Ruby Bridges: A Talk With My Teacher by Ruby Bridges, illustrated by Trudy Tran (Orchard Books, 48 pages, grades K-3). Ruby tells the story of her second-grade year, returning to the school where she and her teacher Mrs. Henry spent first grade alone in their classroom. Ruby is happy to be getting a ride with a neighbor instead of U.S. Marshals, not facing angry crowds at the front door, and seeing other kids in the school, some of whom look like her. But she’s heartbroken to learn that Mrs. Henry is no longer teaching there. The story then moves forward to 1995, when a book about Ruby has just been published. She’s excited to learn that Mrs. Henry has seen the book, which leads to a reunion. She finds out that Mrs. Henry left to have a baby, and the two of them reminisce about incidents only they remember, like when Ruby stashed her uneaten sandwiches in a supply cabinet until a mouse infestation led Mrs. Henry to discover them. The book ends with the question, “Teachers–who would we be without them?” and the author’s note celebrates teachers and encourages kids to think of special memories with their own teachers. A glossary lists 25 well-known teachers with a sentence or two about each one.
Early elementary students will relate to Ruby’s experiences and enjoy recalling their own teacher memories. Ruby’s tone is warm and relatable for kids without talking down to them. An introduction to her life would make the story more interesting, and I was surprised that the title of her 1995 book (I assume it’s The Story of Ruby Bridges) doesn’t appear anywhere in this book, including in the author information.
Make a Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins–The First Lady of Children’s Music by Traci N. Todd, illustrated by Eleanor Davis (Chronicle Books, 60 pages, grades 1-4). Ella Jenkins grew up in a segregated Chicago neighborhood, surrounded by a loving family and all kinds of music and rhythms. As an adult she moved to San Francisco, where she became a teacher, community organizer, and civil rights activist. Ella particularly loved sharing music with children, using it to introduce them to cultures around the world. The story of her full 100-year life (she died on November 9, 2024) features cameos by a number of celebrities such as Cab Calloway, Billie Holiday, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mister Rogers. Includes three pages of additional information, a timeline, and a bibliography.
I feel for Traci N. Todd trying to contain Ella Jenkins’s long, eventful, and fascinating life in a single picture book. She does an excellent job, using text with plenty of rhythm, reflecting the music that was always an important part of Ella’s life. The back matter paints an even more complete picture of that life, and it could be fun to supplement the book with recordings or YouTube videos of some of Ella’s performances. I wish that Bernadelle Richter, Ella’s partner and manager for more than 60 years, had made it into the story, instead of only getting a mention on the timeline.