James Meredith and the University of Mississippi

Gr 3–6—For such slim volumes, the content of this set on the civil rights movement is remarkably thorough. Each title begins with the basics of the event or case in question, drawing readers in with details that give the history immediacy, such as the Southern drawl of the bigoted driver who told Rosa Parks to go to the back of the bus and Elizabeth Eckford's careful grooming for the first day of school. Each book goes on to describe issues that led up to the event in question, as well as its impact. A "Stop and Think" feature sums up each volume with questions designed to foster critical thinking skills and empathy. The illustrations consist of 19th-century paintings of plantation life and 20th-century photographs. Many of the images, such as one portraying a snarling German shepherd police dog attacking a young black man, depict the intensity of the events.