Rosa Parks

Children's Literature

This photo-illustrated biography presents the life of the woman called the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement." What is segregation and how did affected people? When you grow up in a segregated community, you go to separate, inferior schools, walk to school while white children ride the school bus, sit separately on busses, eat separately and drink separately. These were just some of the humiliations experience by Rosa and other African Americans during the time of segregation. But the determination of people like Rosa Parks with the support of the NAACP helped to get the ball rolling to end segregation in the United States. For her work as a Civil Rights activist she has received many honors, honorary degrees from colleges and a library named after her. She is 90 years old and still active. She also founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institution for Self Development which helps children stay in school. This is part of the "Photo-illustrated Biographies" series. 2003, Bridgestone Books,
— Leila Toledo

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4-These brief biographies present basic information on the life and accomplishments of these two women along with some anecdotal material that adds color to the texts. Each spread has a full-page photograph or reproduction facing a page of large-print, easy-to-read text. Quotes from the subjects are highlighted in boxes, but the language might be difficult for youngsters to read on their own. There is little else on Clara Barton for this reading level. Rosa Parks and Jim Haskins's I Am Rosa Parks (Dial, 1997) presents the same material as Dubois, as does David A. Adler's A Picture Book of Rosa Parks (Holiday, 1993). The format of these series entries will appeal to elementary students and there is adequate information for reports.-Marlene Gawron, formerly at Orange County Library, Orlando, FL Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.