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Picture Book Biography
A Picture Book of Thurgood Marshall
Follows the life of the first African American to serve as a judge on the United States Supreme Court.
32 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1997
About the author
David A. Adler
407 books206 followersDavid Abraham Adler is an American children's author. He was born in New York City, New York in 1947. He graduated from Queens College in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics and education. For the next nine years, he worked as a mathematics teacher for the New York City Board of Education, while taking classes towards a master's degree in marketing, a degree he was awarded by New York University in 1971. In that same year, a question from his then-three-year-old nephew inspired Adler to write his first story, A Little at a Time, subsequently published by Random House in 1976. Adler's next project, a series of math books, drew on his experience as a math teacher. In 1977, he created his most famous character, Cam Jansen, originally featured in Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, which was published that year.
Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career.
Adler's son, Michael S. Adler, is now the co-author of several books with his father, including A Picture Book of Sam Adams, A Picture Book of John Hancock, and A Picture Book of James and Dolly Madison. Another son, Edward, was the inspiration for Adler's Andy Russell series, with the events described in the series loosely based on adventures the Adler family had with Edward's enthusiasm and his pets.
As of November 2008, Adler has three sons and two grandsons. He lives in Woodmere, New York.
(source: Wikipedia)
Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career.
Adler's son, Michael S. Adler, is now the co-author of several books with his father, including A Picture Book of Sam Adams, A Picture Book of John Hancock, and A Picture Book of James and Dolly Madison. Another son, Edward, was the inspiration for Adler's Andy Russell series, with the events described in the series loosely based on adventures the Adler family had with Edward's enthusiasm and his pets.
As of November 2008, Adler has three sons and two grandsons. He lives in Woodmere, New York.
(source: Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 5, 2017
Andrea Thomas
12/04/2017
Self to World Connection
Just to look at what they went through back in the past to see what we are still going thorugh in the present. We are still dealing with segeration. When you walk down the street or go into a store the owners look at you differently as if you are going to steal and when walking down the street some people still move to the side so that they don't have to brush up against you. We are still living in hate and dealing with immigration as well as slavery with our minds. We pray that we better ourselves but we don't when we don't educate ourselves. They believed in going to school back then and bettering themselves now days we are happy just staying in our little rut but not me I want better and will get better
12/04/2017
Self to World Connection
Just to look at what they went through back in the past to see what we are still going thorugh in the present. We are still dealing with segeration. When you walk down the street or go into a store the owners look at you differently as if you are going to steal and when walking down the street some people still move to the side so that they don't have to brush up against you. We are still living in hate and dealing with immigration as well as slavery with our minds. We pray that we better ourselves but we don't when we don't educate ourselves. They believed in going to school back then and bettering themselves now days we are happy just staying in our little rut but not me I want better and will get better
February 12, 2019
A Picture Book of Thurgood Marshall is a children's picture book written by David A. Adler and illustrated by Robert Casilla. It is a cursory and succulent biography about the early life and career of Thurgood Marshall.
February, at least in my part of the world is Black History Month, which I plan to read one children's book, particularly a biography, which pertains to the subject everyday this month. I also finished reading his biography today, so, I thought that this book would be apropos.
Thurgood Marshall was an American lawyer, serving as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from October 1967 until October 1991. Marshall was the Court's 96th justice and its first African-American justice. Prior to his judicial service, he successfully argued several cases before the Supreme Court, including Brown v. Board of Education.
Adler's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. It is a succulent biography of Thurgood Marshall from his childhood and highlights many of his career milestones from his days as a lawyer and then later a justice on the Supreme Court. Casilla's illustrations are wonderfully drawn and depicted the narrative rather well.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It shows the childhood of Thurgood Marshall and the lessons he learned that shaped him to be the man he would become. It also highlights his many career successes and milestones first as a lawyer and then as the first Black Justice on the Supreme Court.
All in all, A Picture Book of Thurgood Marshall is a wonderful brief biography about an amazing icon in Thurgood Marshall.
February, at least in my part of the world is Black History Month, which I plan to read one children's book, particularly a biography, which pertains to the subject everyday this month. I also finished reading his biography today, so, I thought that this book would be apropos.
Thurgood Marshall was an American lawyer, serving as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from October 1967 until October 1991. Marshall was the Court's 96th justice and its first African-American justice. Prior to his judicial service, he successfully argued several cases before the Supreme Court, including Brown v. Board of Education.
Adler's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. It is a succulent biography of Thurgood Marshall from his childhood and highlights many of his career milestones from his days as a lawyer and then later a justice on the Supreme Court. Casilla's illustrations are wonderfully drawn and depicted the narrative rather well.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It shows the childhood of Thurgood Marshall and the lessons he learned that shaped him to be the man he would become. It also highlights his many career successes and milestones first as a lawyer and then as the first Black Justice on the Supreme Court.
All in all, A Picture Book of Thurgood Marshall is a wonderful brief biography about an amazing icon in Thurgood Marshall.
October 2, 2020
A very good basic book for young children on the life and accomplishments of Thurgood Marshall. Recommended.
April 8, 2025
Good, detailed biography covering Thurgood Marshall’s life. May be too advanced for young readers as it is very informative.
April 2, 2011
Sometimes it can be hard to separate one’s personal recollections from the subject matter within a picture book. I found this to be true with Adler’s picture book of Thurgood Marshall. After many years working in the legal profession, I immediately recognized Supreme Court Justice Marshall among those picture book biographies available. I found myself becoming overwhelmed and crying, however, upon my first reading of this book. Yes, the illustrations convey to a large degree Justice Marshall’s intensity and studious nature. These beautifully painted, often full-page sized illustrations, range from the entire family seated on living room furniture with father William Marshall reading to his two sons, his mother seated nearby, to the two-page illustration with NAACP lead lawyer Thurgood Marshall standing in the middle of the room at the podium facing the Supreme Court Justices, presenting his first oral argument before the Supreme Court Justices in the Supreme Court courtroom. In this last illustration only Thurgood’s face is clearly portrayed, whereas the faces of the other attorneys are less detailed. In the background the large number of people in attendance are not given clear visages, adding to his presence and the drama of that moment and experience in time.
Since I grew up during this era, you can imagine my surprise when I was moved to tears at the beauty of this story. Just young enough perhaps to have missed segregation..
Since I grew up during this era, you can imagine my surprise when I was moved to tears at the beauty of this story. Just young enough perhaps to have missed segregation..
November 10, 2012
Grade/interest level: 3-5
Reading level: 5.5 lexile 860L
Genre: Biography
Main Characters: Thurgood Marshall
Setting: Various places throughout Thurgood Marshall’s life
POV: 3rd pov
A Picture Book of Thurgood Marshall is a biographical account of the life of the first African American Supreme Court Justice Judge. This story begins when Thurgood was a child. He was a mischief maker who often got into trouble. Whenever he was caught misbehaving, he was required to read and memorize a portion of the constitution. The story goes on to describe the great influence Thurgood’s father had on him. As an adult, Thurgood worked tirelessly for the NAACP fighting racial injustice cases. He helped win the legendary case Brown v. the Board of Education that ended segregation in schools.
I would teach this book in my class because it is in a picture book format which makes the biographical content more accessible to students. I think it is important for students to put a face to the very important pieces of policy and legislation that governs their schooling. It is also a great story that can inspire students to see themselves as capable of reaching goals others may not expect of them to achieve.
Reading level: 5.5 lexile 860L
Genre: Biography
Main Characters: Thurgood Marshall
Setting: Various places throughout Thurgood Marshall’s life
POV: 3rd pov
A Picture Book of Thurgood Marshall is a biographical account of the life of the first African American Supreme Court Justice Judge. This story begins when Thurgood was a child. He was a mischief maker who often got into trouble. Whenever he was caught misbehaving, he was required to read and memorize a portion of the constitution. The story goes on to describe the great influence Thurgood’s father had on him. As an adult, Thurgood worked tirelessly for the NAACP fighting racial injustice cases. He helped win the legendary case Brown v. the Board of Education that ended segregation in schools.
I would teach this book in my class because it is in a picture book format which makes the biographical content more accessible to students. I think it is important for students to put a face to the very important pieces of policy and legislation that governs their schooling. It is also a great story that can inspire students to see themselves as capable of reaching goals others may not expect of them to achieve.
August 22, 2014
I love these picture book biographies by David Adler. He does a wonderful job not only presenting the information in a memorable way but making his subjects seem like real people. Thurgood Marshall was the first African-American to serve on the Supreme Court and a fascinating, determined man championing for Civil Right at a pivotal time in our nation’s history. This is a fantastic book to read with students during Black History Month or any time.
Read
August 20, 2013The book is about the life of Thurgood Marshall. I realized that at a very young age he was really interested in becoming a judge. He went to night school at another school to get more education to help him on the future. The picture that stuck out to me the most was that he was having a rough time with his family at a young age.
February 20, 2014
It's a great telling of the life of Thurgood Marshall, and a book all children should read. It's interesting with great illustrations and I highly recommend it.
View my full review at http://100childrensbooks.blogspot.com/
View my full review at http://100childrensbooks.blogspot.com/
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews