Synopses & Reviews
It seems like any other winter day in Montgomery, Alabama. Mama and child are riding where they?re supposed to?way in the back of the bus. The boy passes the time by watching his marble roll up and down the aisle with the motion of the bus, until from way up front a big commotion breaks out. He can?t see what?s going on, but he can see the policeman arrive outside and he can see Mama?s chin grow strong. ?There you go, Rosa Parks,? she says, ?stirrin? up a nest of hornets. Tomorrow all this?ll be forgot.? But they both know differently.
With childlike words and powerful illustrations, Aaron Reynolds and Coretta Scott King medalist Floyd Cooper recount Rosa Parks? act of defiance through the eyes of a child?who will never forget.
Review
Simple and straightforward, the first-person narrative relates events within the context of one close-knit family. (Booklist)
Review
"Coupled with Cooper's rich paintings, this is a noteworthy reflection on the actions of a single individual in turning the tide of segregation."
—School Library Journal
"Cooper's filmy oil paintings are characterized by a fine mistlike texture, which results in warm, lifelike portraits that convincingly evoke the era, the intense emotional pitch of this incident, and the everyday heroism it embodied."
—Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
John Henry is stronger than ten men, and can dig through a mountain faster than a steam drill. Julius Lester's folksy retelling of a popular African-American folk ballad has warmth, tall tale humor, and boundless energy. Jerry Pinkney illustrates the story with "rich colors borrowed from the rocks and the earth, so beautiful that they summon their own share of smiles and tears" (Booklist).
Synopsis
There were signs all throughout town telling eight-year-old Connie where she could and could not go. But when Connie sees four young men take a stand for equal rights at a Woolworths lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, she realizes that things may soon change. This event sparks a movement throughout her town and region. And while Connie is too young to march or give a speech, she helps her brother and sister make signs for the cause. Changes are coming to Connies town, but Connie just wants to sit at the lunch counter and eat a banana split like everyone else.
Synopsis
What's better than spending the day with Dad doing something you both love? Like coin collecting! In this follow-up to the bestselling
The Button Box, a young boy discovers the joys of being a numismatist. He finds out about the value of coins, what people used before coins, and why historical images and people appear on coins. Margarette S. Reid and True Kelley present a colorful and exuberant look at one of America's favorite hobbies. Educators and parents will appreciate how
Lots and Lots of Coins introduces math, language arts, and social studies concepts.
Synopsis
Its December 1, 1955. A boy and his mother are riding the bus in Montgomery, Alabama like any other dayway in the back of the bus. The boy passes time by watching his marble roll up and down the aisle with the motion of the bus
Until a big commotion breaks out from way up front.
With simple words and powerful illustrations, Aaron Reynolds and Coretta Scott King medalist Floyd Cooper recount the pivotal arrest of Rosa Parks at the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement.
Synopsis
Itand#8217;s December 1, 1955. A boy and his mother are riding the bus in Montgomery, Alabama like any other dayand#151;way in the back of the bus. The boy passes time by watching his marble roll up and down the aisle with the motion of the busand#133;
Until a big commotion breaks out from way up front.
With simple words and powerful illustrations, Aaron Reynolds and Coretta Scott King medalist Floyd Cooper recount the pivotal arrest of Rosa Parks at the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement.
About the Author
When
Floyd Cooper discovered children's book illustrating, he found a way to complement his career in advertising. An apprentice of Mark English, Mr. Cooper began his freelance career while still a student at the University of Oklahoma. After graduating, he made his way to Missouri, where he secured a position at a greeting card company.
Although Mr. Cooper was established in his position there, he felt somewhat stifled. He lacked the freedom and opportunity for spontaneity that he longed for as an artist and the joy that could be found in doing something that he loved.
Determined to break out of the mundane cycle he found himself in, Mr. Cooper relocated to the East Coast in 1984 to pursue his career further. It was there that he discovered the world of children's book illustrating and was amazed by the opportunities for creativity it afforded. Mr. Cooper was energized. The first book he illustrated, Grandpa's Face, captivated reviewers. Publishers Weekly said of newcomer Floyd Cooper's work, "Cooper, in his first picture book, creates family scenes of extraordinary illumination. He reinforces in the pictures the feelings of warmth and affection that exist between generations."
Illustrating children's books is very important to Mr. Cooper. He says, "I feel children are at the frontline in improving society. This might sound a little heavy, but it's true. I feel children's picture books play a role in counteracting all the violence and other negative images conveyed in the media."
Floyd Cooper resides in New Jersey with his wife, Velma, and their two sons.
copyright © 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.