Rosa

Giovanni, N. (2005).  Rosa.  New York: Holt.

This is a biographical story of Rosa Parks’ refusing to move out of her rightful seat on the bus. The beautifully illustrated story walks the reader through Rosa’s day up to the moment she says “No”. It shows what a conscientious wife, daughter and employee she was. Rosa felt (rightly) that she was in the sitting in a legal section of the bus, and she refused, when ordered, to move. Her refusal and arrest spurred the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott that lasted over a year. Eventually, the Supreme Court ruled that any segregation was illegal, not just in schools.

Rosa is wonderful book for students second to fifth grade to delve a little deeper into the history of segregation and the bus boycott. Bryan Collier’s beautiful collage and paintings show vivid details and reveal great depth and feeling. There is a lynching mentioned, but not discussed in the book, which may raise questions from students. Also, educators will need to be able to answer questions about Mrs. Parks’ arrest and release because they also are not answered in the book.

2006 Coretta Scott King Award for Illustrations

2006 Caldecott Honor Award