Rosa

Rosa is a children's fiction biography intended for grades 3rd-8th. The book was written by Nikki Giovanni , illustrated by Bryan Collier and published in 2005. Collier's illustrations are simple, like like, and are respectful and true to Park's character.

The story is about the account of Rosa Parks, one of the faces of the Civil Rights Movements. Parks was riding a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama when she was asked to give up her seat for a white man, but she refused and this helped spark African Americans fight for equality. Parks led the bus boycott, which eventually led to desegregated buses. This book is good for children because it is interested and aimed at them to teach them an important piece of history.

Discussion Questions:

• Do you think the author integrated the facts and history, smoothly in the book?
• If you were Rosa Parks, would you have given up your seat?
• Do you think the Civil Rights movement took too long to occur?
• Do you think children should read this book, instead of listening to lectures on Parks and the movement?

Motivational Activity:

• Have the students make their own bus illustration of what a segregated bus, might have looked like and explain their picture to the class.

Giovanni, N., & Collier, B. (2013). Rosa. Columbus, O.H.: Zaner-Bloser.