If A Bus Could Talk by Faith Ringgold

 If A Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks by Faith Ringgold


If A Bus Could Talk by Faith Ringgold


  • Historical Fiction

  • Grades: Pre-K-Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd

  • Awards: NAACP Image Award For Outstanding Children’s Literary Work - Children’s 


Summary:

If A Bus Could Talk is a book from the perspective of the bus that carried Rosa Parks. One day a young girl is on her way to school but an unfamiliar bus is at her usual stop and she gets on it. The young girl, Marcie, does not see a bus driver, and then she hears a voice but none of the passengers are talking to her. It was the bus! The bus explains to Marcie that she is on the  Cleveland Avenue Bus which is now the Rosa Parks Bus. The Bus tells the story of Rosa Parks, her family history, education, and how she refused to give up her seat on the bus. The bus explains that they are celebrating Rosa Parks' birthday and her many accomplishments in her struggle for equal rights. The book ends after Marcie meets Rosa Parks and gets off the bus excited to tell her class about what she learned. 


Evaluation:

If A Bus Could Talk would be a great book to use in my classroom because it has detailed illustrations and a great storyline that includes imaginary characters and a historically based theme. I think this book would be valuable for second-graders because it introduces the students to an important historical figure while giving them a glimpse into the past to help create connections in the future. The characters in this book take a stand against injustice which can bring hope and inspiration to students. If A Bus Could Talk would be a great choice for a unit on comprehension skills and making connections to personal experiences. Racism is a very relevant social issue from the past that is still currently an issue in the present, and this book can help students see this issue from a different perspective. 

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