Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. I’ve always loved road trips. When my husband and I were first married, we were both teachers, and with the summer ahead of us, we’d plan a road trip. Twice we went cross-country…and many times we drove up to Canada or down to Washington, DC. We worried about money. We worried about weather. But we didn’t worry about whether it would be safe for us to be in a certain town after dark. And we didn’t worry about finding a place to eat or sleep. That’s because we were white. Traveling back in the day wasn’t so easy for people of color. In fact, it could be downright dangerous. Then Victor Hugo Green created the Green Book.
OPENING THE ROAD: VICTOR HUGO GREEN AND THE GREEN BOOK
Written by Keila V. Dawson
Illustrated by Alleanna Harris
Published by Beaming Books (January 26, 2021)
Ages: 5-9
Themes: Discrimination, ingenuity, equality
Synopsis: From Amazon:
“Hungry? Check the Green Book. Tired? Check the Green Book. Sick? Check the Green Book.”
In the late 1930s when segregation was legal and Black Americans couldn’t visit every establishment or travel everywhere they wanted to safely, a New Yorker named Victor Hugo Green decided to do something about it. Green wrote and published a guide that listed places where his fellow Black Americans could be safe in New York City. The guide sold like hot cakes! Soon customers started asking Green to make a guide to help them travel and vacation safely across the nation too. With the help of his mail carrier co-workers and the African American business community, Green’s guide allowed millions of African Americans to travel safely and enjoy traveling across the nation.
In the first picture book about the creation and distribution of The Green Book, author Keila Dawson and illustrator Alleanna Harris tell the story of the man behind it and how this travel guide opened the road for a safer, more equitable America.
Why I love this book:
- A story of ingenuity and courage – Victor Hugo Green was a simple ordinary man who did something extraordinary – something that helped many – he was a visionary!
- The text is so well-written – lyrical and full of drama – and true!
- The illustrations are fabulous – Alleanna Harris is pure genius!
RELATED ACTIVITIES
Make a road map or neighborhood map with your children. For detailed instructions: https://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/makemapstreasuremapscraftsideasdecorationskids.html
Here are some important talking points about the book:
- Tells the virtually unknown story of Victor Green’s contribution to history
- Fresh material for Black History Month
- Introduces children to another “hidden figure” in the fight for social justice in the United States
- Accessible and engaging material for lessons on civil rights
- Great foray into lessons on equity and equality for young learners
- Engaging facts and additional information about The Green Book and Victor Green are included in the book
- Illustrated timeline of historical events about travel as the civil rights movement unfolded in the United States
- Ties in to national trend of inspiring nonfiction picture books
- Perfect for home, school, and library collections
This is a much-needed book because it opens our eyes to how things were in this country not that long ago…and we realize that although laws have been passed prohibiting discrimination – and the doors of hotels and restaurants are open to people of all colors, there are still many hearts that are closed. We can do better. We must do better.
I’m so excited for this book – I saw early drafts of it and can’t wait to hold a copy in my hands. And one of you lucky people has the opportunity to WIN a copy, thanks to the generosity of author Keila Dawson. Just leave a comment below – maybe you can tell us your favorite road trip destination – and then share share share on social media for extra tickets in the giveaway hat. The book launches January 26, 2021 and is available for Pre-Order. You can also put it on your Want-To-Read Shelf on Goodreads and review it. Then tell all your friends about it and ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection.
If you’d like to find out more about Keila and her amazing books:
Keila V. Dawson is co-editor of NO VOICE TOO SMALL: FOURTEEN YOUNG AMERICANS MAKING HISTORY, along with Lindsay H. Metcalf and Jeanette Bradley, illustrated by Bradley (Charlesbridge, September 2020) and the forthcoming NO WORLD TOO BIG:YOUNG PEOPLE FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE also with Lindsay H. Metcalf and Jeanette Bradley, illustrated by Bradley (Charlesbridge, Spring 2023). She is the author of THE KING CAKE BABY, illustrated by Vernon Smith (Pelican Publishing 2015) and the forthcoming OPENING THE ROAD: VICTOR HUGO GREEN AND HIS GREEN BOOK, illustrated by Alleanna Harris (Beaming Books, January 2021). Dawson is a New Orleans native, has lived and worked in the Philippines, Japan, and Egypt and lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. Find her on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or her website.
For more wonderful picture book reviews, hop over to Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book link up.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Tomorrow, Saturday, December 5th at Noon-1:30pm Eastern time, I’ll be presenting on the 21st Century Nonfiction Panel of Picture Book Palooza – hope some of you will be tuning in.
One of the things I truly love as an adult being introduced to non-fiction picture books is ALL the new things I learn. OPENING THE ROAD appears to is a perfect example. And then after reading the non-fiction picture book, I often dive into adult book about the same subject. Thank you.
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Thanks, Elizabeth. Same here. I include books I used for my research in the bibliography and have even more resources in my educator’s classroom activity guide.
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Yes, exactly! I love that you do that, Elizabeth…and it’s what we all want the kiddos to do…have their curiosity sparked by something they read in a picture book…it’s why picture books are not just for the littles…kids in the mid to upper elementary grades and beyond should be reading them as part of the curriculum.
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Thank you, Vivian, for acknowledging the privilege so many of us take for granted.. And thank you, Kiela, for providing an opening into an important conversation. This book will open many eyes. (BTW I just read No Voice Too Small…what a triumph!)
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Thank you Joyce! I hope we all have the courage to engage in the different conversations from the POV and experiences of others.
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I love how you put it, Joyce…providing an opening into an important conversation. Thanks for stopping by and for the thoughtful comment!
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Wow. I cannot wait to get my hands on this book. Thank you!
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Thank you! I hope it sparks many discussions.
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Hope you get your hands on a copy when it comes out in January, Elizabeth.
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This book sounds amazing! A must read!
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Thank you! There are so many stories throughout US History that still need to be told.
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It is amazing, Beth…I saw it early on…and fell in love with it then.
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Such an important book about something many people may not have thought much about. Congrats, Keila!
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Thanks, Beth! Keep telling these stories of unsung heroes!
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It wasn’t anything I thought much about, that’s for sure, Beth. It’s definitely an eye-opening book!
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Although I have heard of the Green Book, I cannot wait to read this and learn more. Congrats, Keila and thanks, Vivian!
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I learned about the book from a BBC broadcast and so much more when researching and reading about that period in time.
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Thanks for stopping by, Ellen!
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I already have this book on my Goodreads–I had never heard of this man or his book before and can’t wait to read it and learn and grow my compassion. I shared on tumblr: https://yesreaderwriterpoetmusician.tumblr.com/post/636595564455362560/perfect-picture-book-friday-opening-the-road
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Thank you Danielle! I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard of this book either. And exactly why I wanted to tell Victor’s story.
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Victor Hugo Green was definitely an unsung hero…so thrilled Keila’s book will shine the spotlight on him…a wonderful role model for kids!
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Love Keila! Love her books! And I also love the retro look of the art for this book. Picture perfect!
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Thanks Jilanne. Isn’t the art amazing? Alleanna Harris did her research and it turned out better than I ever imagined.
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Thanks so much, Jilanne…I agree…it’s a perfect picture book!
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Congratulations Keila! What a great book to share with kids to help them understand segregation. It always confused and angered me when I went to visit relatives in the south as a child in the 50s/60s. I have watched the movie “Green Book” and it was powerful.
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Yes, history is history, the good, bad and ugly. It’s all our history.
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And the thing is that when you grow up in that atmosphere, you almost take it for granted…and pretty much accept it as normal. Pretty hard to think well of yourself when you are treated that way, right?
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This story sounds terrific! Keila, you’re on a roll! Congrats! And Vivian, thanks for sharing!
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Thank you! Thus story idea captivated me from the very beginning.
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Glad you stopped by Lindsey!
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I had heard about the Green Book, but didn’t pay enough attention! I’m so glad that your book will bring more awareness to this important history lesson and that children will be exposed to it at an early age. Thank you, Keila
(Looking forward to your presentation tomorrow, Vivian!)
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I agree, Arlene…early exposure to this will bring more awareness and sensitivity…and hopefully the kids will grow up to embrace kindness, compassion, and a sense that equality belongs to all.
And I’m looking forward to the Palooza also, Arlene…see you there!
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Thanks Arlene. I learned so much about that period researching for this book. I can’t wait to share it with kids!
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I’m so glad this book is coming out and explaining this part of American history. Thanks Vivian and Keila for sharing this story!
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It’s an important book, Rinda…that’s for sure. So glad you stopped by.
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Thanks Rinda. The more I learned about the guide and the history during that period I never learned in school, t he more determined I was to write it. I’m so happy I persevered.
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Definitely added to my TBR list. It is an important book for kids and adults. I can’t wait to read it. Congrats on this book and NO VOICE TOO SMALL, Keila!
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Thanks so much, Maria! I can’t wait to share this story with kids.
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Thanks so much! It’s added to my list and am really excited to read it. My favorite road trip was with three kids and an assistance dog in training — and I quickly learned that while assistance pups in training have the same rights of access as service dogs in my home state of Colorado, that was not at all true across the rest of the country. It was a small insight into some of the challenges faced by so many of our citizens.
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Thank you, Susan!
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I am looking forward to reading this with my son. Books like yours are so important and presented in a way that children can learn and understand.
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Thanks so much, Ashley. Kids deserve to learn all of our history, maybe in small bites, but not have to, as I did, at my age, wonder why I hadn’t ever heard of this book that meant so much to so many people.
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I agree. I’m glad you are putting this story out there. Just put in a book order request at my library.
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I’m so happy you persisted! to research a “hidden” part of our history, find a way to present the information in a beautiful format and teach us all, children and adults, is such an art. Thank you.
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Although I’m embarrassed to say I’d never considered these ways racism affected (and affects) Black Americans, I’m grateful my eyes and heart can be opened through books like this. Sounds like a wonderful and informative book, Keila!
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This looks like another must have book for classroom learning. I love the illustrations and cannot wait to read this story.
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I agree with you on this and enjoyed reading it, Thank you. It has given me a fresh perspective on this topic.
In writing a great children’s book, it is not only enough to be skillful and creative. You also need to be determined, inspiring, and purpose-oriented as an author.
I hope you can take the time to read my post as well:The Secrets to Writing a Great Children’s Book
I hope this would also help
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We need more books like this to uncover “white privilege.” Well done, Keila!
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