Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis
By Jabari Asim, Illustrated by E.B. Lewis
John wants to be a preacher when he grows up—a leader whose words stir hearts to change, minds to think, and bodies to take action. But why wait? When John is put in charge of the family farm’s flock of chickens, he discovers that they make a wonderful congregation! So he preaches to his flock, and they listen, content under his watchful care, riveted by the rhythm of his voice. Includes an author’s note about John Lewis, who grew up to be a member of the Freedom Riders, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a demonstrator on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, and a U.S. congressman. 5-8 years
John Lewis in the Lead: A Story of the Civil Rights Movement
By Kathleen Benson, Illustrated by Benny Andrews
The son of an Alabama sharecropper, John Lewis experienced the injustice of segregation early in life. Inspired to action by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Lewis joined with civil rights leaders who believed in fighting segregation peacefully. From Nashville, Tennessee, to Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, Lewis was in the forefront of the major civil rights protests of the 1960s. In the face of physical attacks, he persevered with dignity and a devotion to nonviolence, helping southern black people gain the right to vote.
Lewis continued his commitment to human rights from his home base in the South straight to the nation’s capital. In 1986, Lewis was elected to represent Georgia in the United States Congress. This is a celebration of the life of a legend of American history. Lewis’s passionate belief in justice is a beacon for all who wish to make our country a better place. 8-11 years
The Story of John Lewis
By Tonya Leslie, Illustrated by Jerrard K. Polk
John Lewis was a civil rights leader and United States congressman who never stopped speaking for justice, equality, and peace. Before he marched with Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement, John was a thoughtful kid who loved learning but wasn’t able to go to a good school because of segregation. He wanted to make a difference in his community, so he organized peaceful protests to end segregation and fight for equal rights for Black Americans. Explore how John went from being a young farm boy to a famous activist, politician, and leader. 7-10 years
Because of You, John Lewis
By Andrea Davis Pinkney, Illustrated by Keith Henry Brown
When young Tybre Faw discovers John Lewis and his heroic march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in the fight for voting rights, Tybre is determined to meet him. Tybre’s two grandmothers take him on the seven-hour drive to Selma, Alabama, where Lewis invites Tybre to join him in the annual memorial walk across the Bridge. And so begins a most amazing friendship! 7-10 years
I am John Lewis
By Brad Meltzer, Illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos
This book spotlights John Lewis, known for his role in the Civil Rights Movement, his help organizing the March on Washington and the Selma Voting Rights March, and for his lifelong dedication to public service as a member of the House of Representatives. And John Lewis was never afraid to get in “good trouble.” This biography includes: A timeline of key events, photos, comic-book-style illustrations, and childhood moments. 5-9 years
John Lewis
By Denise Lewis Patrick, Illustrated by Steffi Walthall
When John Lewis was a teenager, he asked Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to help integrate a segregated school in his hometown. From then on, John Lewis never stopped organizing, from Freedom Rides, to the marches in Selma and Washington, and more. He believed in getting into “good trouble” for good causes. He became a Civil Rights activist and a United States Representative. 6-8 years.
John Lewis
By Meeg Pincus, Illustrated by Jeff Bane
The My Itty-Bitty Bio series are biographies for the earliest readers. This book examines the life of civil rights activist John Lewis, in a simple, age-appropriate way. It will help young readers develop word recognition and reading skills. Includes a table of contents, author biography, timeline, glossary, index, and other informative backmatter. 4-7 years
March (Book One of Four) Graphic Novels
By John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, Illustrated by Nate Powell
Congressman John Lewis was an American icon, one of the key figures of the civil rights movement. His commitment to justice and nonviolence took him from an Alabama sharecropper’s farm to the halls of Congress. From a segregated schoolroom to the 1963 March on Washington. And from receiving beatings from state troopers to receiving the Medal of Freedom from the first African-American president. 13 and up
John Lewis: Civil Rights Champion and Congressman
By Alisa Morretta
The history of the United States is filled with African American leaders who heroically fought for equality through words and deeds. These men and women sacrificed their safety and, in some cases, their lives for the cause.
One of the most courageous among them is John Lewis. He was on the front lines of this struggle for decades. From the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s to his work as a United States Congressman, Lewis fought for equality for all Americans.
This book uses photographs, sidebars, and primary sources to examine his greatest achievements, both historical and contemporary. It explores how his bravery and dedication to nonviolent direct action affected real change in the United States. 14 and up
The book descriptions are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
In November 1960, all of America watched as a tiny six-year-old black girl, surrounded by federal marshals, walked through a mob of screaming segregationists and into her school. An icon of the civil rights movement, Ruby chronicles each dramatic step of this pivotal event in history through her own words. 8-12 years
I Am Ruby Bridges
By Ruby Bridges, Illustrated by Nikkolas Smith
My work will be precious.
I will bridge the “gap” between Black & white…
…and hopefully all people!
I suppose some things in life are just meant to be.
When Ruby Bridges was six years old, she became the first Black child to integrate the all-white William Frantz Elementary in Louisiana. Based on the pivotal events that happened in 1960 and told from her point of view, this is a poetic reflection on her experience that changed the face of history and the trajectory of the Civil Rights movement. 4-8 years
This Is Your Time
By Ruby Bridges
Written as a letter from civil rights activist and icon Ruby Bridges to the reader, This Is Your Time is both a recounting of Ruby’s experience as a child who had to be escorted to class by federal marshals when she was chosen to be one of the first black students to integrate into New Orleans’ all-white public school system and an appeal to generations to come to effect change. 10-15 years
Ruby Bridges Goes to School: My True Story
By Ruby Bridges
The extraordinary true story of Ruby Bridges, the first African-American child to integrate a New Orleans school with simple text for young readers!
In 1960, six-year-old Ruby walked through an angry crowd and into a school where she changed history.
This is the true story of an extraordinary little girl who helped shape our country when she became the first African-American to attend an all-white school in New Orleans. With simple text and historical photographs, this easy reader explores an amazing moment in history and the courage of a young girl who stayed strong in the face of racism. 4-8 years
The Story of Ruby Bridges
By Robert Cole, Illustrated by George Ford
The year is 1960, and six-year-old Ruby Bridges and her family have recently moved from Mississippi to New Orleans in search of a better life. A judge orders Ruby to attend first grade at William Frantz Elementary, an all-white school. She must face angry mobs of parents who refuse to send their children to school with her. This is Ruby’s story of courage, faith, and hope. 4-8 years
Ruby, Head High, Ruby Bridges’ First Day of School
By Irène Cohen-Janca, Illustrated by Marc Daniau
Inspired by an iconic Norman Rockwell painting and translated from an original French text, this is a story about the day a little girl held her head high and changed the world. 7-10 years
Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World
By Susan Hood, Illustrated by 13 outstanding illustrators
Shaking Things Up introduces fourteen revolutionary young women—each paired with a noteworthy female artist.
In this book of poems, you will find Mary Anning, who was just thirteen when she unearthed a prehistoric fossil. You’ll meet Ruby Bridges, the brave six year old who helped end segregation in the South. And Maya Lin, who at twenty-one won a competition to create a war memorial, and then had to appear before Congress to defend her right to create.
Readers will also learn about Molly Williams, Annette Kellerman, Nellie Bly, Pura Belpré, Frida Kahlo, Jacqueline and Eileen Nearne, Frances Moore Lappé, Mae Jemison, Angela Zhang, and Malala Yousafzai. 4-8 years
Ruby Bridges: A Brave Child Who Made History
By Jeri Cipriano, Illustrated by Scott R. Brooks
Ruby Bridges just wanted to go to a good school. She did not ask to be a hero, but she knew how to be strong. Her bravery made it possible for classrooms today to be safe places for children of all races. 5-8 years
Ruby Bridges: Get to Know the Girl Who Took a Stand for Education
By Michelle Derosier
Ruby Bridges was just six years old when she was chosen to be the first and only black child in the all-white William Frantz Elementary School. At the time, Ruby was too young to understand how the simple act of attending school would change the lives of many to come. Her courageous act left the legacy that given a chance, anyone at any age can make a difference in the world. 8-10 years
Ruby Bridges
By Simone T. Ribke
Ruby Bridges grew up at a time when African-Americans were treated as second-class citizens in many parts of the United States. At just six year old, this courageous child stood up against racism and hatred to help integrate Louisiana’s school system. Her story continues to inspire people of all ages. 6-7 years
Ruby Bridges and the Desegregation of the American Schools
By Harris Duchess
In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges walked into William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana. She became the first black student to attend the previously all-white school. This event paved the way for widespread school desegregation in the South. This book explores her legacy with easy-to-read text, vivid images, and helpful back matter. 8-11
The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children Author
Raised in South Carolina and New York, Jacqueline Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. 10 and up
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History
By Vashti Harrison
Meet 40 trailblazing women who broke barriers of race and gender to pave the way for future generations. This book brings to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of black history including: abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball, and poet Maya Angelou. 8-11 years
Thurgood
By Jonah Winter, Illustrated by Bryan Collier
Thurgood Marshall was a born lawyer–the loudest talker, funniest joke teller, and best arguer from the time he was a kid growing up in Baltimore in the early 1900s. He would go on to become the star of his high school and college debate teams, a stellar law student at Howard University, and, as a lawyer, a one-man weapon against the discriminatory laws against black Americans. After only two years at the NAACP, he was their top lawyer and had earned himself the nickname Mr. Civil Rights. He argued–and won–cases before the Supreme Court, including one of the most important cases in American history: Brown v Board of Education. And he became the first black U.S. Supreme Court Justice in history. 5-9 years
Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library
By Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Eric Velasquez
Amid the scholars, poets, authors, and artists of the Harlem Renaissance stood an Afro-Puerto Rican named Arturo Schomburg. This law clerk’s life’s passion was to collect books, letters, music and art from Africa and the African diaspora. He wanted to bring to light the achievements of people of African descent through the ages. When Schomburg’s collection became so big it began to overflow his house, he turned to the New York Public Library. He created and curated a collection that was thecornerstone of the new Negro Division. A century later, his groundbreaking collection, known as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, has become a beacon to scholars all over the world. 9-12 years
Young, Gifted and Black:
Meet 52 Heroes from the Past and Present
By Jamie Wilson, Illustrated by Andrea Pippins
Young, Gifted andBlack introduces historic and present-day icons and heroes. Meet figureheads, leaders and pioneers like Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela and Rosa Parks as well as cultural trailblazers and athletes like Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey and Serena Williams. Strong, courageous, talented and diverse, these extraordinary men and women’s achievements willinspire a new generation to chase their dreams. 9-12 years
28 Days: Black History That Changed the World
By Charles R. Smith, Illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Each day features a different influential figure in African-American history. Young readers will learn about Crispus Attucks, the first man shot at the Boston Massacre, Madame C.J. Walker, who after years of adversity became the wealthiest black woman in the country, Barack Obama, the America’s first African-American president and many more important men and women. 6-10 years
Heroes of Black History: Biographies of Four Great Americans
By The Editors of Time for Kids
This book presents the stories of four great American heroes every child should know. In one volume children will learn about Harriet Tubman, Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks, and Barack Obama. Heroes of Black History shines a light on the long fight for social justice in the United States as it highlights the accomplishments and personal histories of these four pivotal Americans. 8 and up
Let the Children March
By Monica Clark-Robinson, Illustrated by Frank Morrison
I couldn’t play on the same playground as the white kids.
I couldn’t go to their schools.
I couldn’t drink from their water fountains.
There were so many things I couldn’t do.
In 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, thousands of African Americanchildren volunteered to march for their civil rights after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speak. They protested the laws that kept black people separate from white people. Facing fear, hatred, and danger, these children used their voices to change the world. 6-9 years
Hidden Figures:
The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race
By Margot Lee Shetterly, Illustrated by Laura Freeman
Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden were good at math…really good. They participated in some of NASA’s greatest successes. They provided the calculations for America’s first journeys into space. They did this at a time when being black and a woman limited their options. But they worked hard. They persisted. And they used their genius to change the world. 4-8 years
The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Over sixty years after her refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama city bus, Rosa Parks is still one of the most important figures in the American civil rights movement. This book is a tribute to her courageous action and the events that followed.
Rosa’s Bus: The Ride to Civil Rights
By Jo S. Kittinger, Illustrated by Steven Walker
Like all buses in Montgomery, Alabama in the 1950s, Bus Number 2857 was segregated. White passengers sat in the front and black passengers sat in the back. That is until Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger. Her arrest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a major event in the Civil Rightsmovement. It was led by the young minister, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. For 382 days, black passengers walked instead of riding the bus.
A Girl Named Rosa: The True Story of Rosa Parks
By Denise Lewis Patrick, Illustrated by Melissa Manwill
The “A Girl Named” series tells the stories of how ordinary American girls grew up to be extraordinary women. Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in 1955. How did she come to be so brave? Learn the defining moments in her childhood and adolescence that led to her bravery.
It’s Her Story: Rosa Parks
By Lauren Burke, Illustrated by Shane Clester
A graphic novel for children ages 6 to 9. Rosa Parks was the courageous thinker and leader known as the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement. Long before the Montgomery Bus Boycott made her famous, she was a social justice activist and organizer. In honor of her work, she received a Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is her story.
Who Was Rosa Parks?
By Yona Zeldis McDonough, Illustrated by Stephen Marchesi
In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. This seemingly small act triggered civil rights protests across America and earned her the title “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.”
Back of the Bus
By Aaron Reynolds, Illustrated by Floyd Cooper
A boy and his mother are riding the bus in Montgomery, Alabama like any other day, way in the back of the bus. The boy passes time by watching his marble roll up and down the aisle with the motion of the bus…until a big commotion breaks out from way up front. With simple words and powerful illustrations, this story recounts the pivotal arrest of Rosa Parks at the dawn of the Civil RightsMovement.
Rosa Parks (Little Leaders)
By Lisabeth Kaiser, Illustrated by Marta Antelo
Rosa Parks grew up in Alabama, where she learned to stand up for herself at an early age. Rosa went on to become a civil rights activist. In 1955, she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Her courageous decision had a huge impact on civil rights, eventually leading to the end of segregation on public transport. She never stopped working for equal rights. This book includes a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the activist’s life.
Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation
By Andrea Davis Pinkney, Illustrated by Brian Pinkney
Rosa Parks took a stand by keeping her seat in the front of the bus. When she was arrested, her supporters protested by refusing to ride. After 382 days of walking, they walked Jim Crow right out of Montgomery, Alabama.
Rosa Parks (A True Book)
By Christine Taylor-Butler
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. Almost overnight, she became an icon of the rapidly growing civil rights movement. Young readers will learn how she continued to fight for civil rights after her arrest.
Rosa Parks/National Geographic Kids
By Kitson Jazynka
Find out about the life of Rosa Parks and how her actions in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955, helped end racial segregation in America. Her life story has enduring lessons to teach young readers.
The Bus Ride That Changed History: The Story of Rosa Parks
By Pamela Duncan Edwards, Illustrated by Danny Shanahan
In 1955, a young woman named Rosa Parks took a big step for civil rights when she refused to give up her seat on a bus for a white passenger. The bus driver told her to move. Jim Crow laws told her to move. But Rosa Parks stayed where she was, and a chain of events was set into motion that would eventually change the course of American history. 4-7 years
The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Walking many miles to school in the dusty road, young Coretta Scott knew the unfairness of life in the segregated south. A yearning for equality began to grow. Together with Martin Luther King, Jr., she gave birth to a vision of change through nonviolent protest. It was the beginning of a journey with dreams of freedom for all. 4-8 years
Coretta Scott King: First Lady of Civil Rights
By George E. Stanley, Illustrated by Meryl Henderson
Coretta Scott King is well known for being the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and for her own civil rights and world peace activism. She also received many awards and honorary degrees. But before she did all of those impressive things, Coretta was a strong little girl who could out climb anyone in her neighborhood, was very close to her dad, and had a beautiful singing voice. Coretta learned that if you work hard enough, your dreams can come true. 8-12 years
Who Was Coretta Scott King
By Gail Herman, Illustrated by Gregory Copeland
Growing up in Alabama, Coretta Scott King graduated valedictorian from her high school before becoming one of the first African American students at Antioch College in Ohio. It was there that she became politically active and joined the local chapter of the NAACP. After her marriage to Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta took part in the Civil Rights Movement. Following her husband’s assassination in 1968, she assumed leadership of the movement. 8-12 years
Coretta Scott King: Dare to Dream
By Angela Shelf Medearis, Illustrated by Anna Rich
From her childhood encounters with discrimination to her activism as an adult, Coretta Scott King dreamed of finding a place where people were treated equally. This biography tells the story of how she came to stand up against prejudice and violence during the African American Civil Rights Movement. 8-12 years
Women Who Broke the Rules: Coretta Scott King
By Kathleen Krull, Illustrated by Laura Freeman
Coretta Scott King, the wife of civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr., established her own career in activism. She took part in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, worked to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and founded the Center for Nonviolent Change. She dedicated her life to fighting for civil rights. 6-9 years
A Book To Share With Kids:
My Life, My Love, My Legacy
By Coretta Scott King and Rev. Dr. Barbara Reynolds
Coretta’s is a love story, a family saga, and the memoir of an extraordinary black woman in 20th century America. She was a brave leader, who, in the face of hatred, stood committed, proud, forgiving, nonviolent, and hopeful every day of her life.
The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Joyce Jenkins has recently moved to a new town with her family. She will soon be attending a segregated school for the first time. Connie Underwood is trying to figure out what her twin brothers are planning in secret. The two girls find themselves in the middle of a civil rights demonstration. The fight for equality will the country forever.
Let the Children March
By Monica Clark-Robinson, Illustrated by Frank Morrison
I couldn’t play on the same playground as the white kids. I couldn’t go to their schools. I couldn’t drink from their water fountains. There were so many things I couldn’t do. In 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, thousands of African American children volunteered to march for their civil rights after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak. They protested the laws that kept black people separate from white people. Facing fear, hate, and danger, these children used their voices to change the world. Frank Morrison’s emotive oil-on-canvas paintings bring this historical event to life, while Monica Clark-Robinson’s moving and poetic words document this remarkable time.
What Is the Civil Rights Movement
By Sherri L. Smith, Illustrated by Tim Foley
Even though slavery had ended in the 1860s, African Americans were still suffering under the weight of segregation a hundred years later. They couldn’t go to the same schools, eat at the same restaurants, or even use the same bathrooms as white people. But by the 1950s, black people refused to remain second-class citizens and were willing to risk their lives to make a change. Author Sherri L. Smith brings to life momentous events through the words and stories of people who were on the front lines of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. 8-12 years
Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins
By Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue
There were signs all throughout town telling eight-year-old Connie where she could and could not go. But when Connie sees four young men take a stand for equal rights at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, she realizes that things may soon change. This event sparks a movement throughout her town and region. And while Connie is too young to march or give a speech, she helps her brother and sister make signs for the cause.Changes are coming to Connie’s town, but Connie just wants to be able to sit at the lunch counter and eat a banana split like everyone else.
The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks,
A Young Civil Rights Activist
By Cynthia Levinson, Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Nine-year-old Audrey Faye Hendricks intended to go places and do things like anybody else. So when she heard grown-ups talk about wiping out Birmingham’s segregation laws, she spoke up. As she listened to the preacher’s words, smooth as glass, she sat up tall. And when she heard the plan: picket those white stores, march to protest those unfair laws, and fill the jails — she stepped right up and said, “I’ll do it. Audrey Faye Hendricks was confident and bold and brave as can be. Hers is the remarkable and inspiring story ofone child’s role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Child of the Civil Rights Movement
By Paula Young Shelton, Illustrated by Raul Colon
Paula Young Shelton, daughter of Civil Rights activist, Andrew Young, brings a child’s unique perspective to an important chapter in America’s history. Paula grew up in the deep south, in a world where whites had and blacks did not. With an activist father and a community of leaders surrounding her, including Uncle Martin (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,) Paula watched and listened to thestruggles. She eventually joined with her family, and thousands of others, in the historic march from Selma to Montgomery.
Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation
By Andrea Davis Pinkney, Illustrated by Brian Pinkney
Rosa Parks took a stand by keeping her seat on the bus. When she was arrested, her supporters protested by refusing to ride. Soon a community of thousands came together to help each other. Some started taxi services, some rode bikes, but many walked. After 382 days, they walked Jim Crow laws right out of town. Boycott Blues presents a poignant, blues-infused tribute to the men and women of the Montgomery bus boycott who refused to give up until they got justice.
Freedom Summer
By Deborah Wiles, Illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue
Joe and John Henry are a lot alike. They both like shooting marbles, they both want to be firemen, and they both love to swim. But there’s one important way they’re different, Joe is white and John Henry is black. In the South in 1964, John Henry isn’t allowed to do everything his best friend is. Then a law is passed that forbids segregation. The town pool opens to everyone. Joe and John Henry are so excited they race each other to the pool, only to discover that it takes more than a new law to change people’s hearts.
We March
By Shane W. Evans
On August 26, 1963, a remarkable event took place. More than 250,000 people gathered in our nation’s capital to participate in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The march began at the Washington Memorial and ended with a rally at the Lincoln Memorial, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his historic “I Have a Dream” speech. The thrill of this day is brought to life in We March, even for the youngest reader.
Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer
By Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes
“I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
Despite fierce prejudice and abuse, even being beaten to within an inch of her life, Fannie Lou Hamer was a champion of civil rights from the 1950s until her death in 1977. Integral to the Freedom Summer of 1964, Ms. Hamer gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention that, despite President Johnson’s interference, aired on national TV news and spurred the nation to support the Freedom Democrats. Featuring vibrant mixed-media art full of intricate detail, Voice of Freedom celebrates Fannie Lou Hamer’s life and legacy with a message of hope, determination, and strength. 10-13 years
A Sweet Smell of Roses
By Angela Johnson, Illustrated by Eric Velazquez
There’s a sweet smell in the air as two young girls sneak out of their house, down the street, and across town to where men and women are gathered, ready to march for freedom and justice. A Sweet Smell of Roses is inspired by countless children and young adults who took a stand and participated in the Civil Rights Movement.
The book descriptions used are primarily the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Brave Ruby Bridges inspired people across the nation to search their hearts for what is right. The March on Washington was almost three years away and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, almost four years from passing. When…
Ruby Bridges, six years old, was chosen to integrate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Alone. On November 14, 1960, escorted by federal marshals, Ruby passed through an angry crowd yelling insults at her and entered the school. Immediately, furious parents stormed in and removed their children. Only one teacher, Barbara Henry, agreed to teach first grader Ruby.
In the 1954 landmark Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, “separate but equal” schools were deemed unconstitutional. Yet, schools in New Orleans, Louisiana, and throughout the southern United States did not accept the decision.
In 1960, a federal judge ordered that two schools in New Orleans be integrated. Ruby and five other girls were chosen based on a test they had taken. The parents of four of the six decided that their child would attend an all-white school. But only Ruby would go to school by herself.
The Problem We All Live With
By Norman Rockwell
Her father had been reluctant to send her, but her mother believed that Ruby should go. On the morning of the first day, Ruby and her mother were driven the five blocks from their home to the school. Before leaving the marshal’s car, her mother told her: “Ruby Nell, don’t be afraid. There might be some people upset outside, but I’ll be with you.” Her mother continued to encourage her despite the many hardships endured by the family through their decision to send Ruby to the all-white school.
Every day, during the school year, Ruby entered William Frantz Elementary the same way. But once inside, she spent the day happy with Barbara Henry, her teacher. They read together, played games, enjoyed music, and Ruby learned while the other students in the first grade stayed home. Federal Marshal Charles Banks said later that Ruby never cried. “She just marched along like a little soldier.”
Barbara Henry and Ruby Bridges in 1998
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