Rosa Parks

August 1, 2017

Gr 1-3-The next volumes in the "Little People, Big Dreams" series continue to offer snippets of famous female figures' lives, all accompanied by sweet and approachable illustrations. The series' subjects range from activists and artists, as evidenced by these selections. In Audrey Hepburn, vague details are given about the historical events that shaped the actor's life, such as a big war that left many malnourished, including the future star, but it's never specified that the event is World War II. In addition to detailing her accomplishments as a performer, the book emphasizes her work with children in need in India and Africa (countries are never specified). The entries about the activists provide more information and feel more nuanced. In Emmeline Pankhurst, readers learn about the beginnings of the suffragette movement in Great Britain and one of its important progenitors. She fought for women's rights from an early age, because as a young girl she couldn't pursue the education she longed for. Rosa Parks gives tidbits about the civil rights leader's childhood and some of the work she did after the famous bus incident, in addition to her iconic act of civil disobedience. Each title is made more digestible by charming and quirky kidlike images. Short time lines with photos and a couple of suggestions for further research are included. VERDICT The illustrations make these titles standouts where picture book biographies need a fresher take. Otherwise, additional purchases.-Shelley M. Diaz, School Library Journal

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2017
A first introduction to the iconic civil rights activist."She was very little and very brave, and she always tried to do what was right." Without many names or any dates, Kaiser traces Parks' life and career from childhood to later fights for "fair schools, jobs, and houses for black people" as well as "voting rights, women's rights and the rights of people in prison." Though her refusal to change seats and the ensuing bus boycott are misleadingly presented as spontaneous acts of protest, young readers will come away with a clear picture of her worth as a role model. Though recognizable thanks to the large wire-rimmed glasses Parks sports from the outset as she marches confidently through Antelo's stylized illustrations, she looks childlike throughout (as characteristic of this series), and her skin is unrealistically darkened to match the most common shade visible on other African-American figures. In her co-published Emmeline Pankhurst (illustrated by Ana Sanfelippo), Kaiser likewise simplistically implies that Great Britain led the way in granting universal women's suffrage but highlights her subject's courageous quest for justice, and Isabel Sanchez Vegara caps her profile of Audrey Hepburn (illustrated by Amaia Arrazola) with the moot but laudable claim that "helping people across the globe" (all of whom in the pictures are dark-skinned children) made Hepburn "happier than acting or dancing ever had." All three titles end with photographs and timelines over more-detailed recaps plus at least one lead to further information. It's a bit sketchy of historical detail, but it's coherent, inspirational, and engaging without indulging in rapturous flights of hyperbole. (Picture book/biography. 5-7)

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November 15, 2017
Grades K-3 With these new volumes, three activists of very different backgrounds join the ranks of remarkable women profiled in the Little People, Big Dreams series. The inviting illustrations and familiar picture-book format make these biographies friendly choices for young readers looking to learn more about real-life heroes. Using only one or two sentences per page, the text gives a general overview of each woman's life, focusing on her childhood and accomplishments in the face of adversity. Equality finds another champion in the pages of Rosa Parks, which respectfully portrays Rosa's dignified fight for racial justice during the civil rights movement and her commitment to doing what she believed was right, even if that meant going against the law. Each of these well-rounded titles concludes with a more detailed bio and photo-illustrated time line, making this a genial and inspirational series for little ones.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)