Caldecott Medal Winner
The Undefeated
by Kadir Nelson
Summary
This stirring picture book honors the endurance, struggle, and triumph of Black Americans across history, from the horrors of slavery through the civil rights movement to figures of achievement and resilience. Kadir Nelson illustrates the poem with powerful, lifelike oil paintings that place real and symbolic figures against bold, dignified backgrounds. The book stands as a tribute to those who persevered and a celebration of a people who remain unbeaten.
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Historical Context & Significance
The Undefeated, written as a poem by Kwame Alexander, won the Caldecott Medal and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award in the same year.