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9th out of 101 books
—
3 voters
Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins
When four courageous black teens sat down at a lunch counter in the segregated South of 1960, the reverberations were felt both far beyond and close to home. This insightful story offers a child's-eye view of this seminal event in the American Civil Rights Movement. Connie is used to the signs and customs that have let her drink only from certain water fountains and which...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
December 29th 2004
by Dial
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Based on the famous 1960 Greensboro Sit-In at Woolworth's in Greensboro, North Carolina, Freedom on the Menu authored by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue is a personal, kid-friendly depiction of a key event in the Civil Rights Movement through a picture book. This simple story is told from the point of view of 8-year-old Connie who is confronted with the harsh reality of segregation when she sees a white girl sitting at the lunch counter at Woolworth's enjoying a ba...more
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This is the story of the Greensboro, North Carolina sit-ins, a peaceful protest of the lack of equal rights for African Americans in the US in the 1960s. The protagonist is a young girl, and seems to be between 8-10 years old. The story starts with Connie and her mother at a local store snack counter where they are not allowed to sit down with the white patrons. Connie and her family go to hear Dr. King speak at their church, and her brother and sister join the NAACP. They eventually get involve...more
This story is based on the sit-ins at Woolworths in Greensboro, North Carolina. It follows a young African-American girl named Connie who is shopping downtown with her mother. She notices the segregation between blacks and whites in her town. There are different water fountains, bathrooms, and an only whites lunch counter. "All over town, signs told Mama and me where we could and couldn't go." She wishes she could sit and enjoy eating a banana split at the counter. Her brother and sister partici...more
The civil rights movement was pivotal in our history, this should not have to be stated. However, most students learn about it only in passing, as the history curriculum in schools still tends to end just after WWII. Even treating this through picture books is better than that.
This book, featuring a young girl whose socially active brother and sister participated in the sit-ins, signed people up to vote, and got arrested for their troubles, takes a good look at the Greensboro sit-ins. I like how...more
This book, featuring a young girl whose socially active brother and sister participated in the sit-ins, signed people up to vote, and got arrested for their troubles, takes a good look at the Greensboro sit-ins. I like how...more
Grade/Interest Level:Upper Elementary
Lexile Level: 660 L
Genre: Historical Fiction
Main Characters: Connie
Setting:Greensboro, North Carolina
POV: Connie
This story is told through the eyes of eight year old Connie who lives in Greensboro, North Carolina in the 1960’s. She describes how she isn’t able to sit at the counter at the diner because she was African Americans and that everyone obeyed the rules. When Dr, King visits and tells the people about peace and equality, people begin to stand up or...more
Lexile Level: 660 L
Genre: Historical Fiction
Main Characters: Connie
Setting:Greensboro, North Carolina
POV: Connie
This story is told through the eyes of eight year old Connie who lives in Greensboro, North Carolina in the 1960’s. She describes how she isn’t able to sit at the counter at the diner because she was African Americans and that everyone obeyed the rules. When Dr, King visits and tells the people about peace and equality, people begin to stand up or...more
All young Connie wants to do is sit at the counter at the diner and enjoy a banana split. But African Americans aren't allowed to sit at the counter. It is 1960 and Greensboro, North Carolina is on the verge of change. After Dr. King visits, preaching to people about peace and equality, Connie's siblings join the NAACP. She wants to go to the protests, but stays home because she is young and watches on TV. Her brother is part of the sit-ins at the lunch counter. And, at the end of the story, the...more
Grade/interest level: Primary
Reading level: AD660L
Genre: historical fiction
Main Characters: Connie
Setting: Greensboro, North Carolina, 60s
POV: first person
Set in Greenboro, North Carolina, at the center of the Greensboro sit-ins, fictional Connie and her mother experience the wave of college students who sit-in at Woolworth's Diner to protest segregation. As her older sister is arrested for participating, Connie and her family begin to realize the sacrifice that is ultimately necessary to sup...more
Reading level: AD660L
Genre: historical fiction
Main Characters: Connie
Setting: Greensboro, North Carolina, 60s
POV: first person
Set in Greenboro, North Carolina, at the center of the Greensboro sit-ins, fictional Connie and her mother experience the wave of college students who sit-in at Woolworth's Diner to protest segregation. As her older sister is arrested for participating, Connie and her family begin to realize the sacrifice that is ultimately necessary to sup...more
Genre:
Number of Pages:
Grade Level or Age: 1st-3rd
Themes:
Civil Rights Movement
Summary:
Connie, an eight year old African American girl loves to go to shopping with her mom every week! She always looks forward to having a coke at a local restraunt but sometimes, she wishes she could have a banana split like the little girl sitting at the counter. At the time, she did not realize why she and her mom always stand while having their coke or never use the same facilities as the white people...more
Number of Pages:
Grade Level or Age: 1st-3rd
Themes:
Civil Rights Movement
Summary:
Connie, an eight year old African American girl loves to go to shopping with her mom every week! She always looks forward to having a coke at a local restraunt but sometimes, she wishes she could have a banana split like the little girl sitting at the counter. At the time, she did not realize why she and her mom always stand while having their coke or never use the same facilities as the white people...more
Grades 2-8
This fictionalized story depicts the events surrounding the Greensboro Sit-Ins in a way that is particularly well-suited for children of a wide age range. Through the main character's eyes, many questions are answered. Although Connie is too young to directly participate in the protests, she helps make signs. It is effective to answer contemporary children’s' questions through the questions that she asks the adults around her. Also commendable is the recognition that some white people...more
This fictionalized story depicts the events surrounding the Greensboro Sit-Ins in a way that is particularly well-suited for children of a wide age range. Through the main character's eyes, many questions are answered. Although Connie is too young to directly participate in the protests, she helps make signs. It is effective to answer contemporary children’s' questions through the questions that she asks the adults around her. Also commendable is the recognition that some white people...more
Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-ins is appropriate for children in grades 1-4. It could also serve as an anchor text for older readers. The illustrator, Jerome Lagarrigue, is a recipient of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award for his work in Freedom Summer
This text explains the Greensboro Sit-ins in a way that is accessible to children. The story is told from the perspective of a young girl named Connie. The opening scene of the book shows Connie and her mother standing...more
This text explains the Greensboro Sit-ins in a way that is accessible to children. The story is told from the perspective of a young girl named Connie. The opening scene of the book shows Connie and her mother standing...more
February, 1960: Four African-American young men college students asked to be served at the lunch counter at Woolworths in Greensboro, NC. They were breaking the social codes that constrained African Americans for too long. The narrator of this book is a young African American girl who tries to make sense of the fact that change is indeed coming.
Lovely illustrations and a good recounting of the event that began sit-ins in the South and all over.
Bonus: I went to college in Greensboro and had a h...more
Lovely illustrations and a good recounting of the event that began sit-ins in the South and all over.
Bonus: I went to college in Greensboro and had a h...more
A little girl growing up under segregation with a family willing to start change, Connie sees the Civil Rights movement come to her town in the form of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, the Greensboro Four, even her elderly aunt who disregards separate drinking fountains because, “I’m too old for silly rules.” Sometimes stories inspire and depress the read all at once. The generations-long tradition of prejudice is tragic but the bravery of those who were willing to risk everything is beyond inspirati...more
The author does an excellent job of setting the stage for the sit ins-- what happened before and what happened following the sit ins, and is age appropriate for 3rd grade and above. The illustrations are beautiful and compliment the text. At the end of the book, she provides more background information including original statements from the men who started the sit in. The book also highlights the fact that the first blacks to sit at the counter and be served were the black women who had worked i...more
First of all, I loved the illustrations in this picture book, by Jerome Lagarrigue. The story is well-written as well! Eight year old Connie is too young to participate in the sit-ins and protest marches that her older brothers and sisters participate in, but she understands the injustice of not being able to sit at the Woolworth's lunch counter to eat an ice cream sundae when she's shopping with her mom. The book presents a powerful movement seen through a child's point of view. In the Author's...more
Connie likes to shop downtown with her mother. When they feel tired and hot, they stop in at Woolworth's for a cool drink, but stand as they sip their sodas since African Americans aren't allowed to sit at the lunch counter. Connie wants to sit down and have a banana split, but she can't, and she grumbles that, "All over town, signs told Mama and me where we could and couldn't go." When her father says that Dr. King is coming to town, she asks, "Who's sick?" She watches as her brother and sister...more
It is hard to believe that people could get in trouble for ordering a donut and coffee at a lunch counter, but that is just what happened in the early 1960s when African-American college students came looking for a snack. As the story unfolds, readers will see just how brave these students were in asking for their donut, and how unimaginably they were treated. This book completely shows how Dr. Martin Luther King's call to nonviolence was carried out by his followers. Through their dignity, they...more
"Freedom on the Menu: the Greensboro Sit-Ins" is a great read aloud for children who are just beginning to learn about the Civil Rights Movement. The story is told from the perspective of a young black girl named Connie. Connie and her mother like to go shopping in downtown Greensboro each week, but are not allowed to enjoy the same priveledges as the white people they encounter. The story helps children to learn who Dr. Martin Luther King is and gives insight into what the NAACP does. Read to f...more
This book is a great black history month book. It talks about the Greensboro Sit in-s in a parallel story told by a girl who does not understand what is going on. The great thing about this book is it crosses several subjects. I used this book for Reading and to further study predictions, I also used this book for Social Studies because it talked about signifcant events that took place in our country decades ago. The students were shocked at how things were back then and wanted to keep reading s...more
This book tells the story of the Greensboro sit-ins which happened in North Carolina from the perspective of a young black girl. This book shows white allies, Martin Luther King Jr. and historical events from the 1960’s. The illustrations are beautiful paintings that bleed on the page. Themes in this book are human rights, standing up for your rights and working together. This book could be used for a history lesson, you could read it and have the students research the actual events that this bo...more
Freedom on the Menu is an excellent historical fiction picture book about the 1960 Greensboro Sit-Ins. The story is told from eight-year-old Connie's point of view. Her family is both involved in and affected by the protests and changes taking place during this historic time. The book not only hooks readers in to the drama and significance of the Sit Ins, it also explains various aspects of the situation seamlessly and well.
Historical; 2005; Notable Social Studies Trade Book
Historical; 2005; Notable Social Studies Trade Book
In this book, an African American girl describes the segregated lifestyle of Greensboro, North Carolina at the start of the Civil Rights Movement. She and her brothers join the NAACP after Martin Luther King, Jr. makes a speech there, and she helps them make signs. One day, she and her mother witness the sit-in at Woolworth’s counter which starts protests in Greensboro. Eventually, she and her family are able to eat together at Woolworths just like the whites.
A really great tool to explain sit-ins during the civil rights crusade to your young children. The illustrations are warm and personable and the characters and text are alive with history. Not too scary for little ones either, which some of these books, of necessity, are. Writing a peppy version of segregation is about a easy as writing a softened version of the Holocaust!
This book shows a child's perspective of the Civil Rights Movement. The child sees four high school African-American boys sit down at the white's only counter at a restaurant and refuses to get up.
I would use this book to help teach about the events that occurred during the Civil Rights Movement and to teach the lesson to believe and stand up for what you believe in.
I would use this book to help teach about the events that occurred during the Civil Rights Movement and to teach the lesson to believe and stand up for what you believe in.
I liked this one because it's about a big event that doesn't always get as much press coverage as some of the other events of the Civil Rights movement. I liked that it was told from the perspective of a little girl who's big brother was involved in the sit ins and the art work seemed to soften the harshness of the descriptions.
this book will make you and your students hungry for more...gratitude that the american civil rights movement rought so many changes in our society. This book is about 4 black students who sit down at a lunch counter to eat. It is a book about courage and change.great for social studies with literacy intergration.
A picture book about the sit-ins at the Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1960. This book features beautiful paintings by Jerome Lagarrigue. Told from an eight-year-old African American girl's point-of-view, this book is perfect for younger students learning about this historic event.
Great in that my 9 year old really into the nuance of the stories and events of that time. It was a welcome change for something to read around MLK day that included him and his legacy, showed the highly organized aspect of the civil rights movement, and inspired my kid.
civil rights movement, sits-in, protest
Connie helps make sign for Equaylity now. She always wonders about the equality between colors and non-colors people. She has a chance to witness a protest group called Sits-ins.
Connie helps make sign for Equaylity now. She always wonders about the equality between colors and non-colors people. She has a chance to witness a protest group called Sits-ins.
My 6 year-old has been asking about Martin Luther King day and we have started talking about the civil right movement and reading books from the library. This one is a little long for his age, but a good one.
This title was part of our Superheroes Read program. Well-written historical fiction, beautifully illustrated. My 3rd graders have enjoyed it as a Read Aloud the past two years!
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