Birmingham, 1963 Hardcover – Illustrated, September 1, 2007

One of my favorite books is THe Watson's Go to Birmingham -1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis. This new book by Carole Weatherford is an excellent addition to a text set on the Civil Rights Movement. THrough the eyes of a 10-year old girl attending church on that fateful Sunday in September, Weatherford creates a tribute not only to the four little girls who died in the bombing, but to all those who worked for change despite the cruelty and horror of the times. Both books should be accompanied by Spike Lee's "Four Little Girls." Weatherford's book about the Greensboro sit-ins - Freedom on the Menu - adds another dimension to the story. I would start out the unit with The Story of Ruby Bridges and THrough My Eyes (by Ruby Bridges) - books that tell about the integration of New Orleans schools in 1960. All these books allow us to see the times through the eyes of children. THe photos in Birmingham, 1963 help today's students get a sense of the times. THe four photos of the girls at the end accompanied by short poems about each helps today's children see how these girls were real children who played with their friends, participated in band and scouts and church and dreamed of their future.