Ruby Bridges: A Talk with My Teacher

Acclaimed civil rights icon, Ruby Bridges, shares the touching tale of reuniting with the first-grade teacher who changed her life, Mrs. Henry.

Once again, you have shown me that you never get too old to learn. Teaching really is the noblest of professions.

When Ruby Bridges was only six years old, she made history by being the first Black child to integrate William Frantz Elementary School. She became best friends with her teacher, Mrs. Henry. Excited to come back for her second year, Ruby is soon devastated to learn that Mrs. Henry isn’t her second-grade teacher. Where did Mrs. Henry go? Can Ruby ever reconnect with her favorite teacher?

A love letter to teachers who hold the power to change lives, Ruby Bridges: A Talk with My Teacher illuminates the lasting impact that the best of teachers can have on the lives of their students. Trudy Tran's emotive rendering of Ruby Bridges from childhood to adulthood brings new life to this heartwarming story of a reunion between two long lost best friends.

Ruby Bridges is a civil rights icon, activist, author, and speaker who, at the age of six, was the first Black student to integrate William Frantz Elementary, an all-white elementary school in Louisiana. Bridges is the recipient of numerous awards, including the NAACP Martin Luther King Award and the Presidential Citizens Medal, and she has received honorary doctorate degrees from Connecticut College; College of New Rochelle; Teachers College, Columbia University; and Tulane University. In 2024, Bridges was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Bridges is also the author of I Am Ruby Bridges; Through My Eyes; This Is Your Time; and Dear Ruby, Hear Our Hearts. Ruby lives in Louisiana with her family. Learn more at rubybridges.com.

Trudy Tran is an artist based in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a muralist, painter, and illustrator. As a mixed-media artist, she expresses her ideas through many different mediums, including oil paint, ink, and digital illustrations. She loves to experiment with colors and different techniques in her pieces. Her work exhibits her interest in exploring a wide range of cultures, especially through the clothing, traditions, and unique identities of different groups. She also enjoys showcasing her love for nature and the nostalgia of memories in her pieces. Her love for storytelling is clearly highlighted in her work.