The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial - Hardcover

Goodman, Susan E.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0802737390 ISBN 13: 9780802737397

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens, 2016

Synopsis

2017 Orbis Pictus Honor Book
2017 Jane Addams Peace Association Honor Book
2017 Teachers' Choice Pick, International Literacy Association
An NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book of 2017
In 1847, an African American girl named Sarah Roberts attended school in Boston. One day she was told she could never come back. She didn't belong. The Otis School was for white children only.
The Roberts family fought this injustice and made history. Roberts v. City of Boston was the first case challenging our legal system to outlaw segregated schools. Sometimes even losing is a victory.  They lost their case but Sarah's cause was won when people, black and white, stood together and said, No more. Now, right now, it is time for change!
With gorgeous art from award-winning illustrator E. B. Lewis, The First Step is an inspiring look at the first lawsuit to demand desegregation--long before the American Civil Rights movement, even before the Civil War.
Backmatter includes: An integration timeline, bios on key people in the book, list of resources, and author's note.

About this title

About the Author

Susan E. Goodman is the author of more than thirty nonfiction books for children, including How Do You Burp in Space?; See How They Run: Campaign Dreams, Election Schemes, and the Race to the White House; All in Just One Cookie, an ALA Notable Book; and On This Spot, a Washington Post Top Picture Book of the Year. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts.
www.susangoodmanbooks.com

E. B. Lewis is the acclaimed illustrator of more than fifty books for children, including the Caldecott Honor book Coming On Home Soon and several Coretta Scott King Award winners, such as Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman and Bat Boy and His Violin. He lives in Folsom, New Jersey.
www.eblewis.com

Review

"An excellent and careful telling of a lesser-known landmark case in the Civil Rights movement . . . E.B. Lewis' watercolors add to the story and help readers feel the resolve and confidence of the people involved . . . would certainly add to a discussion on civil rights with older students and help them understand that there were many players in the civil rights journey and that each step was built upon the past. Highly Recommended." - School Library Connection

"Goodman's real achievement here, though, is in the end matter, in which she not only expands on the lives of the major players but also talks at length of her research process and the educated guesses she made to fill in Sarah's reactions. Although the first impulse will be to put this story to curricular use in civil rights units, this could be of excellent service as an investigation into how a history book gets written." ―BCCB

"An important exploration of the struggle for equality and education in this country." ―starred review, School Library Journal

"A stirring and inspiring story, this one is an excellent addition to classroom and library bookshelves." ―Bookpage

Edition details

• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0802737390
• ISBN 13: 9780802737397
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Lewis E. B.