“The most urgent need of the current generation is light and warmth – the light of knowledge and the warmth of high idealism” H. Richard Niebuhr.

I choose the topic “The Civil Rights Movement: 1955 – 1968 because of the PBS documentary “Eyes on the Prize”.  I saw this program for the first time fourteen years ago.  It left such an impression upon me that I will often take the films out from the library and show the program to my children.  This program details the beginning of the civil rights movement in the 1950’s.  To use this documentary to teach young children about the civil rights movement would be too graphic.  Instead, I have selected many picture books to tell children this story and to hopefully impart upon them the role that young people played in the civil rights movement.

In preparing my project, I discovered that there are many picture books written in all genres, (fantasy, historical fiction, realistic fiction, and biographical) on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mrs. Rosa Parks.  I believe that many children are familiar with the stories of Dr. King and Mrs. Parks and should be introduced to other individuals of the movement like Thurgood Marshall, Ruby Bridges, the Arkansas Nine, and the Freedom Riders.

Although Jackie Robinson broke the “color barrier” in major league baseball in 1947, I felt it was pertinent to include his biography in this project.  Today’s children are accustomed to seeing people of color in sports and I believe that they need to be informed that it was a little over fifty years ago that Robinson was kept out of sports based on the color of his skin.

Biography

Coles, Robert. The Story of Ruby Bridges. (1995.) Scholastic, Inc., New York, New York.

In 1960, six year old, Ruby Bridges became the first African-American to integrate William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans.  The book has pictures and describes the hostility directed towards Ruby and details how Ruby confronted the hostile crowd.

Roatma, Lucia. Jackie Robinson. (2001.) Compass Point Books, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

This book provides an introduction into the personal life and baseball career of Jackie Robinson.  The reader learns about Jackie Robinson’s childhood, the problems he faced in the army and as the first African-American to play baseball in the major leagues.

Adler, David. A Picture Book of Rosa Parks (1993.) Holiday House, New York, New York.

This book profiles the story of Rosa Parks from her childhood to 1993.
 

Adler, David. A Picture Book of Thurgood Marshall: A Picture Book Biography

This book highlights Thurgood Marshall’s legal accomplishments, such as winning Brown vs. the Board of Education of Topeka Kansas and the first African-American to hold the position of Supreme Court Justice.

Ruffin, Frances, E. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington (2001.) Grosset & Dunlap, New York, New York.

This book provides a brief perspective on the segregation and discrimination that preceded the march on Washington.  The story outlines the key people who organized the march on Washington and why.

Chapter Books

Nelson, Vaunda, M. Beyond Mayfield (1999.) G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, New York.

In 1961 the children of Mayfield are concerned with air-raid drills and fallout shelters, but the civil rights movement becomes real when a neighbor, Sam, joins the Freedom Riders.  The African-American children of Mayfield deal with the racism that they encounter from some of their classmates and teachers at Parkview School.  The children of Mayfield also learn how they have held false beliefs about a neighbor of theirs in Mayfield.

Davis, Ossie. Just Like Martin (1992.) Simon Schuster, New York, New York.

Following the deaths of two classmates in a bomb explosion at his Alabama church, fourteen-year-old Stone organizes a children’s march for civil rights in the autumn of 1963.  Stone battles his father’s refusal to allow him to follow Dr. King and attend the march on Washington.  Stone’s father doesn’t believe that non-violence is the answer to racism.

Curtis, Christopher, P. The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963(1995.) Delacorte Press, New York, New York.

The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons, an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963.  This book is narrated by Kenny, a fourth grader.

Fantasy:

Ringgold, Faith. My Dream of Martin Luther King (1995.) Crown Publishers, New York, New York.

The author, Faith Ringgold, uses her dreams to tell the story of Martin Luther King’s childhood as an adult fighting for civil rights and his death.  The author also predicts how she sees discrimination finally ending.

Ringgold, Faith. If A Bus Could Talk, The Story of Rosa Parks (1999.) Simon & Schuster, New York, New York.

A young girl, Marcie, boards a bus and discovers that it is a talking bus with no driver.  The bus takes Marcie for a ride through history recounting the life of Rosa Parks and her fight for Civil Rights.  The illustrations are colorful and creative.

Folklore

Hamilton, Virginia, The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales
This book won the Coretta Scott King Award in 1986.  This is a collection of stories drawn from the African-American folktale tradition. The pictures are powerful.
 
Historical Fiction

Robinet, Harriette, G. Walking to the Bus-Rider Blues (2000) Atheneum Books for Young Readers, New York, New York.

Twelve-year-old Alfa, his older sister, and their grandmother work hard to earn money to pay the rent.  They struggle with racism in Montgomery during the summer of 1956.  Alfa finds his dignity as he participates in the Montgomery bus boycott and makes up his own “Bus Rider Blues Songs”.

Informational

Turck, Mary, C. The Civil Rights Movement for Kids; A History with 21 Activities: (2000.) Chicago Review Press, Chicago, Illinois

The book describes the struggle for civil rights for African-Americans in the 1950’s and 1960’s and profiles important civil rights leaders.  Suggested activities are included.  Topics covered are:  The 1950’s, Montgomery Bus Boycott, nonviolent resistance, student sit-ins, and the Freedom Riders.  There are many black and white photographs of events that took place during the civil rights movement.

Haskins, Jim, The Day Martin Luther King, Jr., Was Shot; A Photo History of the Civil Rights Movement (1992) Scholastic Inc., New York, New York

An array of photos detail the fight for equal rights from slave trade to desegregation to the day Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot.  This book provides a timeline detailing important dates (1663 – 1991) in the fight for African-American’s rights.

Non-Fiction:

Welch, Catherine, A. Children of the Civil Rights Era (2001.) Carolrhoda Books, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota

A powerful book to use with children to demonstrate that they can make a difference.  The book has black and white photographs depicting how children marched and participated in sit-ins to help end “Jim Crow” laws.  The book also contains activities to promote nonviolence.

Poetry Book:

Slier, Deborah. Make A Joyful Sound, Poems for Children by African American Poets (1991.) Scholastic, Inc.  New York, New York.

A Protest Poem for Rosa Parks describes how Mrs. Parks felt the day she refused to give up her seat on the bus in Montgomery, her first meeting with Dr. King and the fight for civil rights.

Hudson, Wade. Pass It On, African American Poetry for Children (1993.) Scholastic, Inc. New York, New York.

The poem “Midway” is about a person who is fighting for freedom.  This person will not give up fighting until everyone is free.

Realistic Fiction

Lorbiecki, Marybeth. Sister Anne’s Hands (1998.) Penquin Books, Ltd. New York, New York.

An African-American nun, Sr. Anne, comes to an all-white parochial school in the 1960’s.  Seven-year-old Anna comes to terms with racial differences.  This story is not only told through its writing but through the beautiful illustrations.

McKissack, Pat. Our Martin Luther King Book (1986.) Children’s Press, Chicago, Illinois.

A kindergarten class learns about Martin Luther King Jr.’s, fight for Civil Rights.  The book has many wonderful ideas to use in the classroom to teach children about segregation, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Martin Luther King’s speech, “I Have A Dream” and words and music to the song, “We Shall Overcome”.  Although written in 1986 and with illustrations that are a bit dated, I found this book to be one of the most moving.  Ms. McKissack demonstrates her teaching experience with the different activities included in this story.

Resources:

A to Zoo Subject Access to Children’s Picture Books 5th Edition. (1998.) R. R. Bowker, New Providence New Jersey
Kaleidoscope: A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8 (1994.) NCTE Bibliography Series
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/mlk/movement/PT/phototour.html
http://aolsvc.aol.infoplease.com/spot/civilrightstimeline1.html
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/