Reviews (10)

A beautiful children's book with an illustrated personal story and a larger message
Harvesting Hope tells the tale of Cesar Chavez, but more than that, it reveals the power of collective bargaining and fighting for what is just in the world.As a children's book, it has appeal as a well-illustrated biography, an important history lesson, a story of family and personal triumph, and a book with a message.Chavez's crusade took place several decades ago, but the plight of migrant farm workers remains, despite the tremendous inroads Chavez made with La Causa.The story of Chavez's childhood, hard days of labor, and fight for worker's rights is timeless, and Kathleen Krull's award-nominated book deserves a place on every child's bookshelf.

The story of a lesser known American Hero
This is a great picture book for all ages. The heroic story of Cesar Chavez is left out of most U.S. history classrooms, save those in California. This book would be an enlightening addition to any classroom or children's library.

Si Se Puede
Let's begin by saying that the drawings are super and captivating. Yuyi Morales creates characters that show emotion and the result is a drawing of emotion from the young reader. As the title implies this is the story of Cesar Chavez who many adults came to know about from his work with the farmworkers in California. This story humanizes the man by beginning in his childhood. The roots of the farmworker leader are explored asa young person traveling from crop to crop , from state to state. A drought in Arizona began the family oddyssey that would result in Caser Chavez becoming familiar first hand with the troubles of the farmworkers. Life on the road became a harsh reality. The treatment he encountered in school forced him to drop out in eighth grade but the treatment in the fields wasn't much better, at times it was much worse. This is simple story about a complex problem that one man was determined to overcome. He wanted justice for farmworkers and organized. He became to Mexicans what MLK was for civil rights, for Mexicans it was an extension of civil rights. This is a beautiful book for young readers or those not so young that are learning to read in English if they have a reading foundation in another language. Although it is recommended for children ages 6-9, middle school students, ages 9-12, especially those with limited English proficiency can benefit from this story well told. For the teacher or parent this book can help instill pride and understanding as to how determination, perseverance and hard work can overcome even the greatest odds. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1927-    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    4. Biography & Autobiography - General    5. Biography & Autobiography - Social Activists    6. Chavez, Cesar,    7. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    8. Children: Grades 1-2    9. History - United States/20th Century    10. Juvenile Nonfiction    11. Juvenile literature    12. Labor leaders    13. Mexican Americans    14. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    15. Preschool Picture Story Books    16. United States    17. Chavez, Cesar    18. Juvenile Nonfiction / History / United States / 20th Century   

Editorial Review

Reviews (5)

Great Book
A must read for all youngsters. The feedback that we have gotten on this book from the kids who have read Tyler and His Solve-a-matic machine by Jennifer Bouani, is very positive. I highly recommend this book

"...She was tired. Not tired from work, but tired of putting white people first..."
I liked Ms. Giovanni's approach to telling this story. Given that it is a children's book, I appreciate that she looks at the humanity of Rosa Parks, (a woman with a life and a husband), rather than just her political role. I know that my kids will relate better to the story because of that.
"The only tired I was, was tired of giving in".
When I was a child in elementary school and Black History Month came along, the children in my class were taught small songs about various African-American heroes.There was the Harriet Tubman song, the Benjamin Banneker song, and the Rosa Parks song.The Rosa Parks song began in this way, "Rosa Parks was tired and sat / In the front of the bus not back / They tried to make her change her seat / Because she was black".Of course, there are two things wrong with this song already.First of all, she sat in the middle of the bus.Not the back of it.Second of all she wasn't tired.Ms. Parks was an activist, but to make her seem like an everywoman her membership in the NAACP was downplayed so that she would be more sympathetic.The plan worked beautifully and Ms. Parks was raised to the status of folk-hero, as was right.UN-fortunately, there are countless children's books out there that choose to ignore her activism.They are under the distinct impression that if children also think that Ms. Parks was tired or unwittingly told to move that it's so much easier a story to tell."Rosa" is one such book.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1913-    2. African American women    3. African Americans    4. Alabama    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    7. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    8. Biography & Autobiography - Social Activists    9. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    10. Children: Kindergarten    11. Civil rights workers    12. History - United States/20th Century    13. Juvenile Nonfiction    14. Juvenile literature    15. Montgomery    16. Parks, Rosa,   

Reviews (2)

Let's Escape
We are four girls in second grade who read this book.It is a really good book.It has excitement, and we learned a lot about Harriet Tubman.She was born in 1820 and died in 1913.She was 93 when she died.Here are some comments: "I liked the part when Harriet was going to escape and she followed Daddy Ben's instructions.""She was so happy when she saw Old Rit and Daddy Ben again."

Let's Escape
We are four girls in second grade who read this book.It is a really good book.It has excitement, and we learned a lot about Harriet Tubman.She was born in 1820 and died in 1913.She was 93 when she died.Here are some comments: "I liked the part when Harriet was going to escape and she followed Daddy Ben's instructions.""She was so happy when she saw Old Rit and Daddy Ben again." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1820?-1913    2. African American women    3. African Americans    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    6. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    7. Biography & Autobiography - Social Activists    8. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    9. Children: Grades 2-3    10. Juvenile Easy Readers    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Juvenile literature    13. Readers - Beginner    14. Slaves    15. Tubman, Harriet,    16. United States    17. Human & civil rights    18. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / People of Color    19. Reformers & philanthropists    20. True stories   

Reviews (3)

Just wished I could have heard her, too!
I was not too familiar with the life of Marian Anderson, so it was
If the planet Earth could sing
Writing a biography of a private person who led a public life is, by definition, difficult.So it only stands to reason that writing a children's biography of a private person who led a public life would be ten times as hard.Children's biographies cannot speculate over the sex life of the subject.They can't delve into shoddy rumors or dredge up conspiracy theories related to the person's sordid background.None of this is to say that Marian Anderson had such sketchy rumors floating about her person, of course.By all accounts she led an exciting life, had a fabulous career, and is regarded as a great American hero.But she was also a private person, which places Russell Freedman in a difficult position.As the author of, "The Voice That Challenged a Nation", Freedman's job is to tell Anderson's story while relying on as many good, strong, clean facts as he can get his hands on.Fortunately, we're talking about the premiere biographical children's author here.Alongside fellow genius James Giblin, Freedman knows exactly how to present a life this interesting and detailed.The book will not charm every child assigned it in school.But if you've a kid who's open-minded and able to get into Marian's struggle, this is an excellent resource.Even if, prior to this book, they couldn't tell Marian Anderson from Ella Fitzgerald.
Richie's Picks: THE VOICE THAT CHALLENGED A NATION
"This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, 'My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.'
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1897-1993    2. African American singers    3. African Americans    4. Anderson, Marian,    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    7. Biography & Autobiography - Music    8. Biography & Autobiography - Social Activists    9. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    10. Children: Grades 4-6    11. Civil rights    12. Contraltos    13. Freedman, Russell    14. History - United States/20th Century    15. Juvenile Nonfiction    16. Juvenile literature    17. United States    18. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Political   

Editorial Review

In this elegant pictorial biography of Martin Luther King Jr., authorDoreen Rappaport combines her spare, lyrical text with King's own words for aneffective, age-appropriate portrayal of one of the world's greatest civil rightsleaders. From King's youth, when he looked up to his preacher father and vowedone day to "get big words, too," to his death at a garbage workers' strike ("Onhis second day there, he was shot. He died."), Rappaport imbues the story withreverence.Read more

Reviews (18)

*BigonImpact- - MARTIN'sWORDSRESONATEWITHRESULTS . . . *
The awesome simplicity ofDoreen Rappaport's text is perfectly complemented by the artistry of Bryan Collier's water colors and clever collage in this stunning book.Their talents combine to make one weep.
I Like This Book!
I am Alex, a third grader in California.I like this book because it is fantastic.I learned to fight with words.It is a nice way to entertain yourself.You should buy it because I know you will like it a lot.

Awesome Book!
I was first introduce to this book in an undergraduate elementary education course.I purchased it instantly.I have used it with Kindergarten, second grade, third grade, and fourth grade.All the children love it!The illustrations are very unique and colorful.The story is on a level they can understand.It is not bogged down with too many details and is not to lengthy. I highly recommend this book, not only to educators and parents, but to the public in general.Everyone should read this book about the wonderful man who has influenced our society in such a profound and positive way. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1929-1968    2. African Americans    3. Baptists    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    6. Biography & Autobiography - Religious    7. Biography & Autobiography - Social Activists    8. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    9. Children: Grades 1-2    10. Civil rights workers    11. Clergy    12. Jr.,    13. Juvenile Nonfiction    14. Juvenile literature    15. King, Martin Luther,    16. Quotations    17. United States    18. Historical figures    19. Human & civil rights    20. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / People of Color    21. King, Martin Luther   

Reviews (2)

Ten Inspirational Women...
What do Rosa Parks, Mary McLeod Bethune and Shirley Chisholm all have in common?They're three of the ten extraordinary African American freedom fighters in Andrea Davis Pinkney's marvelous collection, Let It Shine.These are strong women who didn't just sit back and accept the status quo, but met challenges head on and took action to change the world and make it a better place.These ten dynamic women were never silent, even when they thought no one was listening, faced discrimination, inequality and racism, triumphed in their battles against oppression and for civil rights and inspired those who followed in their footsteps.Told in easy to read, conversational style, each chapter is rich in both anecdotal and historical detail and accompanied by Stephen Alcorn's beautiful and bold oil painting illustrations.Perfect for youngsters 10 and older, Let It Shine also makes a wonderful read-aloud book the entire family can share and enjoy.

Continuing the Legacy
"Let It Shine: The Stories of Ten Black Women Freedom Fighters" is an amazing, entertaining, and educational journey back through time for both children and adults alike.The stories accurately depict the changing face of America for all people.The author, Andrea Davis Pinkney, uses a combination of oral stories and historical facts to re-create the lives of ten African American women "freedom fighters" (a.k.a. civil rights activists.)The descriptive language Pinkney uses keeps the style of the text upbeat and enjoyable.Among the list of women are Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks.However, there is also a presence of many unknown women, such as Shirley Chisholm, an inspirational politician, and Biddy Mason, a one-time slave with never ending generosity.The stories are quite diverse, spanning a history of nearly the entire 20th century.Some of these historical references include the signing of the emancipation proclamation, the peaceful demonstrations of the civil rights movement, and the Democratic Convention of 1968. There is one common, underlying goal of each story- inspiration.From Harriet Tubman's Underground Railroad to Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat, there is a sublte undertone that promotes and requires action.These women learned that justice comes from not only speaking, but doing.Their stories and successes encourage people of all ages to get up and fight against inequality. The combination of descriptive oral stories and historical facts, along with the colorful illustrations, keep readers of any age interested in this text. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African American women    2. African American women civil r    3. African American women civil rights workers    4. African Americans    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    7. Biography & Autobiography - Political    8. Biography & Autobiography - Social Activists    9. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    10. Children: Grades 3-4    11. Civil rights    12. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    13. History    14. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    15. Social Science    16. U.S. - Political And Civil Rights Of Blacks    17. Women In The U.S.    18. Women's Studies - General    19. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / People of Color   

Reviews (1)

Paths to Peace People Who Changed the World
Zalben guides us through the lives of 16 people who have dramatically pursued their individual paths to peace over the span of the past 200 years. Each figure's life is smartly analyzed and consolidated into a one-page presentation that provides a compressed and worthy view of their importance towards creating peace in the world.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography - General    3. Biography & Autobiography - Political    4. Biography & Autobiography - Social Activists    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    6. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    7. Children: Grades 3-4    8. Heroes    9. History - General    10. Juvenile Nonfiction    11. Juvenile Social Problems (General)    12. Juvenile literature    13. Social Science - Sociology    14. Social Studies - General    15. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Political   

Reviews (9)

martin--- DE
I LIKE THE STORY BECAUSE HE TOLD THE LIFE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE BOY HIS FREINDS SAID THEY COULD NOT PLAY WITH HIM BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK.

AboutMartinLuther King,Jr --ga
MartinLutherKing , Jr wasbornin Atlalta , Goagia.He wasbornonJanuary15 , 1929.HeledtheMarchofWashingtononAugust28, 1964 andgavehisspeech.
king jr.--am
DR.king was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929. He played football when he was a child.He couldn't play with his friends because he was black and they were white. He wanted to change this and changed the world.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    2. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    3. Biography & Autobiography - People of Color    4. Biography & Autobiography - Religious    5. Biography & Autobiography - Social Activists    6. Children's 4-8 - Biography / Autobiography    7. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    8. Children: Grades 1-2    9. Juvenile Nonfiction   

Reviews (6)

A book...with a Twist!
A thrilling book that I was intrigued to read during my summer home for 2 weeks. The book takes a rather twist which im impressed how not many decided to put on their reviews.
Good
I liked this book because it took you through her whole life in chronological order. However, it was not very useful for the information I was looking for. It talks about her as a slave and an abolitionist, but it doesn't say much about her as a feminist. I would've been five stars if the author had given more on her and feminism.

Sojourner Truth, an Inspiring Lady.
This book starts out with the birth of Sojourner Truth and takes you all the way through her life.You learn about her as a slave, as a free woman, as a preacher, an abolitionist, and an activist for the rights of both blacks and woman.Read more

Subjects:  1. Abolitionists    2. Afro-Americans    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    5. Biography & Autobiography - Social Activists    6. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    7. Children: Grades 4-6    8. Juvenile literature    9. Social reformers    10. United States    11. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (1)

Kept Promises and Social Change
Promises to Keep:How Jackie Robinson Changed AmericaRead more

Subjects:  1. 1919-1972    2. African American baseball play    3. African American baseball players    4. African Americans    5. Baseball players    6. Biography    7. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    8. Biography & Autobiography - Social Activists    9. Biography & Autobiography - Sports & Recreation    10. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    11. Children: Grades 4-6    12. Juvenile Nonfiction    13. Juvenile literature    14. Robinson, Jackie,    15. Sports & Recreation - Baseball    16. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (1)

A wonderful illustrated biography on Eleanor Roosevelt, the First Lady of the World
I doubt that Eleanor Roosevelt will be as well remember and beloved in the 21st century as she was in the 20th, which is a shame because she is the one who created the new role model of the First Lady that the likes of Hilary Clinton are trying to build on.As the longest serving First Lady (1933 to 1945), she promoted the New Deal of her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt, as well as Civil Right.After FDR's death, Eleanor was a leader in forming the United Nations and chaired the committee that drafted and approved the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. President Harry S Truman called her "The First Lady of the World," a honor that she clearly deserved for her work to end discrimination and promote civil rights, spreading goodwill wherever she traveled.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1884-1962    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    4. Biography & Autobiography - Political    5. Biography & Autobiography - Social Activists    6. Biography & Autobiography - U.S. Presidents & First Ladies    7. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    8. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    9. Children: Grades 4-6    10. Juvenile Nonfiction    11. Juvenile literature    12. Presidents' spouses    13. Roosevelt, Eleanor,    14. United States    15. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Historical   

Reviews (1)

Why Eleanor Roosevelt set the standard for all First Ladies
There are plenty of history books that document the ways Franklin D. Roosevelt changed both the Presidency and the American government, so it is not really surprising that his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, was just as successful in transforming the role of the First Lady.In this volume for the Our People series, Pam Rosenberg shows young readers why Eleanor Roosevelt was considered both a humanitarian and a world citizen, who managed to make significant accomplishments even after her husband died and she left the White House.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1884-1962    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    4. Biography & Autobiography - Social Activists    5. Biography & Autobiography - U.S. Presidents & First Ladies    6. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    7. Children: Grades 2-3    8. Children: Grades 4-6    9. First ladies    10. Girls & Women    11. Juvenile Nonfiction    12. Juvenile literature    13. Presidents' spouses    14. Roosevelt, Eleanor,    15. United States    16. Women   

Reviews (1)

Don't buy this book
This book is absolute rubbish.It is not based on any facts.MLK Jr's family grew up in a middle class section of Atlanta.His father was a minister.The illustrations in this book give the reader the idea that Martin came from a poor family, when nothing could be further from the truth.A much better book is Martin's Big Words, the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1929-1968    2. African Americans    3. Anecdotes    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    6. Biography & Autobiography - Religious    7. Biography & Autobiography - Social Activists    8. Childhood and youth    9. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    10. Children: Grades 1-2    11. Friendship    12. Jr.,    13. Juvenile Easy Readers    14. Juvenile Fiction    15. Juvenile literature    16. King, Martin Luther,    17. Racism    18. Readers - Beginner    19. Social Science - Psychology    20. United States    21. Juvenile Nonfiction / Social Situations / Prejudice & Racism    22. King, Martin Luther   

Reviews (4)

Factual and nicely illustrated... but wordy.
The title is promising, but misleading. "If a Bus Could Talk" implies an entertaining story for the beginning reader; but, the concept is lost as the story drags from the first few sentences. The gimmick of the driverless bus is mishandled, and one soon wonders why the author thought it necessary add a gimmick to a true story that is inherently interestingwhen skillfully told. One might speculate that someone early on criticized the book as being a Civil Rights manual for young adults rather than a picture book for children; hence, the story was prefaced with the garbled mess that makes up its first few pages of text. Perhaps that part was hastily added. The suggested audience is the five-to-nine age group. Any healthy five-year old will be dozing from page one. Once it becomes obvious that the prose is better suited to an older child, though, the biography itself becomes quite informative.
Moving Story About Civil Rights Movement
What would you do if a bus with eyes, nose, red hair, and a yellow cap pulled up to your bus stop?When the door opens and a voice calls out, "Step on up, young lady," Marcie does just that.It will be the ride of her life, for she hears the courageous story of Rosa Parks straight from Rosa's bus itself. This story spans a spectrum of detail in 32 pages: from Rosa McCauley's childhood in Pine Level, Alabama, to her marriage to Raymond Parks, to that fateful bus ride on December 1, 1955, to her continued struggle for equality after the boycott.The artistic style of Faith Ringgold leaps from the page in dramatic acrylic color on canvas.The suggested reading age for this book is 5 - 9.Yet it is not a quick read.Text is detailed enough to make some younger listeners restless. Vocabulary is challenging enough to daunt some older beginner readers.But don't let that deter you from sharing If a Bus Could Talk with your children. No doubt they take their integrated schools, pools, movies, and restaurants for granted.If anything, this story will get THEM to talk!

A good informitive book!
If a bus could talk is about a little girl named Marcie who steps onto a bus that can talk. The bus tells her that she is ridng on the Rosa Parks bus. Then the bus tells her about Rosa Park's life and about Martin LutherKing and the bus boycott. I learned alot about Rosa Park's life fromreading this book, and I would recommend If a Bus Could Talk to any childwho doesn't know much about the civil rights movement. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1913-    2. African Americans    3. Alabama    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    6. Biography & Autobiography - People of Color    7. Biography & Autobiography - Social Activists    8. Children's 4-8 - Biography / Autobiography    9. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    10. Children: Grades 1-2    11. Civil rights    12. Civil rights workers    13. History - United States/20th Century    14. Juvenile Nonfiction    15. Juvenile literature    16. Montgomery    17. Parks, Rosa,    18. People & Places - United States - African-American    19. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    20. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / African American    21. Parks, Rosa   

Reviews (1)

Excellent Elementary Harriet Tubman Biography!
This book is wonderful for children!Leading the reader through a sequence of events within Harriet Tubmans life.Very easy reading, yet abundant with biographical information about Tubman that can be used particularly by elementary age children.The format is clear making for easy reading.I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a short concise biography of an American Hero. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1820?-1913    2. African American women    3. African Americans    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    6. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    7. Biography & Autobiography - Social Activists    8. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    9. Children: Grades 2-3    10. Juvenile Nonfiction    11. Juvenile literature    12. Slaves    13. Tubman, Harriet,    14. United States    15. Tubman, Harriet    16. Underground railroad   

Reviews (4)

Rare To Call a Book "Life-Changing"
... but this one has been, for me.
Make Our Eleanor YOUR Eleanor
A perfectly written biography.Anyone interested in politics, women, American history, civil rights, human rights, and making a difference in the world MUST read this book.You will feel like you not only know her, but after reading, you'll feel that Eleanor is somewhere cheering you on in your life's endeavors as educators, librarians, sanitation workers, peacemakers, leaders, voters, human beings...
Richie's Picks: OUR ELEANOR
" 'I always had the feeling from a very young age that I was ugly,' Eleanor wrote. This feeling came from her mother, who often gazed at her daughter coolly, as if she couldn't imagine having such a plain-looking, solemn-faced daughter. Forced to wear a back brace to correct a curvature of the spine, Eleanor knew 'as a child knows these things,' that her mother was bitterly disappointed in her physical features. 'I can remember,' wrote Eleanor, 'standing in the door, very often with my finger in my mouth which was, of course, forbidden--and I can see the look in her eyes and hear the tone in her voice as she said: "Come in, Granny." If a visitor was there, she might turn and say, "She is such a funny child, so old-fashioned that we always call her Granny." I wanted to sink through the floor in shame.'