Rosa

Module 12

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni

Summary

Rosa is a story about a seamstress by the name of Rosa Parks. One day Rosa went about her regular routine to catch the city bus. She went to the front of the bus and got on to pay her fair and got off and went to the back of the bus to get on. Although the bus was full Rosa found a seat. As the bus got more crowded the bus driver asked Rosa to give up her seat on the bus. Rosa refused and the police were called to take Rosa to jail. Rosa was not aware of it at the time but her refusing to give up her seat help spark the Civil Rights Movement. The story start to go in another direction and the focus was not exactly on Rosa. It focused more on the struggle and the bus boycott. Martin Luther King Jr. is even part of the story. The bus boycott Rosa help ignite lead to a decision by the Supreme Court that segregation on the buses was wrong.

My Impression

As always I enjoy reading a book about triumph. I also enjoyed looking at the great illustrations by Bryan Collier. This book is a great picture and a tribute to Rosa Parks.


Use of the book in the library

Role Play- Student will listen to the story Rosa. Students will act out the scene from the bus the day Rosa Parks was arrested. Students will have a better understanding of what happened that day on the bus with Rosa Parks. Student will discuss how they felt going through what Rosa experienced.

Bibliography

Rosa
Giovanni, Nikki. Rosa. New York: Scholastic, 2006. Print.

Review

Reviews

"Paired very effectively with Giovanni's passionate, direct words, Collier's large watercolor-and-collage illustrations depict Parks as an inspiring force that radiates golden light." -- Booklist, Starred Review

"Purposeful in its telling, this is a handsome and thought-provoking introduction to these watershed acts of civil disobedience." -- School Library Journal

"Giovanni and Collier offer a moving interpretation of Rosa Park's momentous refusal to give up her bus seat. The author brings her heroine very much to life...a fresh take on a remarkable historic event." -- Publishers Weekly

"An essential volume for classrooms and libraries." -- Kirkus Reviews