I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An important story for children to learn about a civil rights activist in WWII. The illustrations were very good and the text was okay. I think this is an important story but worry it might not be "flashy" enough to get the attention of younger readers.

This picture book biography tells the story of a man who was shipwrecked in Newfoundland and was very surprised that he was treated with dignity and kindness. The man was African American and was serving in World War 2 and up to that point, had never been treated with respect by white people. It was a turning point in his life and he went on to fight for the civil rights of African Americans. It was a nice story.

Lanier Phillips grew up in a horrible time in the US. As a child he lived with the KKK on the attack, and as an adult longing to be free, he ended up instead a military serving boy. He had dire hopes for his country or ever doing what he truly wanted to do until a tragic shipwreck that claimed every other POC on board. Being stranded for a bit in Newfoundland made him realize that not everyone was biased against a colored man, and that he could be what he wanted to be, because caring people existed. I really liked this story, but wish it would have gone further to tell how Lanier got into sonar school, instead of ending at Newfoundland island. But the story is still lovely and the illustrations are unique and beautiful.

This children's book is an accounting of one man born black at the wrong time. Lanier Phillips was born in Georgia, USA while the Klu Klux Klan threatened any black person simply based on the colour of their skin. He lived through the Jim Crow era where segregation ran rampant, homes, schools and churches were burned and most black families struggled to survive. Lanier Phillips contemplated his existence and hoped that joining the navy when WWII broke out, would help him find equality. He was wrong and devastated to see that the black sailors were made to do grunt work and even eat in a secluded area. When he didn't think it could get any worse, the ship he was on began to sink. All the life boats were used by the white sailors and the black sailors had to decide if they wanted to take a chance in a raft. Lanier was the only one that made the choice to do that. This is where I am proud to be Canadian. The people in Newfoundland, where the sailors came ashore, treated them all, even Lanier, the same, as heroes. This treatment helped him to heal. With no consideration of his skin color he was included completely in their daily routines at home. This experience allowed Lanier to feel worthy for the first time, and his resentment disappeared. The back of the book contains other information about Lanier Phillips and what he did after the story ended. I recommend you read that as well.

This is a true story that works to restore faith in humanity. The illustrations by Erin Bennett Banks are distinctive; there are bold, angular lines, and Phillips' emotions are easily recognized. With so much immigration happening, and racism coming to the forefront once again, A CHANGE OF HEART, is a must-read for all kids, no matter their race. This book can inform and enlighten the reader or listener about racism, naval developments, social justice, being a Good Samaritan, and introducing them to a simple, easy to read biography. The publisher, Nimbus Publishing, provided me with a copy of this book to read. The opinions shared are my own.

Any hard topic in history is worthy of a children's book so that kids can begin to learn our past and learn from it. This picture book is one of those.

Following the life of Lanier Phillips, an African-American boy from the state of Georgia, A CHANGE OF HEART (author Alice Walsh) tells how his childhood experiences, knowledge, & fear played deeply in his thoughts & experiences as a growing man. Ultimately, those same shared fears worked to the demise of many of his fellow sailors, but for Lanier, new experiences, horrific though they were at first, and new personal knowledge work to reconfigure his thoughts. Lanier goes on to live a life he couldn't even comprehend for himself as a boy. He lives a life worthy of a place in history.

The Lanier Phillips story, as written in A CHANGE OF HEART, is a must-read for all kids, no matter their race. This book can inform and enlighten, can work as one of an array of biographies to be used while covering American history. This book would be great for kids studying Naval History. Really, there's no wrong reason to read this book.

Lanier Phillips. Carl Brashear. Fred “Tiz” Morrison. Wesley Brown. Doris "Dorrie" Miller. Learn more, know more. Know better, do better.

I may be a bit biased in this review, truth be told. My husband is an African- American himself AND a retired Sonar Technician. After reading this book, I asked him if he knew of Lanier Phillips. Indeed he did.

Change of Heart is a picture book based on a transformative experience in Lanier Phillips' life. I was unaware of Phillips before reading this picture book, but it's a good reminder of common experiences people of color have had (and sometimes continue to have) in the United States.

In 1930, Lanier was a black child in Georgia; readers will learn about what it was like to live in regular fear of the Ku Klux Klan and how Jim Crow laws kept races separated. Hatred and resentment festered inside Lanier, even as he knew they would be destructive.

In 1941 Lanier joined the navy, hoping for an escape. Ship life was no better, with blacks expected to serve the other sailors and eat standing up in a small pantry. When their ship runs aground in the winter near Newfoundland, Lanier has to balance his fear of the ship sinking in the icy water with his fear of whether or not he will be welcomed on shore.

Lanier's reception by the Newfoundlanders was gracious and genuine; they helped him to heal with no consideration of his skin color and included him wholly and completely in their daily routines at home. This experience allowed Lanier to feel worthy for the first time, and his resentment disappeared.

The illustrations by Erin Bennett Banks are distinctive; there are bold, angular lines, and Phillips is depicted as unhappy and unsmiling for much of the book. The softening in his face at the close reinforces his new outlook.

While the topics are heavy, Alice Walsh is careful with her words, conveying honesty and truth without explicitly depicting horrifying actions taken against blacks. This would be a good introduction for children.

The musical <em>Come from Away</em> tells the story of how, during 9/11, all flights that were in American airspace had to be diverted to Gander, Newfoundland. It tells how the people went out of their way to make everyone welcome.

I bring this up, because, in another time, World War II, but not in to far of another place, a ship load of sailors were washed ashore, and shown comfort and hospitality by the people of Newfoundland. And amongst those people was one black sailor, the only black sailor that survived the shipwreck.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-699" src="http://www.reyes-sinclair.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Screen-Shot-2018-07-04-at-4.23.48-PM.png" alt="change of heart" />
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-698" src="http://www.reyes-sinclair.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Screen-Shot-2018-07-04-at-4.24.00-PM.png" alt="Change of Heart"/>

Up until that point, this man, Lainer Phillips, had lost all hope. And the kindness that they showed him there, as he recovered, gave him hope, and a change of heart. He later went on to become an honorary Newfoundlander, and work for civil rights along side Martin Luther King Jr.

Up until that point, he had only known hardship and hostility from white people.

What a great story to introduce kids to prejudices and good people.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.