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Ordinary People Change the World
I Am Strong: A Little Book about Rosa Parks
The littlest readers can learn about Rosa Parks in this board book version of the
New York Times
bestselling Ordinary People Change the World biography.
This friendly, fun biography series focuses on the traits that made our heroes great--the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live heroically themselves. In this new board book format, the very youngest readers can learn about one of America's icons in the series's signature lively, conversational way. The short text focuses on drawing inspiration from these iconic heroes, and includes an interactive element and factual tidbits that young kids will be able to connect with. This volume tells the story of Rosa Parks, the woman who ignited a civil rights movement.
This friendly, fun biography series focuses on the traits that made our heroes great--the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live heroically themselves. In this new board book format, the very youngest readers can learn about one of America's icons in the series's signature lively, conversational way. The short text focuses on drawing inspiration from these iconic heroes, and includes an interactive element and factual tidbits that young kids will be able to connect with. This volume tells the story of Rosa Parks, the woman who ignited a civil rights movement.
12 pages, Board Book
First published July 2, 2020
8 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Brad Meltzer
321 books7,209 followersBrad Meltzer is the Emmy-nominated, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lightning Rod, The Escape Artist, and eleven other bestselling thrillers. He also writes non-fiction books like The JFK Conspiracy, about a secret plot to kill JFK before he was sworn in – and the Ordinary People Change the World kids book series, which he does with Chris Eliopoulos and inspired the PBS KIDS TV show, Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. His newest kids books are We are the Beatles, We are the Beatles, and I am Simone Biles. His newest inspirational book is Make Magic, based on his viral commencement address.
In addition to his fiction, Brad is one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for Non-Fiction (The Nazi Conspiracy), Advice (Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), Children’s Books (I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln) and even comic books (Justice League of America), for which he won the prestigious Eisner Award.
He is also the host of Brad Meltzer’s Lost History and Brad Meltzer’s Decoded on the History Channel, and is responsible for helping find the missing 9/11 flag that the firefighters raised at Ground Zero, making national news on the 15th anniversary of 9/11. Meltzer unveiled the flag at the 9/11 Museum in New York, where it is now on display. See the video here. The Hollywood Reporter recently put him on their list of Hollywood’s 25 Most Powerful Authors.
He also recently delivered the commencement address at the University of Michigan, in front of 70,000 people, including his graduating son. Entitled Make Magic and called “one of the best commencement addresses of all time,” it’s been shared millions of times across social media. Do yourself a favor, watch it here and buy the book here.
For sure, it’s tough to find anyone being so successful in so many different mediums of the popular culture. But why does Brad thrive in all these different professions? His belief that ordinary people change the world. It is that core belief that runs through every one of his projects.
His newest thriller, The Lightning Rod, brings back characters Nola and Zig in a setting that will blow your mind (you won't believe where the government let Brad go). For now, we'll say this: What's the one secret no one knows about you? It's about to come out. Nearly 2,000 five-star reviews. Raves by everyone from the Wall Street Journal, to James Patterson, to Brad's mother-in-law. Plus that twist at the end! And yes, the new Zig & Nola thriller is coming soon!
His newest non-fiction book, The JFK Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Kennedy -- and Why It Failed, which he wrote with Josh Mensch, is a true story about a secret assassination plot to kill JFK at the start of his Presidency and, if successful, would’ve changed history.
His illustrated children’s books I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln, which he does with artist Chris Eliopoulos, were written for his own children, to give them better heroes to look up to. Try them. You won’t believe how inspired you and your family will be. Some of our favorites in the series are I am Mister Rogers and I am Dolly Parton.
His other non-fiction books, Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter, are collections of heroes – from Jim Henson to Sally Ride — that he’s been working on since the day his kids were born and is on sale now, as well as History Decoded: The 10 Greatest Conspiracies of All Time.
He’s also one of the co-creators of the TV show, Jack & Bobby.
Raised in Brooklyn and Miami, Brad is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School. The Tenth Justice was his first published work and became an instant New York Times bestseller. Dead Even followed a year later and also hit the New York Times bestseller list, as have all thirteen of his novels. The First Counsel came next, which was about a White House lawyer dating the President’s daughter, then The Millionaires, which was about two brothers who
In addition to his fiction, Brad is one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for Non-Fiction (The Nazi Conspiracy), Advice (Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), Children’s Books (I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln) and even comic books (Justice League of America), for which he won the prestigious Eisner Award.
He is also the host of Brad Meltzer’s Lost History and Brad Meltzer’s Decoded on the History Channel, and is responsible for helping find the missing 9/11 flag that the firefighters raised at Ground Zero, making national news on the 15th anniversary of 9/11. Meltzer unveiled the flag at the 9/11 Museum in New York, where it is now on display. See the video here. The Hollywood Reporter recently put him on their list of Hollywood’s 25 Most Powerful Authors.
He also recently delivered the commencement address at the University of Michigan, in front of 70,000 people, including his graduating son. Entitled Make Magic and called “one of the best commencement addresses of all time,” it’s been shared millions of times across social media. Do yourself a favor, watch it here and buy the book here.
For sure, it’s tough to find anyone being so successful in so many different mediums of the popular culture. But why does Brad thrive in all these different professions? His belief that ordinary people change the world. It is that core belief that runs through every one of his projects.
His newest thriller, The Lightning Rod, brings back characters Nola and Zig in a setting that will blow your mind (you won't believe where the government let Brad go). For now, we'll say this: What's the one secret no one knows about you? It's about to come out. Nearly 2,000 five-star reviews. Raves by everyone from the Wall Street Journal, to James Patterson, to Brad's mother-in-law. Plus that twist at the end! And yes, the new Zig & Nola thriller is coming soon!
His newest non-fiction book, The JFK Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Kennedy -- and Why It Failed, which he wrote with Josh Mensch, is a true story about a secret assassination plot to kill JFK at the start of his Presidency and, if successful, would’ve changed history.
His illustrated children’s books I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln, which he does with artist Chris Eliopoulos, were written for his own children, to give them better heroes to look up to. Try them. You won’t believe how inspired you and your family will be. Some of our favorites in the series are I am Mister Rogers and I am Dolly Parton.
His other non-fiction books, Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter, are collections of heroes – from Jim Henson to Sally Ride — that he’s been working on since the day his kids were born and is on sale now, as well as History Decoded: The 10 Greatest Conspiracies of All Time.
He’s also one of the co-creators of the TV show, Jack & Bobby.
Raised in Brooklyn and Miami, Brad is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School. The Tenth Justice was his first published work and became an instant New York Times bestseller. Dead Even followed a year later and also hit the New York Times bestseller list, as have all thirteen of his novels. The First Counsel came next, which was about a White House lawyer dating the President’s daughter, then The Millionaires, which was about two brothers who
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 27, 2021
We read a few books in his series and I am so impressed! The artwork is great and the content is well written and easy to understand for young readers. I’m so excited to read the books on Jim Henson and others.
June 30, 2020
missed a ton herein... but... the author is...
shrug.
shrug.
November 26, 2023
It felt like this book was trying to avoid mentioning racism so as to avoid making kids become racist (like if the idea of racism was mentioned to them then they might become inspired to become racist themselves). I say this because, as other reviewers mentioned, the book never actually described the racial injustice and prejudice that African American people experienced during the Civil Rights Movement. The book loosely mentioned that people wanted her to sit at the back of the bus, but only did so through speech bubbles and didn’t actually explain this situation. Furthermore, it didn’t say *why* they wanted her to sit at the back of the bus.
I also find it problematic that they made her look like a child even though she was an adult when she did this act. The language she used didn’t feel appropriate for a child and I worry that it would teach kids to put themselves in potentially dangerous situations in the name of standing up for themselves while they are still too young to understand how to protect themselves or when and why to stand up for yourself.
I thought it was odd and inappropriate to bring in random concept learning throughout the book (asking if they could find the items with different colors), and it just seemed like a strange way to justify this biography being turned into a board book for young children (despite the content being way above their intellectual capabilities). The story rambled on with a series of good natured hopeful messages, but this was unnecessary and uninteresting.
Finally, I also get uncomfortable about the mass amounts of books that focus on Rosa Parks’ heroism when it was in fact Claudette Colvin who first refused to give up her seat on a public bus. Because she was an unwed teenage mother, this heroic figure was sidelined by the Civil Rights Movement leaders, and has been unfairly displaced from our history books.
I also find it problematic that they made her look like a child even though she was an adult when she did this act. The language she used didn’t feel appropriate for a child and I worry that it would teach kids to put themselves in potentially dangerous situations in the name of standing up for themselves while they are still too young to understand how to protect themselves or when and why to stand up for yourself.
I thought it was odd and inappropriate to bring in random concept learning throughout the book (asking if they could find the items with different colors), and it just seemed like a strange way to justify this biography being turned into a board book for young children (despite the content being way above their intellectual capabilities). The story rambled on with a series of good natured hopeful messages, but this was unnecessary and uninteresting.
Finally, I also get uncomfortable about the mass amounts of books that focus on Rosa Parks’ heroism when it was in fact Claudette Colvin who first refused to give up her seat on a public bus. Because she was an unwed teenage mother, this heroic figure was sidelined by the Civil Rights Movement leaders, and has been unfairly displaced from our history books.
July 25, 2020
In rhyming text, a mini Rosa Parks takes the reader on a bus ride with her. She points out what gives her pleasure, such as “people sharing laughs and love like my family does with me.” She asks the reader to seek and find items of different colors. I like that this series always shows the obstacles faced by the famous person, and how they persevered to accomplish great things. Here, little Rosa is seen standing her ground for the right to stay in her seat. The simple graphic art creates a gently caricatured Parks in miniature, which is both funny and cute.
The book does not explain that Parks’ obstacle was because of the color of her skin. This is a pretty big omission.
The book does not explain that Parks’ obstacle was because of the color of her skin. This is a pretty big omission.
August 31, 2020
I Am Strong: A Little Book About Rosa Parks is a fantastic addition to the Ordinary People Change the World series!
This is a small board book, perfect for little hands, and especially perfect for baby's first library!
The illustrations share Rosa Parks' iconic bus journey while the text shares inspirational and empowering messages.
Christopher Eliopoulos' cute age-appropriate illustrations help little listeners and early readers learn colors, history, and self-worth as well as give them a window or mirror into the world to imagine themselves in.
This is a small board book, perfect for little hands, and especially perfect for baby's first library!
The illustrations share Rosa Parks' iconic bus journey while the text shares inspirational and empowering messages.
Christopher Eliopoulos' cute age-appropriate illustrations help little listeners and early readers learn colors, history, and self-worth as well as give them a window or mirror into the world to imagine themselves in.
Read
October 25, 2020Very abbreviated story of Rosa Parks. The regular Ordinary People Change the World books are already fairly short, but this board book series is extremely simplistic. While the text length and bright colors are ideal for the intended age range, this one particularly misses the mark through essentially a two page story about Rosa Parks that misses pretty much everything. Books like Woke Baby and Antiracist Baby do a much better job of approaching tough topics in a way that still holds the attention of the very young.
January 11, 2021
The book was adorned with captivating illustrations and prompts to keep the youngest of readers engaged. Nonetheless, I did expect just a bit more from a little book with such a powerful title. All in all, I do appreciate the way in which this profound topic has been introduced to our toddlers-- through its presentation, the author allows the story to be elaborated upon over time.
July 7, 2020
The book focuses on holding your head high and not compromising yourself. I like the picture hunts, but it didn’t explain segregation or what Rosa Parks actually did to combat segregation. Definitely for kids who already know the story.
November 5, 2023
There were too many things going on in such a little board book: search and finds, take away lessons in boxes, and a throughline about the story of Rosa Parks, but not a direct conversation about racism and discrimination.
August 31, 2020
Copyright 2020
Genre: Children’s non-fiction literature. I enjoyed reading this book to my boys because there were interactive search and finds that captured their attention before leading into a meaningful conversation about “why” the people weren’t acting nicely to Rosa. I would use this book in my future classroom to promote equality.
Genre: Children’s non-fiction literature. I enjoyed reading this book to my boys because there were interactive search and finds that captured their attention before leading into a meaningful conversation about “why” the people weren’t acting nicely to Rosa. I would use this book in my future classroom to promote equality.
October 15, 2020
A book board version of Mr Meltzer's I am Rosa Park book. Introduce the younglins to this historical person in an easy manner.
October 30, 2020
The length was nice, but not really enough about what Rosa Parks did. The activities about finding colors seemed unnecessarily distracting.
September 27, 2021
The story is fine, but the added 'activities' to entertain your toddler are incongruous and a bit odd.
October 7, 2021
These tiny little books are amazing and the graphics are a joy.
December 9, 2021
A great resource for younger children! Brad Meltzer transforms his juvenile biography series into board books! Highly recommend. Simple books but complete lessons.
January 23, 2022
Doesn't really describe the bus story or talk about race/diversity, but good opportunity for discussion about either. Includes more color identification (find the blue sky) than anything else.
April 8, 2022
A lovely book!
Read
November 24, 2022Read aloud to River
February 7, 2025
Decent but much better author and book series:
Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara-Little People, Big Dreams
Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara-Little People, Big Dreams
April 25, 2021
This is a little book that is easy for the youngest readers to handle. It introduces them to Rosa Parks who is known as the Black woman who refused to move to the back of the bus, claiming her civil rights. It was a very braves thing to do.
[It has been thought that Rosa Parks was the first Black woman to do this, but Claudette Colvin, also a Black woman, did the same thing almost a year earlier but with less publicity.]
Nicely and simply illustrated.
[It has been thought that Rosa Parks was the first Black woman to do this, but Claudette Colvin, also a Black woman, did the same thing almost a year earlier but with less publicity.]
Nicely and simply illustrated.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews