Rosa

 Giovanni, N., & Collier, B. (2005). Rosa. New York, NY: Henry Holt. 

Rosa is a great historical nonfiction book about the activist, Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat for white Americans. This story takes place in Montgomery, Alabama during the time of desegregation (where separate is not equal), and Rosa Parks happened to be in the section of the bus that was neutral which means anyone could sit in that section regardless of the color of your skin. When Rosa was asked to move she finally decided enough was enough, and this kind of treatment was not showing equality among the races. Her refusal to move out of her seat had her arrested and the black community responded to Rosa's arrest by refusing to ride the buses to support Rosa's cause for equality among the races. Read to find out if Rosa's cause had made any impact in the story.

Rosa has always been one of my favorite picture books to read during Black history month or to teach a lesson in equal rights. Rosa Parks was a inspirational woman whose nonviolent resistance helped a movement to develop for those who still resisted to change when it came to equal rights for African Americans. The way that the illustrator, Bryan Collier, put together the imagines really make the story stand out and come to life. Many of our young readers probably wouldn't believe how the American citizens treat their fellow Americans in the past. Always remember separate is not equal.