Author: James Haskins
Title: Bayard Rustin
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children Date: 1997
Age level: Elementary (3-4) Upper (5-6)
Summary:
This is the biography of Bayard Rustin. It follows his life and details his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. Not only in his organizing of the March on Washington, but also his work with other great leaders of the time.
Strengths:
This book is a great example of a well written biography for upper elementary school children. It includes enough simple facts and dates to give an accurate background of Rustin, but does not overpower the book with them. Instead, it goes into detail about other important issues and explains what sort of bias and hatred Rustin had to endure for being a gay African American and leader of the March on Washington. The language used is age appropriate and the situations are put into a context that children can understand.
Concerns:
There are some pictures in the center of the book, but only a few. There are probably a lot more out there that could have been interspersed throughout the book. It would help break it out and help kids keep reading.
Classroom use/Other comments:
This is a great book to use when talking about how everyone matters and that behind-the-scenes help often plays a large role in everything. Rustin was not that well known, but he certainly had an influential role, and the teacher can incorporate this into a lesson. It is also a great book to use when talking about the Civil Rights Movement and important leaders.
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