Busing Brewster

A New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book
A New York Times Book Review Notable Children’s Book

Brewster is excited about starting first grade . . . until Mama announces that he'll be attending Central—a school in the white part of town. Mama says they have art and music and a library bursting with books, but Brewster isn't so sure he'll fit in.

Being black at a white school isn't easy, and Brewster winds up spending his first day in detention at the library. But there he meets a very special person: Miss O'Grady. The librarian sees into Brewster's heart and gives him not only the gift of books but also the ability to believe in himself.

This powerful and tender story of desegregation in the 1970s introduces readers to the brave young heroes who helped to build a new world.

From the Hardcover edition.

Richard Michelson is the author of many books for adults and children, including As Good as Anybody: Martin Luther King and Abraham Joshua Heschel's Amazing March Toward Freedom, illustrated by Raul Colón, which was a Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner and a National Jewish Book Award Finalist. Richard always hated detention in the principal's office, but, like Brewster, he never minded his many library "time-outs"-and to this day, he loves to be surrounded by books and art.

Robert Roth has illustrated several picture books, including Why Butterflies Go on Silent Wings by Marguerite Davol and Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt. His work has collected many honors, including eight from the Society of Illustrators.


From the Hardcover edition.