Illustrated by Curtis James.40 p., Jump At The Sun, 2005. Although the United States Supreme Court declared school segregation illegal in 1954, it still existed in the South in 1965. This book tells the true story of the profoundly courageous family of Mae Bertha and Matthew Carter, who were African American and sent their seven school-age children to a “white” school. Before school even begins, people shoot at their house with rifles. The owner of the plantation where Matthew and Mae Bertha work as sharecroppers fires and evicts them when they refuse to withdraw the children from the “white” school. Other children at the school harass them constantly, year after year, and teachers and administrators are verbally abusive also. But Mae Bertha and Matthew want a better future for their children than sharecropping, and they believe passionately in the importance of education in attaining this. So they continue to encourage their children, who are in great pain from this experience. Eventually, other African American children enroll in the “white” schools. One afterword explains how the story came to be written, and another summarizes the now-grown children’s accomplishments, quoting their dreams for their own children. Suggested readings are also given. The Carter family’s story is illustrated with beautiful, somber oil paintings. Deeply moving, this story offers inspiration for courage and for working to realize equality. Ages 7-11
Showing posts with label prejudice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prejudice. Show all posts
A Good Night for Freedom by Barbara Olenyik Morrow
Illustrated by Leonard Jenkins. 32 p., Holiday, 2004. Sometimes, standing up for what's right means disobeying your parents and the law. In this story, Hallie, who is European American, meets two African American slave girls her own age, Susan and Margaret, who are seeking freedom through the Underground Railroad. They are trying to escape to earn enough money to buy their mother, whom their master had sold. When Hallie asks her Pa whether, hypothetically, he would help runaway slaves, he says that he doesn't like slavery, but he respects the law, and ultimately, his conclusion is to avoid meddling. But Hallie can't help wanting to understand more. She talks to Levi Coffin, whose family is hiding the girls. He is deeply respectful, and also encourages Hallie to think for herself. When slave catchers threaten her a second time as they throw rocks through the Coffin family's window, she lies to them to protect Susan and Margaret. Mr. Coffin thanks her, and her father, rather than criticizing her, acknowledges how strong-minded she is. Deeply impressed by Susan's and Margaret's courage, she takes them as role models, and feels satisfaction in having helped them. With beautiful collage-style illustrations, this story shows children that with courage, they can fight prejudice. Ages 6-9
You Can't Do That, Amelia! by Kimberly Wagner Klier
Illustrated by Kathleen Kemly.32 p., Calkins Creek, 2008. From the time she is a little girl in Kansas, Amelia (Earhart) dreams big, and has every intention of making her dreams a reality. From her childhood and into her adulthood, people tell her, "You can't do that, Amelia!" Each time, says this book, "But Amelia did" - from building a roller coaster in her backyard, to learning to fly, to participating in the 1929 Women's Air Derby, to flying solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Even when things don't go well, or when she is frightened or discouraged, she persists. The story ends with her triumphant landing in Ireland. An afterword summarizes her life in more detail, and includes a brief description of her final flight. A time line and a list of other biogrraphical resources are also included.With its colorful, upbeat illustrations, this story supports children's capacity for self-confidence, even in situations of prejudice against them. Ages 7-10
A Place Where Sunflowers Grow by Amy Lee-Tai
Illustrated by Felicia Hoshino. 32 p., Children's Book Press, 2006. Systematic acts of egregious racism are painful and confusing. When Mari's family is placed in an internment camp in Utah during World War II, she is discouraged and confused. She knows she's done nothing wrong, yet much has been taken from her. There were sunflowers in their old home, and Mari's mother plants sunflower seeds. Mari attends art classes twice a week in the camp, and at the first class, she can't think of anything to draw. Her parents each offer empathy and encouragement. At the second class meeting, with her teacher's support, Mari thinks of something to draw: her garden back home. Her parents and brother enjoy her picture, and it seems to brighten their barrack. As she continues to make art, Mari also becomes able to ask Papa about some of her worries, and as a result, she receives reassurance. She also makes friends with a classmate, and becomes more able to participate in class. But she's still discouraged about the sunflower seeds her Mama had planted - until her new friend points out that they've begun to grow. The seedlings give Mari hope that she can stay connected to her life outside the camp. This bilingual (English/Japanese) story is based on the author's mother's experiences, and some of the softly colored multimedia illustrations are based on the author's grandmother's paintings. This story shows children how to use imagination and creativity to cope with even the most difficult experiences. Ages 6-11
Scribbleville by Peter Holwitz
Illustrated by 40 p., Philomel, 2005. Although people are often uncomfortable with others who seem different from themselves, they can learn to appreciate diversity. This is the story of the town of Scribbleville, where everyone is scribbled, even the dogs and cats. One day, a stick-straight man arrives and builds himself a perfectly straight house. Most of the scribble people shake their heads and talk about how the stranger doesn't belong. They worry that more straight people might move to town, and then "there'll be more of them than there are of us!" But one scribbled woman becomes the stranger's friend. As she says to another friend, "on the outside he's odd, but that's not where I look." Belying the other townspeople's "us vs. them" mentality, she becomes a little straighter, and he becomes a little more scribbly. A similar kind of change appears in others in Scribbleville, starting with its children. The (former) stranger and the woman marry. And the entire appearance of Scribbleville changes. It has become a place where "whoever you are, you'll fit in well." This delightfully-illustrated rhyming story conveys a positive message about the value of diversity and hope for change. Ages 4-8
Skin Again by bell hooks
Illustrated by Chris Raschka.32 p., Hyperion, 2004. Our skin is only a small part of who we are. With eloquence and passion, this book tells us that in order to know one another, we have to look past skin, which, although it matters, is ultimately only a covering; and experience one another from the inside, with an open heart. We have to hear one another's stories of both the factual and the imagined. We have to see one another for who we really are, not who we expect one another to be. Vivid and dynamic, the illustrations show a range of skin tones, experiences of internal complexity, and connections between people. This books shows clearly how prejudice makes genuine connection impossible, and conversely, how genuine connection makes prejudice impossible. Ages 5-9
Elena's Serenade by Campbell Geeslin
Illustrated by Ana Juan.40 p., Atheneum/Schwartz, 2004. Anger at prejudice can provide the energy for creativity and success. Such is the case for Elena, who is furious when her father tells her that she can't be a glassblower like him because she is a girl. Elena disguises herself as a boy in her brother's old clothes and sets out to learn glassblowing. On her way, she discovers with delight that she can make music with her glassblowing pipe. She uses her music to help the animals she meets along the way, and they encourage and support her. When she reaches a glassblowing factory, then men don't think she's capable of anything, but she and they find that when she plays music through her pipe, she creates glass objects related to the song - for example, when she plays a song called "Estrellita," she blows a little glass star - and her glass stars become wildly popular. Eventually Elena returns home, gliding on the back of a large glass bird she has blown, and shows her father what she can do. Her father accepts her as a colleague. The warmly colored acrylic and crayon illustrations express the magic of this story, which encourages children not to accept "girls can't" as an answer and to find support for following their dreams. Ages 4-7
The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke
Translated by Anthea Bell. Illustrated by Kerstin Meyer. 32 p., Scholastic/Chicken House, 2001.
Restrictive cultural ideas can't keep a princess down in this story. A widowed king decides to teach his daughter, Violetta, the same things he is teaching her three older brothers - riding, fighting, and arrogance. Violetta is small, and her brothers tease her as she struggles to keep up with them. But she's very determined, and she goes out at night and quietly practices her skills. As a result, when she jousts with her brothers, she's so quick that they can't hit her with their swords. When Violetta is turning 16, the king announces a jousting tournament, with her hand in marriage going to the winner. Deeply offended, Violetta enters the tournament herself as Sir No-Name, and to her father's amazement, she wins. She decides to choose her own prize: "no one will ever win Princess Violetta's hand in marriage without first defeating Sir No-Name." No one ever challenges her again.The illustrations are very expressive of both Violetta's smallness and her toughness. The strength of Violetta's self-determination will be an inspiration to girls.
Ages 5-8
Restrictive cultural ideas can't keep a princess down in this story. A widowed king decides to teach his daughter, Violetta, the same things he is teaching her three older brothers - riding, fighting, and arrogance. Violetta is small, and her brothers tease her as she struggles to keep up with them. But she's very determined, and she goes out at night and quietly practices her skills. As a result, when she jousts with her brothers, she's so quick that they can't hit her with their swords. When Violetta is turning 16, the king announces a jousting tournament, with her hand in marriage going to the winner. Deeply offended, Violetta enters the tournament herself as Sir No-Name, and to her father's amazement, she wins. She decides to choose her own prize: "no one will ever win Princess Violetta's hand in marriage without first defeating Sir No-Name." No one ever challenges her again.The illustrations are very expressive of both Violetta's smallness and her toughness. The strength of Violetta's self-determination will be an inspiration to girls.
Ages 5-8
All Kinds of Children by Norma Simon
Illustrated by Diane Paterson. 32 p., Whitman, 1999.
Children all over the world have a lot in common: they all need food, clothes, sleep, and people to love them; they all live in houses; they all like to play, to hold something special, like a blanket, and to hear or read stories. And all children grow up. At the same time, there are differences among children; for example, although all children sleep, they may have different kinds of beds and dream different kinds of dreams. This story helps children recognizes their commonalities across cultures, while acknowledging differences.
Ages 2-5
Children all over the world have a lot in common: they all need food, clothes, sleep, and people to love them; they all live in houses; they all like to play, to hold something special, like a blanket, and to hear or read stories. And all children grow up. At the same time, there are differences among children; for example, although all children sleep, they may have different kinds of beds and dream different kinds of dreams. This story helps children recognizes their commonalities across cultures, while acknowledging differences.
Ages 2-5
Grandmama's Pride by Becky Birtha
Illustrated by Colin Bootman.32 p., Whitman, 2006.
How can a child make sense of pervasive, inexplicable prejudice? When 6-year-old Sarah Marie and her family visit her Grandmama in the South in 1956, adult relatives protect her from segregation. Instead of telling her she isn’t allowed to drink from a drinking fountain because she is African American, Grandmama simply advises against it, suggesting that it might not be clean, and promises her homemade lemonade instead. Grandmama refuses to ride segregated buses before the organized bus boycotts, but Sarah Marie doesn’t know that; she just knows that Grandmama never rides the bus. During her visit to the South, Sarah Marie’s aunt teaches her to read. Soon she can read the signs that reserve rest rooms for “White Women” and drinking fountains for “White [people] only.” When she asks Grandmama what these mean, Grandmama explains what segregation is, adding, “’you don’t want that city water anyway … It isn’t even cold.’” Now that she can read, Sarah Marie begins protecting her 5-year-old sister in the same ways her mother and grandmother have been protecting her. By the next summer’s visit, laws have changed, and these forms of segregation have ended in Grandmama’s town. When Grandmama explains this to Sarah Marie, her triumph is clear. The watercolor illustrations are especially evocative of summer light and long-ago memories. This story shows children that with the support of a loving family, it’s possible to maintain your own internal sense of who you are, even in situations of blatant, inexplicable prejudice.
Ages 5-10
How can a child make sense of pervasive, inexplicable prejudice? When 6-year-old Sarah Marie and her family visit her Grandmama in the South in 1956, adult relatives protect her from segregation. Instead of telling her she isn’t allowed to drink from a drinking fountain because she is African American, Grandmama simply advises against it, suggesting that it might not be clean, and promises her homemade lemonade instead. Grandmama refuses to ride segregated buses before the organized bus boycotts, but Sarah Marie doesn’t know that; she just knows that Grandmama never rides the bus. During her visit to the South, Sarah Marie’s aunt teaches her to read. Soon she can read the signs that reserve rest rooms for “White Women” and drinking fountains for “White [people] only.” When she asks Grandmama what these mean, Grandmama explains what segregation is, adding, “’you don’t want that city water anyway … It isn’t even cold.’” Now that she can read, Sarah Marie begins protecting her 5-year-old sister in the same ways her mother and grandmother have been protecting her. By the next summer’s visit, laws have changed, and these forms of segregation have ended in Grandmama’s town. When Grandmama explains this to Sarah Marie, her triumph is clear. The watercolor illustrations are especially evocative of summer light and long-ago memories. This story shows children that with the support of a loving family, it’s possible to maintain your own internal sense of who you are, even in situations of blatant, inexplicable prejudice.
Ages 5-10
Ballerino Nate by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Illustrated by R. W. Alley.32 p., Dial, 2006.
Gender prejudice can limit children's experience of their choices. When Nate's kindergarten class attends a performance by a ballet school, he falls in ove with ballet. Nate's brother, Ben, repeatedly tells him that he can't study ballet, because he's a boy, and that ballerinas have to wear a dress and pink shoes. Nate's parents calmly dispel these myths, and Nate asserts his right to dance. But Nate wants passionately to learn ballet, and until he can begin classes, he dances at home, in his yard, and on his driveway, and reads books about ballet. When he does begin classes, he's a bit alarmed to find that he's the only boy there. but he loves his teacher and he loves the class. In response to Nate's continuing discouragement about whether he can really be a ballerina, his mother takes him to a professional ballet, where he is not only stunned by the beauty of the performance, but also sees that half of the dancers are men. Afterward, his mother takes him backstage, where he meets one of the male dancer, who explains that the word ballerina is reserved for women who are the top dancers in a company - and that the equivalent term for men is ballerino. Now he knows he can truly be a ballet dancer. Playfully illustrated, this story shows children that it's possible to follow your heart even in spite of gender stereotypes.
Ages 3-8
Gender prejudice can limit children's experience of their choices. When Nate's kindergarten class attends a performance by a ballet school, he falls in ove with ballet. Nate's brother, Ben, repeatedly tells him that he can't study ballet, because he's a boy, and that ballerinas have to wear a dress and pink shoes. Nate's parents calmly dispel these myths, and Nate asserts his right to dance. But Nate wants passionately to learn ballet, and until he can begin classes, he dances at home, in his yard, and on his driveway, and reads books about ballet. When he does begin classes, he's a bit alarmed to find that he's the only boy there. but he loves his teacher and he loves the class. In response to Nate's continuing discouragement about whether he can really be a ballerina, his mother takes him to a professional ballet, where he is not only stunned by the beauty of the performance, but also sees that half of the dancers are men. Afterward, his mother takes him backstage, where he meets one of the male dancer, who explains that the word ballerina is reserved for women who are the top dancers in a company - and that the equivalent term for men is ballerino. Now he knows he can truly be a ballet dancer. Playfully illustrated, this story shows children that it's possible to follow your heart even in spite of gender stereotypes.
Ages 3-8