History Comics: Rosa Parks & Claudette Colvin -- Middle Grades Graphic Novel

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

As March draws to a close, I want to continue sharing resources for Women's History Month. Today's book is perfect for Women's History Month or Black History Month and of course for any day as it is a history book! The book is a historical graphic novel for middle grades. It is part of the History Comics Series. It is Rosa Parks & Claudette Colvin by Tracey Baptiste and Shauna J. Grant. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.

From the Publisher:

Turn back the clock with History Comics! In this volume, learn about two brave women who stood up against segregation, setting in motion the Montgomery Bus Boycott!

A Black woman who refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus sparked a bus boycott and became part of one of the most iconic moments in American history. Yet, few know that Rosa Parks had actively worked toward social justice her whole life. And even fewer know that the seeds of the statewide bus boycott were first planted by a teenager named Claudette Colvin, who was arrested on similar charges months earlier. Rosa Parks and Claudette Colvin inspired a nation, showing how positive change can start with a single defiant act. Their actions have become the stuff of legend, but there is so much more to their lives, their stories, and the movement they began.

From Me:

The book begins in the present day on a bus where adult, Claudette Colvin, is riding. She shares the story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and hers and Rosa Park's roles in it. Now most people know about Rosa Parks. She is often called the mother of the Civil Rights Movement, but not as many have heard of Claudette Colvin. I have shared about both amazing women in the past. Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat on the bus in Montgomery months before Rosa Parks. She was only fifteen at the time. However, she was not made the mother of the Civil Rights Movement because of some other choices she made. There were actually several young women who refused to give up their seats before Rosa. This book shares Claudette's story as well as Rosa's and their push for the Montgomery Bus Boycott. 

This book makes learning history fun and approachable. Kids will enjoy the graphic novel and teachers and parents will enjoy that they are learning about history. It shares about not only Rosa and Claudette but also about several of the male leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Fred Gray, Ralph Abernathy, and more. It also shares about Emmett Till and others who died due to racism in the South. This book is a wonderful addition to any library, classroom or history lesson. I hope you will check it out!