Ellen’s Broom

“Some African American families today broom jump at their weddings in memory of their slave history. Children who have seen this should enjoy Ellen’s story for the way it acknowledges these practices and provides insight into the African American past. . . . Colorful block print Illustrations by Daniel Minter offer a nice blend between a historical feel and modern simplicity. The cheerful illustrations capture the joy Ellen’s family feels in simple activities such as attending church or just being together.”

Ellen’s Broom is a sweet and touching story that shares a sliver of history through one family’s experience during Reconstruction.

In the days of slavery, families could be broken up by slave owners. Slaves who wanted to live as man and wife could “jump the broom” in a symbolic wedding ceremony that was not recognized by law and would not prevent them from being separated. This story takes place after slavery has ended. Ellen’s parents now have a chance to get their marriage officially registered.

This picture book focuses on a loving family taking one more step toward freedom, as Mama and Papa finally make their marriage legal, with the children as witnesses. Ellen earns her role as the main character by small but creative actions such as decorating the broom with flowers as a bouquet for Mama during the ceremony. She foreshadows the actions of future generations when she claims she’s going to jump the broom when she gets married, even though her father says broom jumping is a thing of the past.

Ellen’s Broom is a quiet story, as the major conflict and drama of slavery has been resolved before the story starts. The appeal here is rather in the love and affection of a family celebrating their new freedom, while remembering the hard times of the past. Readers of all ages will likely finish the book with a satisfying feeling of warmth and happiness.

The language is too complex for beginning readers (“Her people no longer had to worship at the back of the master’s church or sneak to the woods for prayer meetings.”) But it should work well for a read aloud to younger school children or for older elementary school children to read on their own.

Some African American families today broom jump at their weddings in memory of their slave history. Children who have seen this should enjoy Ellen’s story for the way it acknowledges these practices and provides insight into the African American past. Children who have not already heard about jumping the broom may find some aspects of the story confusing.

An Author’s Note explains the inspiration behind the story and provides some additional factual information, though there is no mention of how or why jumping the broom came to symbolize union. This book may be best read for the first time with an adult to provide further explanations. It could work well in a classroom or library read-aloud setting, or as supplemental material for students studying slavery.

Colorful block print Illustrations by Daniel Minter offer a nice blend between a historical feel and modern simplicity. The cheerful illustrations capture the joy Ellen’s family feels in simple activities such as attending church or just being together.