Ruby Bridges: My Grandma's Camp - (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"I was six years old. My parents would pack us up every summer... We headed to my grandparents' house in a small town located in the backwoods of Mississippi... every one of our cousins was shipped off to grandpa and grandma's house... the outdoors was always an adventure. The woods, my granny's garden, the cotton fields, those old dirt roads carved out through the trees, trees that lined each side of the road that we couldn't wait to climb every chance we got!"

My Grandma's Camp, written by Ruby Bridges, is a lyrical and moving picture book that captures Ruby's summer spent at her grandparents' farm alongside her cousins. Through a warm, occasionally humorous narrative, My Grandma's Camp explores themes of family, friendship, cooperation, and the rhythms of farm life. Whether it was picking fruit from the trees and bushes, fishing in their favorite pond, exploring the "scary" woods with Grandma, tending to the chickens, pigs, cows, and horses, or harvesting vegetables from the garden, life on Grandma's Camp was a joyful blend of adventure, hard work, and unforgettable family moments.

"There's so much to learn from being on the farm, not to mention all the wonderful, tasty foods that come from farming, right from the ground. It just makes me wonder why any kid should ever be hungry, when we could solve the problem right from the ground we are standing on. Because of my grandparents, every summer, we were never hungry!"

Review Quotes

Praise for Ruby Bridges: A Talk With My Teacher:

''...Bridges remembers some of her reflections as a primary-grade student, making her perspective particularly useful in helping today's children better understand the past.'' -- Booklist

''Activist Bridges shares her memories of the elementary teacher who taught her when no one else would... A child-friendly exploration of a landmark moment in civil rights history.'' -- Kirkus Reviews

Praise for I Am Ruby Bridges:

* "Any picture book collection tackling the Civil Rights Movement has to start here. Highly recommended for all shelves, this exemplary title for history and biography collections shows how the events of the world impact our youngest citizens." -- School Library Journal, starred review

"A unique angle on a watershed moment in the civil rights era." -- Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Through My Eyes:

"Compelling." -- School Library Journal

"Bridges's words, recalling a child's innocence and trust, are more vivid than even the best of the photos. Like poetry or prayer, they melt the heart." -- Publishers Weekly

Praise for Dear Ruby, Hear Our Hearts:

"The issues that matter to young Americans come alive in Cabuay's energetic illustrations, which make deft use of color and texture." -- Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Ruby Bridges is a civil rights icon, activist, author, and speaker who, at the age of six, was the first Black student to integrate William Frantz Elementary, an all-white elementary school in Louisiana. Bridges is the recipient of numerous awards, including the NAACP Martin Luther King Award and the Presidential Citizens Medal, and she has received honorary doctorate degrees from Connecticut College; College of New Rochelle; Teachers College, Columbia University; and Tulane University. In 2024, Bridges was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. Bridges is also the author of I Am Ruby Bridges; Through My Eyes; This Is Your Time; and Dear Ruby, Hear Our Hearts. Ruby lives in Louisiana with her family. Learn more at rubybridges.com.