The United States V. Jackie Robinson - by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

About the Book

Before he broke the color barrier in professional baseball, Robinson served in the U.S. Army and in 1944 was court-martialed after he refused to move to the back of a supposedly integrated army bus. The inspiring true story of this lesser-known moment in his life of fighting prejudice with strength and grace is told in this picture book. Full color.

Book Synopsis

A moving and inspiring nonfiction picture book about Jackie Robinson's court martial trial--an important lesser-known moment in his lifetime of fighting prejudice with strength and grace. Students who have been introduced to this American hero from such books as Brad Meltzer's I Am Jackie Robinson can take a deeper look at a key event in his life with The United States v. Jackie Robinson.

Jackie Robinson broke boundaries as the first African American player in Major League Baseball. But long before Jackie changed the world in a Dodger uniform, he did it in an army uniform.

As a soldier during World War II, Jackie experienced segregation every day--separate places for black soldiers to sit, to eat, and to live. When the army outlawed segregation on military posts and buses, things were supposed to change.

So when Jackie was ordered by a white bus driver to move to the back of a military bus, he refused. Instead of defending Jackie's rights, the military police took him to trial. But Jackie would stand up for what was right, even when it was difficult to do.

This nonfiction picture book is a strong choice for sharing at home or in the classroom--as Booklist noted: "A story that will appeal to both baseball fans and those looking for an interesting way to highlight lesser-known aspects of the fight for civil rights."

With an author's note, a timeline, bibliography, and more, this book offers helpful resources for readers, teachers, and librarians to find out more about Jackie Robinson and the history of civil rights in the US.

Review Quotes

"Powerfully illustrates that this groundbreaking American icon's commitment to equality did not begin or end with baseball--his courage was a lifelong trait." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"It's nice to have an athlete celebrated for personal integrity over physical prowess, and R. Gregory Christie's pictures bolster this, evoking a Robinson who is strong and sure, but also smiling, warm, and ultimately, triumphant." -- New York Times Book Review

"A story that will appeal to both baseball fans and those looking for an interesting way to highlight lesser-known aspects of the fight for civil rights." -- Booklist

"A worthy addition." -- School Library Journal

"[A] well-told biography...complemented by Christie's dramatic expressionistic...illustrations" -- The Horn Book

Praise for SNORING BEAUTY: "Fun for reading aloud, and children will be happy to help with the multiple snoring sounds." -- Booklist

"A good choice for reading aloud." -- School Library Journal

Praise for HAMPIRE!: "Building suspense and a sense of nocturnal dread, Bardhan-Quallen's (The Hog Prince) rhymes are filled with puns ('"We're sitting ducks," the duck announced'), and the antics of the frantic duck and the animals he rouses should have readers laughing." -- Publishers Weekly

"Kids will feast on this deliciously scary tale over and over." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Fine's paintings exaggerate the animals' terror to comic effect (funniest is the pony cowering in the corner), and his canted angles give this just the right absurdist tone." -- ALA Booklist