Jenna Cody

Professor Sidney

ECE 260

30 April 2022

Biography

Book: I am Rosa Parks.

Author: Brad Meltzer.

Genre: Biography, Children’s Literature.

Illustrator: Chris Eliopoulos.

Publication: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2014.

● Style and Language: The children’s book, I am Rosa Parks, contains sentences with a

longer structure. The storyline is overflowing with information regarding the famous

American, Rosa Parks. This affluent amount of knowledge pertaining to the civil activist

allows for greater sentence lengths. Nonetheless, this could pose an issue and hinder the

engagement of the children. Generally, with longer sentence lengths, children are able to

get lost in the text. Within the children’s book, there is no distinguishable rhyming

scheme or pattern. Further, the children’s book, I am Rosa Parks, contains a plethora of

dialogue. The children’s book contains strategic dialogue that helps aid the various

narratives within the storyline. This is employed in the text, “‘I’ll have you put in jail!

You’ll never get out again!’ ‘Your son was the one who pushed me. I didn’t bother him at

all.’” (Meltzer, 2014). Aforementioned, this text exemplifies the dialogue utilized within

the multiple narratives contained in the storyline.

● Characters: Rosa Parks is the main character in the children’s book, I am Rosa Parks.

The children’s book exemplifies the main characterization of Rosa Parks throughout the

storyline. The children’s book is centered around Rosa Parks, providing an account of the

famous American’s life. People are able to relate to the main character since Rosa Parks

elucidates the importance of being true to oneself. She exclaims that one should stand up

for themselves and what is right. This is an ideology that many readers will probably be

able to connect with. Supporting characters within the children’s book, I am Rosa Parks,

include Rosa Parks’ family, the boy on roller skates, the boy’s mother, and the bus driver.

● Plot: The children’s book, I am Rosa Parks, begins with Rosa Parks describing her

childhood. Rosa Parks goes on to discuss an incident that took place during her

adolescents. Where a white boy on roller skates shoved Rosa Parks on her way home

from school. Rosa Park elucidates that she was taught to have respect for herself,

therefore, she pushed the boy back. When his mother got upset with Rosa Parks, she

responded by defending her honor to the boy’s mother. As the story continues, Rosa

Parks employs the different treatments received by various people depending on the color

of their skin. Rosa Parks elucidates the awful educational environment she had growing

up compared to her white counterparts. Rosa Parks explains that one day, as an adult, she

wanted to ride the bus. However, during this time period people of color were responsible

for sitting in the back of the bus. Only people who were white had the freedom to sit in

the front of such transport. On this specific day, Rosa Parks elucidates that the back of the

bus was full, however, there was plenty of space in the front of the bus. Rosa Parks,

having self-respect, entered through the front of the bus where it was vacant. Her actions

warranted her to get kicked off of such transport. She goes on to explain that after such an
 incident she worked with the NAACP, an organization that fought for fairer laws. Rosa

Parks also took it upon herself to not drink out of the “colored” water fountains. Further,

she decided she would take the stairs instead of using segregated elevators. Rosa Parks

then elucidates the event she is most acclaimed for, the event that put her name in the

history textbooks. When she was forty-two years old, she was on the bus headed home.

At one of the stops, a handful of white people boarded the bus. This left one sole white

man standing, in need of a seat in the front. Seeing the white man in need of a seat, the

bus driver demanded that the colored folk sitting in the first row of the back section of the

bus move. Rosa Parks was one of the people who sat in those seats. Unlike her colored

counterparts, she refused to move. Rosa Parks was then arrested, but her arrest would

lead to the Montgomery Bus Boycott movement. The children’s book, I am Rosa Park,

concludes with all of the different segregation laws that were eradicated following the

Montgomery Bus Boycott movement as well as other civil rights movements. Rosa Parks

then goes on to state that no one should be able to tease anyone. That one must be strong

and stand up for themselves. To stand up for what is right.

● Setting: The children’s book, I am Rosa Parks, takes place in Montgomery, Alabama

during the Civil Rights movement. This is employed in the text, “Still on that day, for

violating the rules of Montgomery, Alabama, I got arrested.” (Meltzer, 2014).

Exemplified in the text, the story takes place in Montgomery, Alabama. Further, the

setting of the children’s book is employed in the text, “From there, the Montgomery Bus

Boycott began.” (Meltzer, 2014). Aforementioned, this text exemplifies the time period

of the story. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a part of the Civil Rights movement,
 elucidating that the timeline of the children’s book, I am Rosa Parks, takes place during

the Civil Rights movement.

● Theme: The theme for the children’s book, I am Rosa Parks, is self-respect. The

children’s book exemplifies the importance of having respect for oneself. Further, the

story elucidates that one must stand up for themselves. One must stand up for what is

right. The theme for the children’s book is employed through the text, “But if they try,

you must stand strong. Stand for what’s right.” (Meltzer, 2014). Aforementioned, this

text employs the theme of the children’s book, I am Rosa Parks.

● Illustrations: The illustration style within the children’s book, I am Rosa Parks,

represents that of expressionism. The children’s book exemplifies this artistic style

through the emotions of the main character within the story. Within each illustration,

expressions are displayed on Rosa Parks’ face. A multitude of varying expressions are

depicted in the different illustrations. Throughout the children’s book, there is a specific

perspective. Rosa Parks’ perspective is employed throughout the storyline. The children’s

book falls under the artistic media, painterly. The illustrator utilizes painterly materials.

Within the children’s book, I am Rosa Parks, line work is employed. Line work allows

for depth within the illustrations. An example of line work utilized to exemplify depth

can be seen in the various illustrations of the bus. The differing line segments allow the

viewer to clearly distinguish the front and the back of such transport. The children’s

book, I am Rosa Parks, possesses a multitude of curved shapes. These curved shapes

allow the drawings to take on a more natural appearance. Displaying things as they

appear in nature. This approach aids in the realism of the story. The color pallet for the

children’s book, I am Rosa Parks, contains cooler tones. Further, this aids in
 exemplifying the serious tone of the story to the audience. A softer texture is displayed

throughout the story. This allows the illustrations to better engage the audience of

children. The page design for the children’s book, I am Rosa Parks, is similar to that of a

comic book. The dialogue within the storyline is displayed in text bubbles within the

illustrations. This gives the biography a more child-like feel. Overall, the page layout is

very unique as well as engaging for the younger audience.

● Theory: The children’s book, I am Rosa Parks, most adequately represents Erikson’s

stage, Industry vs. Inferiority. This children’s book is best suited for children who are

school aged. The children’s book, I am Rosa Parks, elucidates the importance of the

historical figure, Rosa Parks. The children’s book informs the children about the civil

activist stand Rosa Parks partook in on the bus in Montgomery, Alabama. This ideology

employs Erikson’s stage, Industry vs. Inferiority. During this stage, children develop

skills and learn new information. The children’s book, I am Rosa Parks, gives children

the opportunity to discover new information. Throughout the story, children are learning

about the famous American, Rosa Parks. Children are also learning the importance of

self-respect and sticking up for what is right. The children’s book is a great informational

learning opportunity.

● Book extension for the children’s book, I am Rosa Parks, by Brad Meltzer.

○ Standards:

■ Reading Standards for Information - Grade 1 - #2: Identify the main topic

and retell key details of a text.

○ Objectives:
 ■ Students will be able to recall information and details of a text with 90%

accuracy.

■ Students will be able to identify the main idea of the children’s book, I am

Rosa Parks, with 90% accuracy.

■ Students will be able to understand the importance of self-respect with

90% accuracy.

○ Materials:

■ The book, I am Rosa Parks, by Brad Meltzer.

■ 8.5 x 11-inch printer paper.

■ Drawing utensils i.e. pencils, pens, markers, etc.

○ Teachings: Upon the completion of the read aloud of the children’s book, I am

Rosa Parks. Students will be instructed to write a five-sentence paragraph about

the civil rights activist, Rosa Parks. Within their paragraph, students will be

responsible for addressing the questions: Why is Rosa Parks famous? What event

made her acclaimed? Further, the students will be asked to complete a circle map.

Students will be required to brainstorm about themselves. Their circle maps

should include the various items that make them special. After completing the

circle map, students will be asked to illustrate a self-portrait. Students will be

instructed to take their time in curating beautiful illustrations of themselves. Once

the students have completed their self-portraits, they will write in a neat font, the

different items they brainstormed earlier. To conclude, as a whole group we will

discuss the theme of the children’s book, I am Rosa Parks.

 ○ Conclusion: Overall, the extension activity will allow students to grasp the main

topic of the children’s book, I am Rosa Parks. This activity will elucidate to the

students the importance of the famous American, Rosa Parks. That Rosa Parks

was a civil rights activist. She possessed self-respect, and stood up for what was

right. This activity will allow the students to connect more personally to the

children’s book, I am Rosa Parks.

● Books:

1. I am Martin Luther King Jr. by Brad Meltzer. This children’s book is about the famous

American, Martin Luther King Jr.. Similarly to Rosa Parks, he was a civil rights activist.

He possessed self-respect and took a stand for what is right. The ideologies and

information in the children’s book, I am Martin Luther King Jr., closely coincide with the

children’s book, I am Rosa Parks.

2. I am Harriet Tubman by Brad Meltzer. This children’s book is a biography about the

famous American, Harriet Tubman. Much like Rosa Parks, she was an African American

female. Harriet Tubman took a stand for her racial group just like Rosa Parks.

3. If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks by Faith Ringgold. This children’s book

tells the story of Rosa Parks. Similar to the children’s book, I am Rosa Parks, this

children’s book exemplifies the importance of the civil activist, Rosa Parks. Both of the

children’s books have a similar plot with the same central theme.

● Recommendation: Yes, I would strongly recommend this children’s book. I am Rosa

Parks, teaches children about the famous civil rights activist Rosa Parks. The children’s

book exemplifies the importance of this famous American. Further, it allows children to

understand the importance of self-respect. It elucidates that one must stand up for
themselves and what is right. Overall, the children’s book, I am Rosa Parks, is a beautiful

story that should be displayed in all classroom libraries.

 References

Meltzer, B., & Eliopoulos, C. (2020). I am strong: A little book about Rosa Parks. Dial Books

for Young Readers.