Lillian's Right to Vote by Jonah Winter follows an African American woman on her way to the voting polls. Along the way, she remembers all of the work it has taken to get her to this place. Among many memories, she thinks of her great-great-grandparents who were sold as slaves, her uncle Levi and the tests that difficult questions he was asked before he could vote (which he didn't pass), and her own role in gaining the right to vote for all African-Americans. While not written about an actual person, this book is a great introduction about how voting rights and laws have changed for African Americans throughout history. All of the major developments are mentioned. The illustrations show the road to the RIGHT to vote as an uphill. Lillian's memories are often depicted as the hill or road that she walking on. The symbolism in the illustrations and importance of the text make this an excellent book to add to your children's collection. This book could be used for a variety of different topics in the classroom. Whether the topic is voting in general, African American history, the civil rights movement, or the importance for fighting for your rights, this book will help you to bridge and learn more about that topic. This book was listed on ALA's Notable Children's Books of 2016. It also has wonderful reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, Booklist, and Publisher's Weekly. |
The Details
Title: Lillian's Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 Author: Jonah Winter Illustrator: Shane W. Evans Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Copyright: 2015 Age Range: 6-12 | Similar Works: Heart on Fire: Susan B. Anthony Votes for President by Ann Malaspina The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the Selma Voting Rights March by Lynda Blackmon Lowery (This one is not a picture book and more suited for older children and teens.) |