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Mary McLeod Bethune
An overview of the life of the renowned educator highlights her determined efforts to create schools and expanded educational opportunities for black students
32 pages, Library Binding
First published April 1, 1977
About the author
Eloise Greenfield
75 books54 followersGreenfield was born Eloise Little in Parmele, North Carolina, and grew up in Washington, D.C., during the Great Depression in the Langston Terrace housing project, which provided a warm childhood experience for her.[1] She was the second oldest of five children of Weston W. Little and his wife Lessie Blanche (née Jones) Little (1906–1986). A shy and studious child, she loved music and took piano lessons.[2][3] Greenfield experienced racism first-hand in the segregated southern U.S., especially when she visited her grandparents in North Carolina and Virginia.[4] She graduated from Cardozo Senior High School in 1946 and attended Miner Teachers College until 1949. In her third year, however, she found that she was too shy to be a teacher and dropped out.[5]
Greenfield began work in the civil service at the U.S. Patent Office. In 1950, she married World War II veteran Robert J. Greenfield, a long-time friend. She began writing poetry and songs in the 1950s while working at the Patent Office, finally succeeding in getting her first poem published in the Hartford Times in 1962 after many years of writing and submitting poetry and stories.[6] After joining the District of Columbia Black Writers Workshop in 1971, she began to write books for children. She has published more than 40 children's books, including picture books, novels, poetry and biographies. She says that she seeks to "choose and order words that children will celebrate".[5][7]
Dismayed by the depiction of blacks and black communities in popular media, Greenfield has focused her work on realistic but positive portrayals of African-American communities, families and friendships.[1] These relationships are emphasized in Sister (1974) a young girl copes with the death of a parent with the help of other family members, Me and Nessie (1975) about best friends, My Daddy and I (1991) and Big Friend, Little Friend (1991) about mentoring.[5] Her first book, Bubbles (1972), "sets the tone for much of Greenfield's later work: Realistic portrayals of loving African American parents working hard to provide for their families, and the children who face life's challenges with a positive outlook."[1] In She Come Bringing Me that Little Baby Girl (1974), a boy deals with feelings of envy and learns to share his parents' love when his baby sister arrives. The poignant Alesia (1981) concerns the bravery of a girl handicapped by a childhood accident. Night on Neighborhood Street (1991) is a collection of poems depicting everyday life in an urban community. One of her best-known books, Honey I Love, first published in 1978, is a collection of poems for people of all ages concerning the daily lives and loving relationships of children and families. Her semi-autobiographical book Childtimes: A Three-Generation Memoir (1979) describes her happy childhood in a neighborhood with strong positive relationships.[5] In the introduction to that book, she explains her interest in biography:
People are a part of their time. They are affected, during the time that they live by the things that happen in their world. Big things and small things. A war, an invention such as radio or television, a birthday party, a kiss. All of these help to shape the present and the future. If we could know more about our ancestors, about the experiences they had when they were children, and after they had grown up, too, we would know much more about what has shaped us and our world.[8]
In 1971, Greenfield began work for the District of Columbia Black Writers' Workshop, as co-director of adult fiction and then, in 1973, as director of children's literature. That group's goal was to encourage the writing and publishing of African-American literature. She was writer-in-residence at the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities in 1985-86 and taught creative writing in schools under grants from the Commission. She has also lectured and given free workshops on writing of African-American children's
Greenfield began work in the civil service at the U.S. Patent Office. In 1950, she married World War II veteran Robert J. Greenfield, a long-time friend. She began writing poetry and songs in the 1950s while working at the Patent Office, finally succeeding in getting her first poem published in the Hartford Times in 1962 after many years of writing and submitting poetry and stories.[6] After joining the District of Columbia Black Writers Workshop in 1971, she began to write books for children. She has published more than 40 children's books, including picture books, novels, poetry and biographies. She says that she seeks to "choose and order words that children will celebrate".[5][7]
Dismayed by the depiction of blacks and black communities in popular media, Greenfield has focused her work on realistic but positive portrayals of African-American communities, families and friendships.[1] These relationships are emphasized in Sister (1974) a young girl copes with the death of a parent with the help of other family members, Me and Nessie (1975) about best friends, My Daddy and I (1991) and Big Friend, Little Friend (1991) about mentoring.[5] Her first book, Bubbles (1972), "sets the tone for much of Greenfield's later work: Realistic portrayals of loving African American parents working hard to provide for their families, and the children who face life's challenges with a positive outlook."[1] In She Come Bringing Me that Little Baby Girl (1974), a boy deals with feelings of envy and learns to share his parents' love when his baby sister arrives. The poignant Alesia (1981) concerns the bravery of a girl handicapped by a childhood accident. Night on Neighborhood Street (1991) is a collection of poems depicting everyday life in an urban community. One of her best-known books, Honey I Love, first published in 1978, is a collection of poems for people of all ages concerning the daily lives and loving relationships of children and families. Her semi-autobiographical book Childtimes: A Three-Generation Memoir (1979) describes her happy childhood in a neighborhood with strong positive relationships.[5] In the introduction to that book, she explains her interest in biography:
People are a part of their time. They are affected, during the time that they live by the things that happen in their world. Big things and small things. A war, an invention such as radio or television, a birthday party, a kiss. All of these help to shape the present and the future. If we could know more about our ancestors, about the experiences they had when they were children, and after they had grown up, too, we would know much more about what has shaped us and our world.[8]
In 1971, Greenfield began work for the District of Columbia Black Writers' Workshop, as co-director of adult fiction and then, in 1973, as director of children's literature. That group's goal was to encourage the writing and publishing of African-American literature. She was writer-in-residence at the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities in 1985-86 and taught creative writing in schools under grants from the Commission. She has also lectured and given free workshops on writing of African-American children's
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 10, 2025
Mary McLeod Bethune was one of the earliest heroines of my youth. This is a lovely retelling of her life, graced with Ms. Greenfield's lively illustrations.
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October 8, 2021An inspiring picture book biography about an outstanding black educator during the years following the Civil War. She worked her whole life to make the world a better place. As a child, she loved to read. As a woman, she loved to teach. She started a school; she founded a hospital. Everywhere she saw a need, she searched for a solution. The daughter of former enslaved Americans, Mary McLeod Bethune became one of the most important Black educators, civil and women's rights leaders, and government officials of the twentieth century.
This would be a good book to use for an English class, or if you are teaching the students about biographies. You could have the students choose a person to do a presentation on, and this could be a book they would use to get information about for their presentation. This could also be a good book to use for a history class. The students could read this book and do a timeline on history relating to dates in the book.
This would be a good book to use for an English class, or if you are teaching the students about biographies. You could have the students choose a person to do a presentation on, and this could be a book they would use to get information about for their presentation. This could also be a good book to use for a history class. The students could read this book and do a timeline on history relating to dates in the book.
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October 7, 2021This is a very inspirational book about a very inspirational woman, Mary McLeod Bethune. This book starts out by depicting Mary's early life and then goes into her accomplishments as an advocate for education. This is a great book to read to children in order to teach them about the first generation of blacks that were out of slavery.
March 25, 2019
Mary McLeod Bethune is simply an impressive person.
October 20, 2021
"I leave you faith, I leave you hope, I leave you love."
- Mary McLeod Bethune
- Mary McLeod Bethune
September 18, 2025
Dry but competent introduction to an important figure.
February 23, 2016
1978 Coretta Scott King author honor award.
Mary McLeod Bethune by Eloise Greenfield, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, published by HarperCollins (July 21, 1994).
For a younger audience than Mary McLeod Bethune by Malu Halasa.
A good introduction into Ms. Bethune's life. Perhaps the book could be combined into a unit about the first generation out of slavery. She was an amazing and inspirational person.
Series: Crowell Biographies
Age Range: 6 - 10 years
Grade Level: 1 - 4
Lexile Measure: 750L
Mary McLeod Bethune by Eloise Greenfield, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, published by HarperCollins (July 21, 1994).
For a younger audience than Mary McLeod Bethune by Malu Halasa.
A good introduction into Ms. Bethune's life. Perhaps the book could be combined into a unit about the first generation out of slavery. She was an amazing and inspirational person.
Series: Crowell Biographies
Age Range: 6 - 10 years
Grade Level: 1 - 4
Lexile Measure: 750L
May 10, 2015
"The drums of Africa still beat in my heart. They will not let me rest". And she did not. What a life of service to her people. The life of Mary McLeod Bethune is nothing short of miraculous - a woman, born of slaves, unable to read in her early years, going on to become the president of a college which she established. She is an inspiration. She is one of my inspirations. This book serves well as an introduction for young people to this remarkable woman.
March 24, 2013
This is a very inspirational book about a very inspirational woman, Mary McLeod Bethune. This book starts out by depicting Mary's early life and then goes into her accomplishments as an advocate for education. I would recommend this book, and think it would be a great story for children to read.
April 25, 2016
This is a picture book biography of Mary McLeod Bethune. I would have the students create a mock interview with Mary McLeod Bethune, during Black History Month.
September 11, 2016
interesting story. illustration is lacking tho
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews