Ruby Bridges Goes To School: My True Story » (Original)

In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges walked through an angry crowd and into a school where she changed history.

This is the true story of an extraordinary little girl who helped shape our country when she became the first African-American to attend an all-white school in New Orleans. With simple text and historical photographs, this easy reader explores an amazing moment in history and the courage of a young girl who stayed strong in the face of racism.

Children's Literature

Ruby Bridges is best known for her bravery in integrating public schools. She went to her home school, which had been all-white until the integration of public schools was ordered. Ruby had to fight the crowds every morning, with marshals at her side. She was the only one in her class because white parents refused to send their children to school with a black child. Ruby Bridges tells her story in this "Scholastic Reader Level 2" intended for developing readers in grades one and two. The text is simple, but does not shy away from the hardships that accompanied this brave act. She tells young readers that people protested outside the school every day, but she also points out that she loved school and her teacher loved her. The text is illustrated with photographs of the events and people mentioned. Ruby Bridges also talks about what she has done in her life since integration. Highly recommended for classrooms Kindergarten to Grade 2 for introduction to an important event in the Civil Rights Movement. This book would pair well with The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles. Reviewer: Marcie Flinchum Atkins