Saturday, December 4, 2021

Without Separation by Larry Dane Brimner and Maya Gonzalez - ADVISABLE

Without Separation: Prejudice, segregation, and the case of Roberto Alvarez by Larry Dane Brimner, illustrated by Maya Gonzalez
. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Calkins Creek (BoydsMill), 2021. $19. 9781684371952 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

The school board of Lemon Grove Grammar School decided that children of Mexican heritage were dragging down their test scores, so unbeknownst to most of the community, they had a wooden shack built to only serve the Mexican community. The parents of the children turned away from Lemon Grove got the backing they needed to take the case to the courts in San Diego, where the school district lost and the children were welcomed back to Lemon Grove. 

While the book may not attract a lot of casual readers, in terms of importance Brimner has found an important history story that needs to be shared – especially in light of all the ways racism is again playing too big a part in education. Because we use picture books so much in my middle school, I will definitely have this one on hand. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

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