Living Biography Books: Toussaint L'Ouverture

Toussaint L'Ouverture 1743-1803 

Toussaint was a Haitian general who led a revolution to free the enslaved people of his native Caribbean island, then known as St. Dominque, a colony of France. 

You can add him into the history rotation for Ambleside Online Year 4 or AO Year 9 (or both!). 

"...Dem tell me bout 1066 and all dat
dem tell me bout Dick Whittington and he cat
But Touissant L’Ouverture
no dem never tell me bout dat

Toussaint
a slave
with vision
lick back
Napoleon
battalion
and first Black
Republic born
Toussaint de thorn
to de French
Toussaint de beacon
of de Haitian Revolution..."

- From Checking Out Me History by John Agard

Although I have not read all of these titles yet, I try to find living books to supplement our Ambleside Online reading list. The Charlotte Mason term "living book" basically means a book that is well-told in a narrative style. Ideally the author is passionate about the subject and that is reflected in his or her writing. 

1. Toussaint L'Ouverture Lover of Liberty by Laurence Santrey - This is a part of a series of biographies with black and white illustrations by Troll Associates. It is a wordy picture book. We have a collection of these that I've found at McKay's over the years. Out of this selection of books, Lover of Liberty is one that would be most appropriate for early elementary. 

2. Toussaint L'Ouverture The Fight For Haiti's Freedom by Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Jacob Lawrence - a dynamic Black author and illustrator combo! Myers has written many children's books. Lawrence is an American painter known for depicting African American historical subjects. While this is a picture book and has the least amount of words compared to the others in this list, Lawrence's illustrations add intensity to the story. I would recommend ages 9 years old and up. 

3. Landmark book The Slave Who Freed Haiti by Katherine Scherman - I have not read this one but my son read it when he was ten and enjoyed it. It is part of the Landmark series which are typically well written.

4.  Open The Door To Liberty! by Anne Rockwell and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Another great author & illustrator combo. Rockwell has written tons of children's books including these other recommended picture book biographies: Molly Pitcher, Sojourner Truth (illustrated by Christie too!), and James Armistead LaFayette (one of our favorites additions to AO Year4). Christie illustrated some great books as well, including Freedom In Congo Square, Brothers In Hope, and It Jes' Happened. 

5. Blades of Freedom by Nathan Hale - This book came out in 2020 so you won't likely find it on Thriftbooks or Ebay. It is a graphic novel. I am generally skeptical of the graphic novel genre but it seems to be a hit with my boys. And I confess, I'm a sucker for the lovely maps on the end papers of these books. 

Lastly, there is a PBS documentary on Toussaint and I found it for free here. I have not previewed it.