Rosa

Rosa

A Caldecott Honor Book and Coretta Scott King Award

Written by Nikki Giovanni

Illustrated by Bryan Collier

First Scholastic, 2005

Pictuer Book, Biography K-5

Summary: The setting is Montgomery, Alabama in the year 1955. Rosa Parks works in the alternation department in the town of Montgomery. She is the best seamstress in the town, for she is so graceful with the needle and thread. One day, she got off of work early and headed on home. She payed the bus driver a dime and then got off the bus to enter the back of the bus to enter from the back door. Because the section for blacks was all full, she sat in the neutral section which is where blacks and whites could sit. When the bus became full, the bus driver decided that Mrs. Parks needed to get up to allow the whites to sit down. Mrs. Parks did not get up, even when James Blake, the driver, threated to call the police. She did not want to give into what was wrong. Mrs. Parks was arrested. Jo Ann Robinson, who was a professor at the colored university and the president of the Women's Political Council, called a meeting of twenty-five women who worked all through the night to make posters that read "No Riders Today; Support Mrs. Parks-Stay Off the Buses; Walk on Monday. Martin Luther King, Jr. became their spokesperson, telling all African Americans to stay off the buses. People sent coats and shoes from all over the U.S. so that citizens of Montgomery could walk. Almost a year after the arrest of Rosa Parks, on November 13, 1956, the Supreme Court ruled that segregration on buses, like segregation in schools, was illegal.

Response: This book does a great job of conveying the courageous act and heroism of Rosa Parks. Her bravery and sacrifice started a great movement that truly made a difference. The tone of the author is one that praises Mrs. Parks and ridicules the way that the colored people were being treated. For example, he says, "as was the evil custom, she then got off the bus and went to the back door to enter the bus from the rear." The author also does a great job of conoveying Mrs. Parks as someone that they can relate to. She is introduced as an ordinary, simple lady who is a seamstress in a small town. This demonstrates to students that small, ordinary people can do big, great things.

This book is an excellent biography for students, for Rosa Parks is an individual who has contributed in a very positive way to society and her story will be of interest to young readers. Mrs. Parks is conveyed as an authentic and believable, and students learn about her through her actions and interactions with others, through her thoughts and feelings, and through the things that others say about them. It seems that Rosa Parks is loved by many people, for when she was arrested, Jo Ann Robinson exclaimed, "Not Mrs. Parks!" Immediately, a meeting was called and a protest started. Mrs. Parks is also conveyed as a gentle, caring lady. She does not scream at the bus driver or police, she just answers them quietly and takes upon the sacrifice of being arrested to help her people gain the rights that they deserve.

The illustrations convey much detail about the setting and the character of Rosa Parks. The illustrator did this on purpose;"In my paintings it looks as if light is emanting from her. To me, she is like a radiant chandlier, an elegant light that illuminates all our many pathways." Collier also paints a few of his paintings with a yellow, sometimes darkish, hue due to the intense heat of Montgomery and as a foreshadow of the storm to come. The many detail of the backgrounds including characters and environment will captivate student's attention while the enriching text is being read.

Teaching Ideas: Well, first of all, students can be shown a picture of what the true Rosa Parks looked like. The paintings do a great job of conveying Rosa Park's appearance during the year 1955. Students can also read an interview with Rosa Parks where they learn that her mother and grandparents inspired her to stand up for equal rights. Her grandparents grew up in slavery, for they were born before the emancipation. Mrs. Parks tells her story and it is exactly like the Rosa book! Indeed, the book reflects careful research. Mrs Parks says, "As I look back on those days, it's just like a dream. The only thing that bothered me was that we waited so long to make this protest and to let it be known wherever we go that all of us should be free and equal and have all opportunities that others should have." This is a quote that demonstrates the determination of Rosa Parks and strong belief that all should be equal.

Students can even be given advice from Mrs. Parks through the interview. She says, "The advice I would give any young person is, first of all, to rid themselves of prejudice against other people and to be concerned about what they can do to help others. And of course, to get a good education, and take advantage of the opportunities that they have. "

Another interview with Mrs. Parks where she states that she felt no fear, only a challenge to stand up for what is right.

Students can also learn more about who Jo Ann Robinson was, for she also played an important role in this protest. Students can also see video footage and hear parts of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech.

Rosa is a great book in which students can learn from and even apply her courage and bravery to their own lives.