Customer Reviews

This Is the Dream

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As a first grade teacher, it is sometimes hard to find a book about the civil rights movement that is age appropriate. This book has a simple rhyme and beautiful pictures. These pictures simply show the differences before, during, and after the movement. The students in my class were speechless. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!

Many of the reviews already state this, but let me just reiterate: What a fine classroom tool you will find in "This is the Dream"! The story of the civil rights movement is summarized in simple, effective rhyme. It is perfect for all ages. The beginning pages clearly portray the injustice of "separate but equal" and Jim Crow laws. The middle of the story displays the tremendous strength of those who fought, not with guns and fists, but with walking, sitting, marching. Finally, we see the today we have taken for granted. It is a powerful witness to children of what once was and what could be again if we let predjudice take hold once more.
What I particularly enjoyed was the authors' choice to not reduce the movement to the hard work of a handful of people. History books tend to single out Rosa and Martin as the impetus and the leader of the movement. Such status is misleading for children. It was a peaceful militia of millions, a team effort. This book shows the bravery of the many nameless people who changed our country.
I believe this book would be a very worthy Caldecott winner. James Ransome is a "due" illustrator. If you haven't seen his work in other books-especially "Visiting Day" and "Under the Quilt of Night"- I'd encourage you to check it out. He is a master of depicting the subtle emotions of the human face. In "This is the Dream" his rich oil paintings brings history to life once again. And his use of photographs in his artwork is daring and innovative.
This is a suberb, important book.

This book is an excellent teaching source for young students to learn about Martin Luther King's dream and how it inspired a nation to change. I have used this book to teach civil rights, comparison/contrast, and voice using Six Traits.

I just finished reading "This is the Dream." It's not often a retired Air Force colonel gets misty-eyed, but your message touched me because it's definitely on target. I lived through the 50's in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; then in Florida during the 60's. Your book capsulized "where we were and how we got to where we are now," as well as a caveat about there's always room for improvement.

Congratulations to the authors and illustrator. I believe they've hit a grand slam!

This story is profound in its simplicity and beautiful illustrations. Teachers of older students use it to provoke thoughtful and reflective discussions during their units on Civil Rights. The book is gorgeous in its presentation of the progression of time and where we stand today (although the representation of today is somewhat utopian, it is also instills hope).

The most powerful element may be the author's note at the end, in which she articulates that the main concept of the book is the power of non-violent change.

'This is the Dream' is highly recommended as a wonderful read for most any age.

With colorful, striking images and words, THIS IS THE DREAM tells the story of the Civil Rights Movement and the power of nonviolent change that moved America from a country of enforced segregation to integration. In simple yet powerful words and rhyme, THIS IS THE DREAM is an excellent resource for teaching this period of history to younger children. Beginning with a quote from Martin Luther King. Jr., THIS IS THE DREAM details the atmosphere and historic events of the Civil RightsMovement from the segregated water fountains, buses, libraries and classrooms to those courageous acts of the school children entering a non-segregated school, the acts of resistance at lunch counters and on buses, and the marches against segregation. THIS IS THE DREAM concludes with a patriotic look at the results of the Civil Rights Movement in making America a land for all where all citizens can participate together. Both images and words present themes of courage and non-violence, even in the face of discrimination.

Collages, often photographic montages, from actual real historical moments headline each individual illustration. Vibrant, patriotic and powerful, the imagery of each illustration conveys the story of the Civil Rights Movement in a way only imagery can. One sees the disparity and inequality in the two classrooms under the separate but equal doctrine. One feels the courage of the school children who first attended an integrated school under armed guard. In one illustration, a white man is part of the resistance at a lunch counter. Towards the end, one feels the courtesy of waiting in line and the joy of friendship across racial barriars in an integrated America.

Because the images are so very powerful, the use of the Confederate flag in two of the illustrations in this short book seemed a bit odd given the overall message of the book. Yes, the Confederate flag is a symbol of the South, and the South was key in both some of the worst civil rights abuses as well as the key civil rights successes. THIS IS THE DREAM simplifies the story of Civil Rights without lessening the power of the story. For this very reason, I find the use of the Confederate flag slightly troubling. While historically accurate in many ways, its use also limits the need for and power of the Civil Rights movement to one region of the country when, in fact, racism affected the whole country during this time period. The Civil Rights Movement was not just a movement which changed the South but rather all of America as authors and illustrator are so careful to show at the end. This one tiny observation does not negate the beauty of this book. I have, therefore, given a high number rating to the book. Perhaps as someone who had family in both North and South during this time, I am more keyed to notice regional portrayals and stereotypes particularly during the this time of history. Perhaps the use of the Confederate flag as well as the white activist sitting at the lunch counter would be the starting point for stimulating discussion about the scope of the historic movement and stereotypes in general ? THIS IS THE DREAM would be an wonderful resource for discussion in the class or outside.

THIS IS THE DREAM is an excellent resource for teaching the Civil Rights Movement to young children. Both images and words boil down the key messages into easily understandable yet strong values. THIS IS THE DREAM is a book that will leave readers with a feeling of the strength of possibility. THIS IS THE DREAM teaches history not by shaming but rather by leaving its audience with a sense of hope, pride and patriotism. The writer and illustrator both reach the intellect and heart of their readers by highlighting the American core values of justness and fairness. An excellent resource for teaching American history to young children! Very highly recommended!

COURTESY OF BOOK ILLUMINATIONS

Having grown up during the civil rights era, I find this book has great teaching potential for the non-violent movement. Today so many children see the violence on TV and in real life and this book depicts the historical highlights of the era. James Ransome's illustrations are a complement to the clever rhymed verse and his collage technique on the front and back covers and the inside covers tells the story in pictures. I think the sequence of the book portrays the main events of the era that ultimately changed the way of our nation. This is a book for everyone. The rhymes convey the message in a concise manner which the youngest reader can understand. I think this book should be in every school library.

This Is The dream, by Diane Shore and Jessica Alexander is a history packed book, with an opening statement by Martin Luther King, Jr. that sets the tone for the lesson to come in history.

"White Only", "Colored Waiting Room", these are the signs that you see in the beginning of this book. It starts with a time when we as a nation were fighting for the basics of equality - the Civil Rights Era, and takes you straight through to today's society where the signs that you see are no longer racially motivated.

This Is The Dream provides a timeline marking the stages that this nation went through to make civil rights a reality. Reading the text and looking at the pictures, made the struggle seem just a little more tangible for me as an adult, so I can imagine the impact that it will have on the mind of a child. Kids of all ages can and should read this book.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the phenomenal illustrations by James Ransome. His pictures are most certainly worth a thousand words.

This is The Dream, should be a requirement for all schools.

Reviewed By: Eleanor S. Shields, Black Butterfly Review