Mary Mcleod Bethune: Woman of Courage (Famous African Americans)

Gr 1-3-There is always a need for quality biographies and the strength of these particular titles is their breadth of coverage. Not only do the McKissacks profile well-known subjects such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and George Washington Carver, but they also address figures who might not be as famous (such as Madam C.J. Walker and Carter G. Woodson). The texts, which were originally published in the early 1990s, are clearly written and presented in a clean design. Captions for the full-color photos and illustrations provide additional information and the further reading and websites have been updated. Some of the text-heavy pages might present a problem for lower-level readers, but overall, the language is simple and straightforward. Challenging vocabulary is set in a bold font and defined in the glossaries. These introductions will be useful for reports and for independent reading.-Rita Meade, Brooklyn Public Library, NY α(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The Famous African Americans series does students a favor by offering a few titles on lesser-known figures, such as Marian Anderson, Paul Robeson, and this brief but illuminating look at Mary McLeod Bethune. “Mary Jane,” as she was known as a kid, was her parents’ fifteenth child but the first born free. Determined to read the family Bible, she went to school, then college, and then, with just $1.50 in her pocket, opened the first school for black girls in Daytona Beach, Florida. The desks were boxes; the pencils, coal. But, in a year, enrollment rocketed from 5 to 100, and Bethune was on her way to a career that would include White House meetings with FDR. Mediocre digital illustrations mix with fantastic period photos to make this a fascinating beginner bio. Grades 3-5. --Daniel Kraus