Book Talk: The Story of Ruby Bridges

Multicultural Book: The Story of Ruby Bridges

Title: The Story of Ruby Bridges    

Author/illustrator: Robert Coles and George Ford

Publication Date: June 1, 2004

Number of Pages: 32

Artistic Medium: watercolor, colorful

Artistic Style: Realism

Age Range: Grades 1-5

Plot Summary: The story tells about the life of Ruby Bridges. As a young African girl, she grew up during a time that schools were segregated. At the age of 6, Ruby was sent to attend the William France Elementary School, an all-white school in New Orleans. On her first day, crowds surrounded the school protesting her attendance. Federal Marshals were ordered to guard and guide her into the school. White children stopped attending the school, but that didn’t stop Ruby from enjoying her time there and learning. Ruby learned how to read and write. One Morning, Ruby stopped in front of the mob outside the school and prayed the crowd that hated her. The attended this school until she graduated.

This story is an important one to include into the classroom curriculum because it explains what one little African American girl went through to receive a proper education. It is culturally authentic because it explains how far segregation has come since 1960. The story gives specific details that are experienced during this time in history by this racial group.

Content Area:
14 ) Analyze the modern Civil Rights Movement to determine the social, political, and economic impact on Alabama.

• I would first read this story to my students to introduce them to the topic of segregation. 
• We would discuss that this story is true and important to our American History.
• We would discuss what segregation is and how we have evolved since 1960.
• I would then give my students several different items that must work together, but have them separate them into different piles (based on what they look like). We will then discussed why we need all of the products to work together to achieve a goal. If they were separate, we would not have what we do today. 
• We would tie this activity to real life: If we were still segregated today, we would not be sitting next to some of our best friends and classmates.