Carolina two centuries ago. Dave's superb artistry and the deeply observant poetry he carved onto his pots reveal how he transcended the limitations he faced as a slave.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 20, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490639475

Reviews for Dave the Potter

[bogreader · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This biography of the slave only known as Dave, features the creativity of a man who likely had few freedoms in his life. Words and images bring to life the feeling of creating pottery, some of it huge in size. Additional information about Dave the Potter and a bibliography at the end of the book provide a jumping-off point for enthusiastic readers.

[vaterolsen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This biography of the slave only known as Dave, features the creativity of a man who likely had few freedoms in his life. Words and images bring to life the feeling of creating pottery, some of it huge in size. Additional information about Dave the Potter and a bibliography at the end of the book provide a jumping-off point for enthusiastic readers.

[rosa.mill · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Gorgeous art style consisting of water color and collage. The biography of a slave that created pottery and b/c known for putting poetry on some of it. The informational section at the end was very helpful since the author and illustrator tried to keep things brief.

[thornton37814 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book tells the story of Dave, a slave who lived in Edgefield District, South Carolina. Dave was a potter by trade and often included poetry on his work. The illustrations are beautiful, and this relates a story about a slave who may have lived a slightly better life than many. It is deserving of the Caldecott honor and the Coretta Scott King award it won.

[kdd026-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This unique story will catch the attention of young readers who are not familiar with how slaves in the 1800's were also very skilled artists. It can be interesting to students since it gives a different perspective of slavery and crafts.

[kate_schulte078 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book could be used during poetry it is also a good book to use when talking about slaves, because it gives the perspective of a real slave through poems he left on his pottery. I think students will enjoy this book because it is different than most books they have read.

[kmetca1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I liked this story for a few reasons. The first reason that I liked this story was that the illustrations were able to really enhance the story. I thought that most of the story was made through the illustrations. The story was about an artist Dave, but most of the story was about the process of Dave creating pottery. Even though the process was being described in the written text, the illustrations were able to further describe the process. Another thing I liked about the illustrations was that for readers who have not seen a pot being formed, then the illustrations allowed the reader to observe this process. Another thing that I liked about this story was the language was clear throughout the story. The words were simple and easy to read, which allowed the story to flow well. The pace of the story also allowed the story to flow well. The steady pace was kept throughout the story, and each aspect of the pottery process helped to keep the story flowing. Another thing that I liked about the story was the main character Dave. Although Dave never speaks in the story, he still is able to keep a very believable persona. Throughout the story he seems very calm, which fits the pace of the story. As an artist I would accept him to be very calm, especially as a potter. As a potter I would expect him to be calm because with each hand movement he has to make sure he is not rushing, but instead making sure that he keeps his movements slow and precise. Another reason Dave comes off as believable is because of how he signs his pots. Often Dave would put a short poem in his poets to leave a piece of himself behind, and to personalize his pots. I am sure many artists would follow in his footsteps, and would also want to make sure that their artwork is personalized in some nature. Another thing I liked about the story was at the end it had a lot of information, and this really enhanced the story. Because the story is a biography, I think it is important it have information about who the story is about. This allows readers to expand their knowledge about the main character, and get further invested in the story. I believe the big picture of the story is that beautiful things that time. Dave was able to create beautiful artwork, but there was a process that he had to complete, and this process took time. This shows readers that wonderful works of art cannot be completed easily, but instead take time and lots of effort.

[bmalon6 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed reading this biography. The main message of this story is to retell the life of the important American artist named Dave. I enjoyed this book for several reasons. First, I thought the illustrations were outstanding. The pictures took up the entire page which allowed the reader to see details such as the steps Dave took to pinch and mold the clay. I also loved how the writer chose to write the story. I had no idea it was a biography until the very end. Some biography's go date by date and can be a tad boring. This book was more of a narrative and very enjoyable. Lastly, I enjoyed the poems provided in the back of the book. The author included poems written by Dave himself over the years. I thought this was a great way to get to know the artist even more.

[kbartholomew1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Prior to reading this story, I had never heard of Dave, I doubt the students in the classroom would know him. The story was told in the form of poetry, paying homage to Dave. The illustrations were beautiful and are worthy of winning a Caldecott Honors award. The story, however, was lacking in its descriptiveness of Dave's life. The plot described the stages Dave would follow to turn his clay into objects. Learning about clay making was interesting, but I wanted to learn about Dave. There were author's note that gave more insight into his life at the back of the book. I would share this book with my student's as Dave is not someone I knew about and I would love to do research with my student's during a biography study to learn more about him.

[nfigue1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave veers away from the traditional story lines of slave who escaped unlivable conditions. Instead the readers learn of an amazing individual who braved the harsh conditions of slavery, and created a living for himself. This is a great source to an alternative view of American slavery. The author’s text is thoughtful and inspiring. This story seeks positivity, which is a refreshing approach. Each illustration provides an astonishing tribute to Dave himself. This book would be a meaningful addition to a classroom library; accompanying the themes of American slavery, amazing individuals, black history month, and so forth. This is a great read, informational yet entertaining!

[acbanis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dave was living in South Carolina in the 1800s, he was a potter and a poet. He made amazing works of art which helped him deal with the struggles of slavery.

[turrean_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a beautifully illustrated picture book about a potter in the mid-1800's in South Carolina. Since this artist, some of whose work has survived to the present day, was also a slave, this deceptively simple book works on many levels. Young kids will enjoy hearing how the clay was shaped into pots; older kids will be fascinated by the life of an artist who wasn't permitted the dignity of his own last name. It would be a marvelous part of an art unit on pottery, or a history lesson on life before the Civil War.

[mariekagreene · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A thought-provoking poem with well-matched illustrations, this is a book worth reading. I, however, wanted to know more of the "story" of Dave. I wish the Author's Note had been prior to the poem. The illustrations really tell more of the "story."

[dukefan86 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'd never heard of Dave, so I really enjoyed reading this book with its lovely illustrations! Wow.

[matthewbloome · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'd never heard of Dave the Potter before this book. It's another book on the same level as Rosa for Bryan Collier. I loved it. The story is well told. I've never heard of Laban Carrick Hill before either, but I hope to read more of his stories soon.

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A poetic picture-book examination of the life and work of Dave, a potter, poet and slave in nineteenth-century South Carolina, Dave the Potter follows the story of the clay itself, from clouds of dust on the ground (?), through Dave's skilled hands, to its final form as a pot. A strong man who could throw sixty-pound pots, Dave was an artist and a writer, occasionally inscribing short poems - "I wonder where is all my relation / friendship to all - and, every nation" - on his creations, before they hardened.Chosen as a Caldecott Honor Book this year, and given the Coretta Scott King Award for Illustrators as well, this visually intense picture-book brings to light a little-known but fascinating artist, and for that I am glad. That said, I think I agree with the reviewer who stated that the afterword, in which more information about Dave and his life is given, was my favorite part of the book. I wanted to know more, and while I understand that there is limited information available about Dave, I wasn't entirely satisfied with the way the narrative focused on his process, rather than on him, leaving out even those few details that are known. I enjoyed Bryan Collier's earth-toned illustrations, and can definitely see why they were honored with so many awards, but I also would have liked to see more photographs, in the rear, of Dave's actual work.Still, despite these quibbles, Dave the Potter is a book I would recommend, to young readers interesting in pottery and poetry, or in the institution of slavery in American history.

[nbmars · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill is a picture book that combines onomatopoeia with earth-toned watercolors by Bryan Collier to tell Dave’s story in a simple, rhythmic and evocative way. With a focus on the pottery-making process, what comes across most to me from the pages of this book are the notions of Dave’s dignity and pride in his work.

[tamarasmith_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The story of Dave and the pottery he made was really interesting. It was a simple book but very informative. I learned so much about him. The pictures are beautifully done. I love the section that shows how he made the pots in a grid formation. The fact that he would write on the pots little poems and things about himself. An excellent read for any age.

[mfeil_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The watercolor and collage in this book are awesome! The illustrations make the story of a man in slavery come to life. This would be a great book to talk about poetry, as well as the African-American experience during the times of slavery. The historical notes at the back are also very helpful.Age range: 5 - 8 Years (B&N)

[aimeestanaland · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dave was a potter in South Carolina in the 19th century. During the 1830s through the 1860s, he made beautiful pots out of clay. He was also a slave. This book details how he would work with the clay and would mold the clay with his hands and with his potter’s wheel into beautiful pots. He was so talented that he knew what he was going to make before he even made his pieces of pottery. He made his own glaze out of wood ash and sand. Often, he would write poems or sayings on his beautiful pieces of artwork. This book would be a great mentor text because it focuses on issues of slavery, artistic accomplishments, personal narratives, and the true beauty of art. This book would work for students who are learning about the Civil War because it deals with slavery, but on a benign level compared to other books. Elementary students could read this book and learn about slavery. They could also learn about pottery, how it's made, its beauty, and its cultural value to others.

[smdorr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book uses poetry form to describe the art of pottery and what it meant to Dave as a slave over two hundred years ago. I love how this book also provides pictures of actual pottery by Dave and excerpts of poetry that he inscribed on his work. It makes the story more relatable for children and also taps into the history of slavery in the United States to serve as an extension on a lesson. *Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award

[mahallett · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

dave is not a name i associate with art--david ok, but dave, dave the plumber maybe!really interesting historic record.

[brikayama · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is a mini biography on Dave the Potter. It is a history lesson filled with great facts about a very talented slave that lived in the 1800's. He expressed himself through poetry inscribed on the jars he made. The illustrations are beautiful.

[ginarentz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dave the Potter is an award winning book that has incredible illustrations done by Bryan Collier. It is a simple story about a simple man that is a slave during the 1800's. His story is uplifting and his quotes give us a little insight to his passions, life and beliefs. I would like to do some research on this artist, Dave to find out more about his journey and life as a potter. Great book and one that I will own one day.

[aconant05 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dave was no ordinary slave, he was a skilled potter. Throwing sixty pounds of clay to create a beautiful pot was a talent that is still admired today. He is recognized thanks to his poems engraved on the sides of his pots in addition to his name and the date.At the beginning of this book the author uses contrast between what we know about dirt and pots to how Dave looked at clay and pots. This helps build a connection for the reader. The watercolor illustrations show Dave’s passion beautifully.

[atlomas · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is a great informational text about a slave who job was pottery. This is a true story and it also has a step by step process on how to make a pot, as you are hearing Dave's story.

[rose_hawblitzel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Genre: BiographySummary: This book tells the story of Dave the Potter, a slave who lived in the 1800's. It tells about his exceptionally skilled pottery and his deeply insightful poetry, and his life story of creation and beautyMedia: It looks like possibly oil paints or maybe pastel

[stephanyk_5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book has the Caldecott Honor Book and the Coretta Scott King Book Awards. The appropriate age group for this book is kindergarten through second grade. I would recommend this to older students because the book is long and uses big words. There are many pictures for younger grades and the words flow together well that it is nice to listen to. The story explains the processes Dave had to take to make a jar out of clay. After the precious time he spends on each jar he would write a poem on it and sign it. The book talks about how the jars of clay that Dave made lives on through time. At the end of the book there is some more information on Dave and pictures of his jars and his poems. Uses in classroom:- I would pass out clay to younger students and have them make their own jars. As they are working I would read some of the poems that Dave wrote that are shown at the end of the book. After the children are done I would ask them to think of a short poem to go with their jar. - Students can discuss what other objects live on through time.- As a project I would ask students to go home and see if they can find anything that tells about their family history. As another option I would have students find something that is important in the American history.

[catherinegardner2011 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book! Dave is a slave in South Carolina who is one of the few that learned a skill. He created pottery and inscribed them with poems and his name. These pots still survive and tell a story of his life.

[jsmith6243 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book will enhance any collection or lesson with the poetic language and the simple contributions that one slave made and presevered with his pottery and poetry. I would use this book for an intro into the period, about slavery, black history or art lesson.