Title: Ruth and the Green Book

Author: Calvin Alexander Ramsey, illustrated by Floyd Cooper

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary: This book is about a little girl named Ruth living in Chicago in the 1950s. In this time very few African Americans could afford cars, but her father had saved up and was able to buy one. Her family planned a trip to go visit their grandmother in Alabama, and she thought it was going to be a great adventure. But soon Ruth found out that African American’s were not treated very nicely in other towns. Many hotels and gas stations would refuse to provide service to her family just because of the color of their skin. Her father was upset about something called Jim Crow laws. A friendly worker at an Esso station was finally nice to them and showed them The Green Book. It was a list of all places that would welcome travelers that were African American. With this new guide and the help of strangers, Ruth and her family could finally make a safe journey to her grandma’s house in rural Alabama.

Review: This book is a good way to teach children of different historical times and that stories can be told that are historical, but about people that may not have been real.

CAC:

History: A great way for children to learn about Jim Crow laws in the South and the history of African Americans in our society.

Art: The illustration shows children a new way to draw.