The Story of Ruby Bridges - by Robert Coles

About the Book

A Pulitzer Prize-winning author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning illustrator bring to life the true story of an extraordinary six-year-old who helped shape American history when she became the first African-American sent to first grade in an all white school. This moving picture book captures the courage of a little girl standing alone in the face of racism. Full color.

Book Synopsis

The inspirational true story of Ruby Bridges.

The year is 1960, and six-year-old Ruby Bridges and her family have recently moved from Mississippi to New Orleans in search of a better life. When a judge orders Ruby to attend first grade at William Frantz Elementary, an all-white school, Ruby must face angry mobs of parents who refuse to send their children to school with her. Told with Robert Coles' powerful narrative and dramatically illustrated by George Ford, Ruby's story of courage, faith, and hope continues to resonate more than 60 years later.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Story of Ruby Bridges

"Ford's moving watercolour paintings... capture the physical warmth of Ruby's family and community, the immense powers against her, and her shining inner strength." -- Booklist

About the Author

Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for volumes two and three of the five-volume work Children of Crisis, Robert Coles is the author of many distinguished books for adults. A research psychiatrist at Harvard University, Dr. Coles lives outside Boston, Massachusetts.
George Ford has illustrated many acclaimed books for children, including Ray Charles by Sharon Bell Mathis, winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, and Paul Robeson by Eloise Greenfield, winner of the Jane Addams Children's Book Award. Mr. Ford lives with his wife and daughter in Brooklyn, New York.