Customer Reviews

A Picture Book of Thurgood Marshall (Picture Book Biographies)

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Adler's simple and easy style of writing makes these volumes a terrific addition to any classroom library. This particular volume on Marshall is insightful and human. I particularly enjoy pointing out that Justice Marshall was not always a perfect little student and sometimes was required by the principal to copy the Constitution. It's a great springboard when discussing the history of the civil rights movement. Greatness does not necessarily mean stardom. Justice Marshall's story is one to which all students should be introduced. My students love all the Adler books in my library, and this is my personal favorite.

Sometimes it can be hard to separate one's personal recollections from the subject matter within a picture book. I found this to be true with Adler's picture book of Thurgood Marshall. After many years working in the legal profession, I immediately recognized Supreme Court Justice Marshall among those picture book biographies available. I found myself becoming overwhelmed and crying, however, upon my first reading of this book. Yes, the illustrations convey to a large degree Justice Marshall's intensity and studious nature. These beautifully painted, often full-page sized illustrations, range from the entire family seated on living room furniture with father William Marshall reading to his two boys, his wife seated nearbly, to the two-page illustration with NAACP lead lawyer Thurgood Marshall standing in the middle of the room at the podium presenting his first oral argument before the Supreme Court Justices in the Supreme Court courtroom. In this last illustration only Thurgood's face is clearly portrayed, whereas the faces of the other attorneys are less detailed. In the background the large number of people in attendance are not given clear visages, adding to his presence and the drama of that moment and experience in time.