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Rosa Parks: A Chapter Book Biography about the Courageous Woman Who Sparked the Civil Rights Movement for Children (Ages 6-10)
A chapter book biography for early readers about one of the women who sparked the Civil Rights movement, by legendary author Eloise Greenfield and with illustrations by Gil Ashby. When Rosa Parks was growing up in Montgomery, Alabama, she hated the unfair rules that black people had to live by—like drinking out of special water fountains and riding in the back of the bus. Years later, Rosa Parks changed the lives of African American in Montgomery—and all across America—starting with one courageous act. How could one quiet, gentle woman have started it all? This is her story. Complete with black-and-white illustrations by Gil Ashby, this chapter book by bestselling and award-winning author Eloise Greenfield is the perfect introduction to Rosa Parks for early readers. * Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies (NCSS/CBC) * Carter G. Woodson Book Award *
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
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About the author
Eloise Greenfield
74 books54 followersGreenfield was born Eloise Little in Parmele, North Carolina, and grew up in Washington, D.C., during the Great Depression in the Langston Terrace housing project, which provided a warm childhood experience for her.[1] She was the second oldest of five children of Weston W. Little and his wife Lessie Blanche (née Jones) Little (1906–1986). A shy and studious child, she loved music and took piano lessons.[2][3] Greenfield experienced racism first-hand in the segregated southern U.S., especially when she visited her grandparents in North Carolina and Virginia.[4] She graduated from Cardozo Senior High School in 1946 and attended Miner Teachers College until 1949. In her third year, however, she found that she was too shy to be a teacher and dropped out.[5]
Greenfield began work in the civil service at the U.S. Patent Office. In 1950, she married World War II veteran Robert J. Greenfield, a long-time friend. She began writing poetry and songs in the 1950s while working at the Patent Office, finally succeeding in getting her first poem published in the Hartford Times in 1962 after many years of writing and submitting poetry and stories.[6] After joining the District of Columbia Black Writers Workshop in 1971, she began to write books for children. She has published more than 40 children's books, including picture books, novels, poetry and biographies. She says that she seeks to "choose and order words that children will celebrate".[5][7]
Dismayed by the depiction of blacks and black communities in popular media, Greenfield has focused her work on realistic but positive portrayals of African-American communities, families and friendships.[1] These relationships are emphasized in Sister (1974) a young girl copes with the death of a parent with the help of other family members, Me and Nessie (1975) about best friends, My Daddy and I (1991) and Big Friend, Little Friend (1991) about mentoring.[5] Her first book, Bubbles (1972), "sets the tone for much of Greenfield's later work: Realistic portrayals of loving African American parents working hard to provide for their families, and the children who face life's challenges with a positive outlook."[1] In She Come Bringing Me that Little Baby Girl (1974), a boy deals with feelings of envy and learns to share his parents' love when his baby sister arrives. The poignant Alesia (1981) concerns the bravery of a girl handicapped by a childhood accident. Night on Neighborhood Street (1991) is a collection of poems depicting everyday life in an urban community. One of her best-known books, Honey I Love, first published in 1978, is a collection of poems for people of all ages concerning the daily lives and loving relationships of children and families. Her semi-autobiographical book Childtimes: A Three-Generation Memoir (1979) describes her happy childhood in a neighborhood with strong positive relationships.[5] In the introduction to that book, she explains her interest in biography:
People are a part of their time. They are affected, during the time that they live by the things that happen in their world. Big things and small things. A war, an invention such as radio or television, a birthday party, a kiss. All of these help to shape the present and the future. If we could know more about our ancestors, about the experiences they had when they were children, and after they had grown up, too, we would know much more about what has shaped us and our world.[8]
In 1971, Greenfield began work for the District of Columbia Black Writers' Workshop, as co-director of adult fiction and then, in 1973, as director of children's literature. That group's goal was to encourage the writing and publishing of African-American literature. She was writer-in-residence at the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities in 1985-86 and taught creative writing in schools under grants from the Commission. She has also lectured and given free workshops on writing of African-American children's
Greenfield began work in the civil service at the U.S. Patent Office. In 1950, she married World War II veteran Robert J. Greenfield, a long-time friend. She began writing poetry and songs in the 1950s while working at the Patent Office, finally succeeding in getting her first poem published in the Hartford Times in 1962 after many years of writing and submitting poetry and stories.[6] After joining the District of Columbia Black Writers Workshop in 1971, she began to write books for children. She has published more than 40 children's books, including picture books, novels, poetry and biographies. She says that she seeks to "choose and order words that children will celebrate".[5][7]
Dismayed by the depiction of blacks and black communities in popular media, Greenfield has focused her work on realistic but positive portrayals of African-American communities, families and friendships.[1] These relationships are emphasized in Sister (1974) a young girl copes with the death of a parent with the help of other family members, Me and Nessie (1975) about best friends, My Daddy and I (1991) and Big Friend, Little Friend (1991) about mentoring.[5] Her first book, Bubbles (1972), "sets the tone for much of Greenfield's later work: Realistic portrayals of loving African American parents working hard to provide for their families, and the children who face life's challenges with a positive outlook."[1] In She Come Bringing Me that Little Baby Girl (1974), a boy deals with feelings of envy and learns to share his parents' love when his baby sister arrives. The poignant Alesia (1981) concerns the bravery of a girl handicapped by a childhood accident. Night on Neighborhood Street (1991) is a collection of poems depicting everyday life in an urban community. One of her best-known books, Honey I Love, first published in 1978, is a collection of poems for people of all ages concerning the daily lives and loving relationships of children and families. Her semi-autobiographical book Childtimes: A Three-Generation Memoir (1979) describes her happy childhood in a neighborhood with strong positive relationships.[5] In the introduction to that book, she explains her interest in biography:
People are a part of their time. They are affected, during the time that they live by the things that happen in their world. Big things and small things. A war, an invention such as radio or television, a birthday party, a kiss. All of these help to shape the present and the future. If we could know more about our ancestors, about the experiences they had when they were children, and after they had grown up, too, we would know much more about what has shaped us and our world.[8]
In 1971, Greenfield began work for the District of Columbia Black Writers' Workshop, as co-director of adult fiction and then, in 1973, as director of children's literature. That group's goal was to encourage the writing and publishing of African-American literature. She was writer-in-residence at the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities in 1985-86 and taught creative writing in schools under grants from the Commission. She has also lectured and given free workshops on writing of African-American children's
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 18, 2024
I admit that it still feels weird to me to boil down any real person's life down to a children's book. People are deep and complex, and reducing anyone to a chapter book feels cheap somehow. I mean, "Chapter" 1 of this book is one page! (Okay, one page of text and one full-page illustration.)
The rest of the book is actually pretty respectful, however. It's not like the (auto)biographies I've read where a lot of the focus is on tell-all stories, or less familiar incidents in a person's life. I mean, what is Rosa Parks famous for doing? This covers it all simply while hitting a lot of relevant points, including how she grew up and how people of colour were treated that led to "the straw that broke the camel's back" of her bus protest, which sparked the Civil Rights Movement. More than that actually feels like a distraction.
My four-star review is mostly on the basis of the one-page chapter. It feels like a bad start, when it could have easily have just been the first page of Chapter 2. That's mostly the editor in me speaking. Otherwise, the book is fantastic and age-appropriate, even considering the acknowledgement of hate groups. (You know which ones... I just don't want to "speak of the devil" and have to add negative keywords to this review.)
The rest of the book is actually pretty respectful, however. It's not like the (auto)biographies I've read where a lot of the focus is on tell-all stories, or less familiar incidents in a person's life. I mean, what is Rosa Parks famous for doing? This covers it all simply while hitting a lot of relevant points, including how she grew up and how people of colour were treated that led to "the straw that broke the camel's back" of her bus protest, which sparked the Civil Rights Movement. More than that actually feels like a distraction.
My four-star review is mostly on the basis of the one-page chapter. It feels like a bad start, when it could have easily have just been the first page of Chapter 2. That's mostly the editor in me speaking. Otherwise, the book is fantastic and age-appropriate, even considering the acknowledgement of hate groups. (You know which ones... I just don't want to "speak of the devil" and have to add negative keywords to this review.)
February 4, 2023
Read to pre-screen for my sensitive daughter. We’ll be skipping the first few pages, which discusses KKK stating, "They would also drag people from their homes and kill them." While accurate it is too much for a young sensitive kid. Another rough part is later in the book when it says a bus driver "beat him [a black man] in the face with a piece of metal." Again, true, but graphic in my opinion for a child that would pick up this very short book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2020
This book told the story of Rosa Parks and her courage to stand up for herself in a time when people of color did not do so. It gave her back story and along with that, it filled us in on the details after she was arrested for one to know that it was not over then. This would be a great story to read in 4th or 5th grade where students are learning about this content.
November 23, 2020
This is a really good book that highlights the importance of Rosa Parks. This is a good book for young readers to understand who Rosa Parks is and why she is important.
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December 31, 2024Even though this book was written many years ago, it still stands. I learned many things that I did not know.
October 1, 2015
Rosa Parks is about a courageous, strong, black African American woman who launched the Civil Rights Movement. Prior to the Civil Rights Movement, colored people had separate water fountains, food counters and restrooms. As a little girl, Rosa Parks did not like these rules but her mother taught her people should be judged by the respect they have for themselves and others. When Rosa Parks grew up,she started defending her herself and African American people. She joined NAACP in order to defend rights of African American people. In the south, there was segregation. In Montgomery and throughout the south, white people are required to sit up front and black people were required to sit at the back of the bus. While riding a bus home in the evening, a white man got on the bus and there was no place to sit and the bus driver asked Rosa to give up her sit. Mrs. Parks refused to give up her sit for this gentleman since she refused Rosa Parks was arrested and this started the civil rights movement.
I recommend this book for ages 8 to 13 because everyone child should know about Black History and History of the country during segregation era and the rights that minorities have the right to fight for in order for everyone not repeat history of the past.
I recommend this book for ages 8 to 13 because everyone child should know about Black History and History of the country during segregation era and the rights that minorities have the right to fight for in order for everyone not repeat history of the past.
April 20, 2011
It’s a real story about a courageous woman who was reluctant to be treated with disrespect: Rosa Parks. Beautiful sketches with pencil depicting real lives of African American in those days of Civil Rights Movement. It has very simple and standard English; it is perfect book for ESL students. It covers wide range of events with a character’s story, like Milkweed.
What so interesting about the book is that how Rosa Parks hated the laws ever since she was young. That spirit helped her to join others and become a changing agent in the mist of cruel and injustice world. Great inspiration book for young students.
What so interesting about the book is that how Rosa Parks hated the laws ever since she was young. That spirit helped her to join others and become a changing agent in the mist of cruel and injustice world. Great inspiration book for young students.
October 29, 2012
This is biography for children rating P. This book is a very good read. It is very detailed about her history not just what we know about Rosa Parks. The author is an award winner writer and it shows in the text. This book would be helpful in civil rights history as well as general education of children about the civil rights movement.I learned a few things while reading this as well, which is always a good thing. I would use this in a classroom setting.
November 12, 2015
I knew Rosa Parks was a powerful women, I just didn't know how powerful. She was the woman who changed the law for blacks, the woman who gave blacks freedom. This book was a great book and gave me a little more information than I knew.
November 1, 2011
The book details Rosa Parks entire life, not just her bus protest. This could be used to talk about the civil rights movement, what is right and wrong and standing up for what you believe.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews