BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Giovanni, Nikki. 2005. ROSA. Ill. by Bryan Collier. New York: Henry Holt and Co. ISBN 0805071067.
SUMMARY
ROSA is a biography of one of the most famous women in American history, Rosa Parks. Giovanni describes the events on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama on December 1, 1955. Rosa Parks boarded a bus after a busy day working as a seamstress. She sits in the neutral section, because the section reserved for blacks is full. Parks refuses to move when the bus driver asks her to give up her seat. The book describes the events that followed Mrs. Park’s protest on the bus that day. After her arrest, community members came together to protest, and the nonviolent Civil Rights Movement began. Ultimately, the Supreme Court would declare that segregation is illegal, almost a year after the arrest of Rosa Parks.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Giovanni’s descriptions of the historical figure, Rosa Parks, reveal the whole nature of her personality. Mrs. Parks was an exceptional seamstress, a wife, and a woman “tired of putting white people first.” This realization on a bus in Montgomery Alabama would spark a fire in the Civil Rights Movement. Giovanni’s writing captures the thoughts of Mrs. Parks as she sits patiently on the bus waiting for the police to come arrest her. Mrs. Parks was tired of many things including “Colored” entrances, balconies, fountains and taxis. Giovanni’s writing style adds to the suspense leading to the moment when the policeman bends down to ask Mrs. Parks, “Auntie, are you going to move?…” And, “Rosa parks said no.” This stark, brief statement illustrates the simplicity of this action, though it was clearly brave and unexpected. The policeman’s use of the word auntie to Mrs. Parks is one example of a cultural marker in the text. Clearly, this is a derogatory term used by a white man toward an African-American woman. He would not even show her the decency of calling her Madam or Mrs.
The illustrations by Collier are colorful and rich with varied hues. Collier utilized both collage and watercolors to achieve the detailed, yet abstract illustrations throughout the book. Notably, the faces and hands of the people in the story stand out because they have been created with watercolors. The clothing and background almost serve as a backdrop to the expressive faces. In particular, Collier shows variety within the African-American community in his illustrations. Each character presented is culturally authentic. Some women wear headscarves while others do not, and some men have hats and others do not, revealing the texture of their hair.
This work touches on many of the themes important in African-American literature for children. Rosa’s struggle for equality and the descriptions of legal discrimination in this era are important reminders to children today of the important role this woman had in American history. The cultural markers presented by Collier in his illustrations ad to the authenticity and authority of this work. Giovanni’s writing style draws readers in to the private thoughts Rosa might have had during her quiet protest on the bus. The book builds to a dramatic double page fold-out depicting the nonviolent march in Montgomery. Within the illustrations of the multitude of marchers, Collier presents diverse faces, skin tones, hair and clothing.
Overall, this biographical picture book is a well-written, beautifully illustrated presentation of the history and events around Mrs. Parks protest and arrest. The illustrations add a level of authenticity and detail to the story, representing Mrs. Parks in a remarkable likeness to her true picture.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Caldecott Honor Book
"Collier's watercolor and collage scenes are deeply hued and luminous, incorporating abstract and surreal elements along with the realistic figures. Set on colored pages, these illustrations include an effective double foldout page with the crowd of successful walkers facing a courthouse representing the 1956 Supreme Court verdict against segregation on the buses. Many readers will wonder how it all went for Parks after her arrest, and there are no added notes. Purposeful in its telling, this is a handsome and thought-provoking introduction to these watershed acts of civil disobedience." –School Library Journal
"Far from the cliché of Rosa Parks as the tired little seamstress, this beautiful picture-book biography shows her as a strong woman, happy at home and at work, and politically aware ('not tired from work, but tired of . . . eating at separate lunch counters and learning at separate schools')." –Booklist, starred review
CONNECTIONS
Giovanni, Nikki. 2005. ROSA. Ill. by Bryan Collier. New York: Henry Holt and Co. ISBN 0805071067.
SUMMARY
ROSA is a biography of one of the most famous women in American history, Rosa Parks. Giovanni describes the events on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama on December 1, 1955. Rosa Parks boarded a bus after a busy day working as a seamstress. She sits in the neutral section, because the section reserved for blacks is full. Parks refuses to move when the bus driver asks her to give up her seat. The book describes the events that followed Mrs. Park’s protest on the bus that day. After her arrest, community members came together to protest, and the nonviolent Civil Rights Movement began. Ultimately, the Supreme Court would declare that segregation is illegal, almost a year after the arrest of Rosa Parks.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Giovanni’s descriptions of the historical figure, Rosa Parks, reveal the whole nature of her personality. Mrs. Parks was an exceptional seamstress, a wife, and a woman “tired of putting white people first.” This realization on a bus in Montgomery Alabama would spark a fire in the Civil Rights Movement. Giovanni’s writing captures the thoughts of Mrs. Parks as she sits patiently on the bus waiting for the police to come arrest her. Mrs. Parks was tired of many things including “Colored” entrances, balconies, fountains and taxis. Giovanni’s writing style adds to the suspense leading to the moment when the policeman bends down to ask Mrs. Parks, “Auntie, are you going to move?…” And, “Rosa parks said no.” This stark, brief statement illustrates the simplicity of this action, though it was clearly brave and unexpected. The policeman’s use of the word auntie to Mrs. Parks is one example of a cultural marker in the text. Clearly, this is a derogatory term used by a white man toward an African-American woman. He would not even show her the decency of calling her Madam or Mrs.
The illustrations by Collier are colorful and rich with varied hues. Collier utilized both collage and watercolors to achieve the detailed, yet abstract illustrations throughout the book. Notably, the faces and hands of the people in the story stand out because they have been created with watercolors. The clothing and background almost serve as a backdrop to the expressive faces. In particular, Collier shows variety within the African-American community in his illustrations. Each character presented is culturally authentic. Some women wear headscarves while others do not, and some men have hats and others do not, revealing the texture of their hair.
This work touches on many of the themes important in African-American literature for children. Rosa’s struggle for equality and the descriptions of legal discrimination in this era are important reminders to children today of the important role this woman had in American history. The cultural markers presented by Collier in his illustrations ad to the authenticity and authority of this work. Giovanni’s writing style draws readers in to the private thoughts Rosa might have had during her quiet protest on the bus. The book builds to a dramatic double page fold-out depicting the nonviolent march in Montgomery. Within the illustrations of the multitude of marchers, Collier presents diverse faces, skin tones, hair and clothing.
Overall, this biographical picture book is a well-written, beautifully illustrated presentation of the history and events around Mrs. Parks protest and arrest. The illustrations add a level of authenticity and detail to the story, representing Mrs. Parks in a remarkable likeness to her true picture.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Caldecott Honor Book
"Collier's watercolor and collage scenes are deeply hued and luminous, incorporating abstract and surreal elements along with the realistic figures. Set on colored pages, these illustrations include an effective double foldout page with the crowd of successful walkers facing a courthouse representing the 1956 Supreme Court verdict against segregation on the buses. Many readers will wonder how it all went for Parks after her arrest, and there are no added notes. Purposeful in its telling, this is a handsome and thought-provoking introduction to these watershed acts of civil disobedience." –School Library Journal
"Far from the cliché of Rosa Parks as the tired little seamstress, this beautiful picture-book biography shows her as a strong woman, happy at home and at work, and politically aware ('not tired from work, but tired of . . . eating at separate lunch counters and learning at separate schools')." –Booklist, starred review
CONNECTIONS
Create a display of books featuring important African-American women in history.
Some titles to consider: SOJOURNER TRUTH: PATH TO GLORY by Peter Merchant, HARRIET TUBMAN, SECRET AGENT by Thomas B. Allen and MAE JEMISON: THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN IN SPACE by Magdalena Alagna.
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