Rosa by Nikki Giovanni

Illustrator:  Bryan Collier
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Publication Date: 2005
ISBN:  978-0-8050-7106-1

Rosa’s day began like any other:  breakfast with her husband and mother, and then off to work at the alterations department.  She was pleased when the work was done early, and her supervisor encouraged her to go home to care for her sick mother. She thought of the nice dinner she would have time to make, as she boarded the bus like so many times before.  Her mind was so full of thoughts that she didn’t even hear the man yell at her the first time.  He demanded that she and the passenger next to her give up their seats.  With a courageous and quiet “no,” she set events in motion that made her one of history’s most prominent civil rights heroes.

Though the story of Rosa Parks is already well-known, this book approaches that eventful time from a narrative standpoint.  We witness Rosa’s day from beginning to end, read her thoughts about her sick mother and the nice meatloaf she will prepare for dinner because it’s her husband’s favorite.  We feel how tired she is of the world’s injustice and see her nervous strength, stunningly illustrated, as she clutches the strap of her purse tightly while waiting for the police to arrive on the bus.  We learn of friends like Jo Ann Robinson, who gathered women together in a late night meeting to secretly print posters that started the bus boycott.  We feel the repetition of those who walked, day in and day out, to show their displeasure with the bus company, and we take pride in the support from people across the nation who sent shoes and money to sustain the cause.

The narrative is enhanced by the beautiful illustrations, full of intense colors and patterns.  Wallpaper, curtains, and clothing are depicted with sharp patterns and a variety of textures.  The backgrounds are a mixture of abstract geometric shapes, yet the characters look like something from a high-quality portrait.  A note from the illustrator tells us that the dark and yellow hues were intended to give the reader a feel for the Alabama heat, as well as a “foreshadowing, an uneasy quiet before the storm” and that Rosa herself was painted to look as though “light is emanating from her…a radiant chandelier, an elegant light that illuminates all our many pathways.”

Children of all ages will appreciate this book and view these historical events in a personal way.  It is somewhat surprising to see Mrs. Parks as a normal person when for years she has been held in such high esteem (and rightfully so).  It would benefit students to read an informational text in conjunction with this book, for a deeper understanding of the life of Rosa Parks.

Awards and Recognition:

• Caldecott Honor Book, 2006
• Coretta Scott King Award, 2006
• Amazon rating:  4.5/5
• Goodreads rating:  4.35/5