I Am Rosa Parks

by Rosa Parks, Jim Haskins, Wil Clay (Illustrator)

When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man on December 1, 1955, she made history. Her brave act sparked the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott and brought the civil rights movement to national attention. In simple, lively language, Rosa Parks describes her life from childhood to the present and recounts the events that shook the nation. Her story is powerful, inspiring and unforgettable.An NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Picture Books, History, Childrens, African American, Autobiography

48 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1997

About the author

Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African American civil rights activist whom the U.S. Congress later called the "Mother of the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement."

On December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, Parks, age 42, refused to obey bus driver James Blake's order that she give up her seat to make room for a white passenger. Her action was not the first of its kind: Irene Morgan, in 1946, and Sarah Louise Keys, in 1955, had won rulings before the U.S. Supreme Court and the Interstate Commerce Commission respectively in the area of interstate bus travel. Nine months before Parks refused to give up her seat, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin refused to move from her seat on the same bus system. But unlike these previous individual actions of civil disobedience, Parks's action sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Parks's act of defiance became an important symbol of the modern Civil Rights Movement and Parks became an international icon of resistance to racial segregation. She organized and collaborated with civil rights leaders, including boycott leader Martin Luther King, Jr., helping to launch him to national prominence in the civil rights movement.

At the time of her action, Parks was secretary of the Montgomery chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and had recently attended the Highlander Folk School, a Tennessee center for workers' rights and racial equality. Nonetheless, she took her action as a private citizen "tired of giving in". Although widely honored in later years for her action, she also suffered for it, losing her job as a seamstress in a local department store. Eventually, she moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she found similar work. From 1965 to 1988 she served as secretary and receptionist to African-American U.S. Representative John Conyers. After retirement from this position, she wrote an autobiography and lived a largely private life in Detroit. In her final years she suffered from dementia and became embroiled in a lawsuit filed on her behalf against American hip-hop duo OutKast.

Parks eventually received many honors ranging from the 1979 Spingarn Medal to the Congressional Gold Medal, a posthumous statue in the United States Capitol's National Statuary Hall. Her death in 2005 was a major story in the United States' leading newspapers. She was granted the posthumous honor of lying in honor at the Capitol Rotunda.

Reviews

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosa Parks was a pioneer. She stood up for what is right! I really liked this book and how is simply explained segregation in The South! I guess I don't get it! I don't understand why the color of your skin determines your worth? I know some pretty stupid, useless, lazy white people. Do they think they are better than people of a different race? Aren't we all God's Children?

Why I couldn't give it a 5 Stars....it is a little tiny bit propaganda ish. It made it seem just a little bit that all white people in the South were racist jerks, and that all white policeman wanted to hurt the "coloreds" and I know that isn't true... The pictures are very nice too but some of the pictures are a little over the top... so there you have it! Still very nicely done!

[Amanda Himura Battousai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro para personas que recién empiezan a leer, en inglés, pero muy emocionante historia. Como el mismo libro lo señala: "Rosa Parks es un poderoso ejemplo de cómo las acciones de una persona pueden hacer una gran diferencia".

[Gina]

I Am Rosa Parks highlights one of our nation's strongest and influential woman who changed the Jim Crow laws. This text tells about Rosa's childhood, boycotting, and the most brave decision she made that changed the nation forever. I absolutely believe that this book can teach students that when you quit fighting for the rights of humanity, you quit fighting for your sense of living. For a literacy lesson, I would introduce students to first person point of view and a man vs. society conflict due to Rosa Parks fighting against society for equality and rights for all people in the U.S.

[midnightfaerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book my 6 yr old loved, a little old for my preschoolers. A solid reading level 4 book, this reader has a good amount of advanced vocabulary words, but not so long that it discourages a new reader. Used it for his read out loud book, which was perfect. It took about 20 mins for him to read and had just enough new vocabulary words to make it challenging. Also, it was a fun and interesting story he could get into. He liked it so much, he asked for more by this author. Great reading book!

[Kanaea King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Biography is the perfect way for children to learn about Rosa Parks and the impact that she had on the world. The book is written by Rosa. The information is Factual. The story tells how one day she chose not to get up and stand so that a white person could sit and how it changed her life and the lives of many other people. This is an important story for children to learn because even though there is no segregation now it was very hard back then for African American people. The story told is our history. The story is easy to read and understand for children. They may not understand why there was segregation, and this can be a great introduction to why the world functioned the way that it did. I gave this book 5 stars because of the role it played in all our lives. The pictures are also great. They look like paintings. It looks like brush strokes. They are very texture and aged as if it is that time in history. There are lots of browns, red and tan colors used. This should be used to teach kids the effects of discrimination and love.

[Nikole Herrmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would fit into the biography genre. I think this book would be good for grades 3-5 because any grade younger than that might not be able to fully comprehend the story of Rosa Parks. This would be a good book to share when talking about MLK or his movement and how all of this began. It would also be a good unit for a very important person unit in class. One unique thing about this book is that Rosa Parks was the first woman to stand up against racism and refuse to give up her seat on the bus, which makes her the first recorded woman in history to do so. This book highlights her life and does a good job at painting this stories picture for us.

[Michaela B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am Rosa Parks is an autobiography written by Rosa Parks. I absolutely loved reading this book and learned so much about Rosa that I didn't know before. Rosa Louise McCauley was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, on February 4, 1913. She moved with her parents, James and Leona McCauley, to Pine Level, Alabama, at age 2 to reside with Leona's parents. Her brother, Sylvester, was born in 1915, and shortly after that her parents separated. This story breaks down the hard times in Rosa's life and how she cam out on top. I think this book should be introduced into the classroom and be read especially for young girls.

[Steve Holden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was our featured book today as we connect a unit titled "Change Makers" with the theme of the week revolving around civil rights and Martin Luther King, Jr. This was a great read about this important person in history, and it's an autobiography, so it ties perfectly with a previous unit. This is approachable for my readers, and conveys the information in an appropriate way. I'm enjoying the material and pacing of the unit I've pieced together this week, and this served as a perfect addition.

[Michael Morley · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the most famous civil right acts of the century comes back to life in the autobiography, by Rosa Parks. This life story of Rosa Parks tells us that things have not really changed since she did not give up her seat. We are still in a very racist world and it may take a long while before it ends, or if it ever ends. Rosa Parks stood up for herself and for her people, this tells children that sometimes you have “sit”, for what is truly right, than to “stand” for what is not right. Rosa Parks was a great voice when the African-American community needed someone to speak.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no idea why this book was banned. Well, I do have an idea, but I see no *logical* reason for it.

It's written specifically for grades 2-3. The sentences are short and simple. There is a mention that sometimes people got hurt, but it's done appropriately for the age group.

I bought the book specifically to see what the issue was, and I can't find a reasonable objection to it.

[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this audio book in the autobiography section not realizing it's a children's book. Based on that, I think this is a great book for children to read. It's simple and straightforward. Every child should know Rosa's story.

[Sylvie Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

What better way to enhance primary grades' students knowledge of Rosa Parks than through her own words? I read this book today to 2nd Grade students who have been learning about Rosa Parks since Kindergarten, and they were captivated by the added details included in her telling of her own story.

[Devin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book that explains the life of Rosa Parks. This book is great at explaining Rosa's life. This book is a great book for diversity as well as to read during Black History month, or for women's rights.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-written introduction to the life and work of Rosa Parks for early independent readers. It would make a good resource for elementary school students who are first learning about the civil rights movement.

[Amy Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography is wonderful for early readers to learn about Rosa Parks. Her story of bravery is so inspirational and is also an important part of our nation's history!

[Hanna Forrest]

ok

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosa take her place in the American Civil Rights Movement when she refuses to leave her seat.

[Deby Perkins]

Relive the events of one woman's stance on civil rights.

[Serika · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was all about Rosa Parks.

[Jessica Tonkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Auto-Biography, Ages 8-9 years old
I loved reading this book about Rosa Parks. What a brave woman she was. This is written so simply that a young reader, maybe second or third grade would be able to understand it. I enjoyed learning more about Rosa Parks and the way she stood up for the rights of everybody. I would definitely use this book in my future classroom.

[Kayla Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story about Rosa Parks. As you read, you will get to know Rosa Parks and what all led up to the incident on a bus. Rosa Park refuses to give her seat up and gets in trouble which becomes a historical moment in the United States.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Am Rosa Parks (Paperback)
by Rosa Parks
A great teaching tool for civil rights, not just because it was her own words but how simply it was told. Nice pictures to help establish the story. Good resource for discussions.

[Jada Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The genre of this book is Biographies. I Am Rosa Parks book is intended for young readers aged 8-10 years old. This story is a brief autobiography of one of our nation’s strongest and most important women in history, Rosa Parks. It tells of her childhood, what led to her arrest, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and her life since. I rated this book at five stars because I enjoyed reading this book. I Am Rosa Parks would be accessible to a struggling reader, but the historical content that would give you a little more flex room about where to use it. The illustrations are very good and prominent enough without taking away from the text or the story. Everything balanced out. Rosa Parks tells her story in an easy to understand fashion and includes details about why she did what she did. After reading this book, I would have my students complete a character trait list. I would have them right about comparisons they can make between themselves and Rosa Parks. I would use the descriptions in the book to help the children infer character traits that she did not directly state about herself. I think this would be a great book to read during Black History Month and I feel like young readers would find it very appealing to read and learn about other great African American men and women who has made a difference for everyone today.

[Teeny Probst · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary: This story is a brief autobiography of one of our nation’s strongest and most important women in history, Rosa Parks. It tells of her childhood, what led to her arrest, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and her life since. Such a story is accessible to beginner readers with its large print and simplistic language.

Authors: Rosa Parks with Jim Haskins
Illustrations: Wil Clay

Audience: K-3rd
Genre: autobiographical picture book
Themes: Civil Rights, determination, equality, American Americans and their history in the United States, and perseverance

Literary Elements: First person point of view and a man versus society conflict due to Rosa Parks fighting against society for equal treatment and rights for all people in the U.S.A.

Illustration: Wil Clay’s use of watercolor enhances the text for any reader. His uses of color represent Rosa Park’s struggle and accomplishments through her life.

Usage: This particular book can be used in a variety of setting in the classroom including independent reading, guided reading, and reading out loud. One could easily introduce this story during Black History Month.

[Melba Deoleo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The books tells the story of Rosa Parks and all that she has done for our country. It breaks down and simply explains the meaning of segregation and how it simply means that white people and black people could not be together. They could not go to school together, eat at the same restaurant or even drink from the same water fountain. In bus blacks had to seat in the back of the bus and if the bus was full then the color people had to give up their seats to the whites. When Rosa was asked to give up her seat to a white person she refused and was arrested because of it. She had to go to court for it, where she was found guilty and was ordered to pay 14 dollars. Her brave decision to not give up her seat lead to revolution and it awaken a movement that eventually got bigger and bigger until blacks were given the respect and equal treatment that they deserved. I would use this book to teach my students how we must always stand up for what we believe in no matter what others might think, just like Rosa Parks did. It would be included in the list of people that I discuss during black history month.

[Karthikeyan Ramaswamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

simple and well written book for kids

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 1st - 4th grade book is written by Rosa Parks with Jim Haskins. It begins by telling the reader about her arrest on the bus. The then give us a background about her childhood and life up until the arrest. They explain how her and her husbands work with black people who had been treated unfairly seemed to cause her to put her foot down – she was sick of giving up her seat and being treated unfairly. The book goes on to talk about the civil rights movement and how things progressed.

I like this book because it would be accessible to a struggling reader, but the historical content that would give you a little more flex room about where to use it. The illustrations are very good and prominent enough without taking away from the text or the story. Everything balanced out. I would keep this book in a classroom library or assign it to an individual student to learn about an important American hero.

[Melanie, Aaron, Annie, and Mary Project · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read by: Mary
Author: Rosa Park with Jim Haskins Illustrator: Wil Clay
Genre: Autobiography
Interest Level: K-4
Grade level Equivalent: 3.4
Lexile Measure®: 520L
Guided Reading: N

Rosa Parks begins this book with her dramatic arrest for refusing to give up her seat, which started started the famous boycotts of Montgomery, Alabama. The book details Ms. Parks early life, up until her arrest, and after.The story is written in a clear and direct way, with places and dates which help to put the story into perspective.

[Julian Franklin]

I Am Rosa Parks is the story of Rosa Parks, including some of who she was and what she did. Rosa Parks tells us her story in an easy to understand fashion and includes details about why she did what she did.
After reading this book, I would have my students complete a character trait list. I would have them right about comparisons they can make between themselves and Rosa Parks. I would use the descriptions in the book to help the children infer character traits that she did not directly state about herself.

[Megan Chonczynski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Rosa Parks and the actions she took. There is a contents page that can help students find particular parts in the book. The pictures help explain that during this time there was different areas for whites and blacks. I think this helps because it shows how big of a deal it was that she did not give up her seat on the bus.There is a map in the middle of the book that shows where she grew up. The illustrations really help the story.