Let the Children March facts for kids
 |
|
| Author | Monica Clark-Robinson |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Frank Morrison |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's picture book |
| Publisher | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |
|
Publication date
|
2018 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 40 |
| Awards | Coretta Scott King Award |
| ISBN | 9781328466488 |
| OCLC | 51799 |
Let the Children March is a children's picture book published in 2018. It was written by Monica Clark-Robinson and illustrated by Frank Morrison. The book tells a historical story about the Birmingham Children's Crusade in 1963. In 2019, it was recognized as a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book.
What the Book is About
The story is told by a young African-American girl living in Birmingham, Alabama. She hears Martin Luther King Jr. ask people to protest peacefully for equal rights. Even though her parents are worried, the girl and her brother decide to join the protest. Dr. King agrees to let the children organize their own march.
On May 2, the children gather at a church and start their march. The girl feels scared by the angry people watching. But she keeps going, even when police use powerful water hoses and police dogs to try and stop them. Many children are arrested and sent to jail.
On the third day of the march, the girl is also put in jail. She and other children sing "We Shall Overcome" and other civil rights songs. The march continues outside. The girl's father tells her that John F. Kennedy, who was the President, is now concerned about the unfair treatment.
Soon, the girl and her brother are released from prison. News spreads that places will no longer be separated by race. The book ends with the siblings playing at playgrounds and eating at restaurants they were never allowed to visit before.
How the Book Was Made
Author Monica Clark-Robinson first learned about the Children's March in 2010. This story made a big impact on her, and she started writing the book. She talked to people who were part of the Birmingham Children's Crusade to make sure her story was accurate.
Since she was writing for young readers, Clark-Robinson decided to leave out some very sad details. She wanted to avoid scaring children. Her book was a finalist in a writing contest. Later, the publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt suggested Frank Morrison illustrate it.
Illustrator Frank Morrison remembered watching a documentary called Eyes on the Prize. He was shocked to see children being sprayed with water hoses. He hoped his artwork would "honor the past" and the brave children. Morrison created his illustrations using oil paint on special illustration boards.
