On a humid March night in 1957, Kwame Nkrumah made history. While thousands of people cheered, including dignitaries from round the world, he announced his country's independence. After many years of British rule, Ghana, formerly the Gold Coast, became the first sub-Saharan African nation to break free from colonial rule. Kwame Nkrumah's Midnight Speech for Independence shares the story of Nkrumah's historic declaration of Ghana's independence and the years of struggle that led to that celebrated event. Gr 1-5-An introduction to the first African Prime Minster of Ghana and the concept of Pan Africanism. Kwame Nkrumah was a skilled orator and activist who was educated in Ghana and the United States. Nkrumah's experience in America helped him understand how similar the plight of Africans and African Americans were. He returned to Ghana and used his words to communicate a pride in his country's people and the belief that Africans can and should govern themselves. He worked with the United Gold Coast Convention to promote the message of sovereignty for Africans. Eventually his passion for independence pushed him to break away from the UGCC and form the Convention People's Party. Nkrumah's popularity as a speaker came to the notice of British politicians who then incarcerated him. Nevertheless, he continued to inspire the Ghanaian people and Ghana gained its independence from British rule in 1957. Perkins skillfully presents this story in an easily understood format. Freeman's illustrations are a combination of a mixed media images and a deep color palette that lends a solemnity to the book. The illustrations also employ several sizing techniques to heighten the atmospheric quality of the story. For example, the Ghanaian flag is larger than the British flag, which points to Ghana's independence and the importance of this occasion. VERDICT This title is perfect for public and school libraries that are building a collection with a more global focus.-Desiree Thomas, Worthington Lib., OHα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Useni Eugene Perkins is a multi-talented writer and activist who was a prominent voice in the Black Arts Movement. His writings for young people include From a Dirty Street: The Social Oppression of Black Children, Rise of the Phoenix: Voices from Chicago’s Black Struggle, 1960 to 1975 (Third World Press), Poetry from The Masters; The Black Arts Movement (Just Us Books) and the celebrated picture book, Hey Black Child, illustrated by Bryan Collier. He has travelled to Ghana many times. In 2007 he was inducted into the Gefia Society of Akatsi, Volta Region, Ghana and installed as their Academic Development Chief under the stool of Torgbui Perkins Agbale I. He resides in Chicago. Laura Freeman is the award-winning illustrator of over 30 picture books for children including Hidden Figures: The True Story of the Four Black Women and The Space Race by Margaret Lee Shetterly (Harper Collins), Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice by Nikki Grimes (Athenaeum) and Dream Builders: The Story of Architect Philip Freedom by Kelly Staring Lyons (Lee & Low Books). She also illustrated six titles in the I Love to published by Marimba Books. A graduate of the School for Visual Arts in New York City, Laura has been awarded the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor and the NAACP Image Award for her work. She lives in Atlanta, Ga with her husband and their two children.