Picture Book 7: Through My Eyes (Orbis Pictus)

Author: Ruby Bridges

Genre: Picture Book

Subgenre: Autobiography

Themes: Courage in the face of opposition, prejudice and tolerance

Characters:

~Primary: Ruby Bridges

~Secondary: Barbara Henry,  Lucille Bridges

Awards:

~American Library Association Notable Books for Children

~Orbis Pictus Award

Date of Publication: 1999

 Publishing Company: Scholastic Press

Summary: Ruby Bridges was the first African American child to be integrated into a white elementary school.  At the time, school segregation was still the de facto law of the land in Louisiana, even though the United States Supreme Court had unanimously declared it unconstitutional.  Despite extreme prejudice and threats, Ruby Bridges attended school with her teacher Mrs. Henry, alone in their classroom, and was able to learn not only her academic skills, but also how to stay strong and true to yourself in the face of adversity.  

Recommendations: The photographs in this book bring stunning reality to a turbulent time in American history.  Teachers can use this book to discuss prejudice and to talk about the civil rights movement.  Caution should be exercised, however, when sharing some of the images with children; the book would be most appropriate for children over the age of eight.  In addition, teachers should be advised about the language used in this book; although true to the time period, teachers should emphasize that the language is not appropriate for students’ use.