Born into slavery in Virginia, Alec Turner got into a lot of trouble as a young boy. So he was sent to work in the fields, while his mother sewed for the owners of the plantation.<BR>One day the granddaughter of his owner, Zephie, offered to teach Alec to read. At first he felt frightened, because slaves were forbidden to read. But as Alec mastered the alphabet from a small primer, Zephie lit in him a spark of hope which became a flame. She told him that if he learned to read, he could become a free man.<BR>A rare first-hand account of the power of literacy in a slave's life, Alec's Primer is based on the true story of Alec Turner (1845-1923), who not only learned to read but who also fought in the Civil War. Then, one day, just as Zephie had predicted, he became a free man. Traveling to Vermont where he established his home and became a landowner, Alec kept his cherished primer with him throughout his life.<BR>Mildred Pitts Walter has transformed Alec's story into a picture book. Enhanced by the paintings of Larry Johnson, Alec's Primer provides a unique perspective on American history.