The Story of Ruby Bridges

The Story of Ruby Bridges
Coles, Robert
Ford, Robert
Scholastic Inc. NY, NY. 1995
Picture book Biography

Ruby Bridges came from a very poor African American family who lived in New Orleans. Ruby's father worked as a janitor and Ruby's mother worked the night shift cleaning a bank. Ruby was chosen to be the first African American to be sent to a newly integrated elementary school in New Orleans. The parents of the white children who attended the school did not want black children to go to the same school as their students so they picketed the school and refused to let their children go to school with Ruby.


Ruby had to be escorted to school by an armed U.S Marshal so that none of the angry protesters would hurt her. The mobs said horrible things to her and a women even flaunted a black doll in a casket. Despite all of this, Ruby went to school day after day eager to learn. She was all alone in the school accept for her teacher Mrs. Henry. Mrs. Henry watched every day as Ruby made her way through the angry mob, But one day Mrs. Henry observed something different. She saw Ruby stop and say something to the mob that made them even more angry. Mrs. Henry asked Ruby what she had said and Ruby replied that she said a prayer for the people who were saying such horrible things about her. Ruby told Mrs. Henry that she prayed for God to forgive them for what they were doing and saying and she had forgotten to say the prayer until she got to school. Parents of the other students in that school finally gave in and sent their children to school.

George Ford Used Watercolor, acrylic inks, and drawing inks to create the beautiful double page illustrations in the book. Ford used lots of light colors that gave me a sense of hope throughout the book. There is something about these illustrations that put them among my favorite illustrations in any children's book. They were all absolutely exquisite and very detailed. The illustrations helped me visualize the precious little Ruby and how strong she really was.

This is a wonderful book. Previous to reading this book I had not heard or read much about Ruby. I am glad that I know know about his book because I defiantly want to share her story with my students so they will know about the struggles many children in our country faced so they could go to school and get a good education just because of their race. I think it is so sad that Ruby had to be subjected to such cruelty at her young age. I think all children can relate to Ruby's story in some way because they have most all felt alone and scared by bullies. I think this book would be a great tool to use to lead into a lesson about the Civil Rights Movement and tollerence.