The Story of Ruby Bridges

Coles, Robert

ISBN 10: 0590439677 ISBN 13: 9780590439671

Publisher: Scholastic

Synopsis

Capturing the courage and faith of a little girl facing racism and hatred alone, the true story of Ruby Bridges reveals how she helped shape American history as the first African-American child sent to first grade in a white school.

About this title

About the Author

Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for volumes two and three of the five-volume work CHILDREN IN CRISIS, Robert Coles is the author of many distinguished books for adults. A research psychiatrist at Harvard University, Dr. Coles lives outside Boston, Massachusetts.

George Ford has illustrated many acclaimed books for children, including RAY CHARLES by Sharon Bell Mathis, winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, and PAUL ROBESON by Eloise Greenfield, winner of the Jane Addams Children's Book Award. Mr. Ford lives with his wife and daughter in Brooklyn, New York.

From Publishers Weekly

Ruby Bridges was the sole African American child to attend a New Orleans elementary school after court-ordered desegregation in 1960. Noted research psychiatrist Coles tells how federal marshals escorted the intrepid six-year-old past angry crowds of white protestors thronging the school. Parents of the white students kept them home, and so Ruby "began learning how to read and write in an empty classroom, an empty building." Although there are disappointingly few words from Ruby herself, Coles's use of quotes from her teacher adds to the story's poignancy ("Sometimes I'd look at her and wonder how she did it.... How she went by those mobs and sat here all by herself and yet seemed so relaxed and comfortable"). The story has a rather abrupt ending; the concluding page reprints the prayer that Ruby said daily, asking God to forgive the protesters. Coles cursorily finishes the tale of Ruby's unsettling year in an afterword (two boys and then the rest of the students returned to school; the mobs dispersed by the time Ruby entered second grade). Ford (Bright Eyes, Brown Skin; Paul Robeson) contributes affecting watercolors that play up Ruby's moral courage. Ages 5-9.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Scholastic
• ISBN 10: 0590439677
• ISBN 13: 9780590439671
• Binding: Library Binding
• Language: English
• Illustrator: Ford George