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The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall’s Life, Leadership, and Legacy
A brilliant picture book biography about Thurgood Marshall, who fought for equality during the Civil Rights Movement and served as the first Black justice on the Supreme Court, from Coretta Scott King Honor winners Kekla Magoon and Laura Freeman. Growing up in Baltimore, Thurgood Marshall could see that things weren’t fair. The laws said that Black and white people couldn’t use the same schools, parks, or water fountains. When Thurgood had to read the Constitution as punishment for a prank at school, his eyes were opened. It was clear to him that Jim Crow laws were wrong, and he was willing to do whatever it took to change them. His determination to make sure all Americans were treated equally led him to law school and then the NAACP, where he argued cases like Brown v. Board of Education in front of the Supreme Court. But to become a Justice on the highest court in the land, Thurgood had to make space for himself every step of the way. Readers will be inspired by Kekla Magoon’s concise text and Laura Freeman’s luminous illustrations, which bring Thurgood Marshall’s incredible legacy and achievements to life. * An SLJ Best Book of the Year * A Bank Street Best Book of the Year * A Jane Addams Children's Book Award Finalist * A Texas Topaz Nonfiction Selection * Wisconsin State Reading Association’s 2022 Picture This Recommendation List * Indiana Authors Award Shortlist *
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 5, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
August 12, 2023
Excellent first book on Thurgood Marshall. It is so important for small children to read about people who have helped society move forward due to their commitment to equal justice for all. This book had just the right amount of information; timeline and list for further reading are provided in the back of the book.
October 13, 2021
I thought this did the job. To be honest, it lost a star mostly for the shape of the book. It’s going to be murder to shelve so will get relegated to some oversized shelf and forgotten. I also felt that there wasn’t enough to make kids reading it think, “hey, I could do that too.” The only thing that a child in the primary grades could relate to was the dislike of his name and apparently his parents agreement to let him change it. I think it gives an idea how remarkable Marshall was but it just didn’t make me go, “wow, that was amazing!” I’m curious to see if it’ll win any awards. I don’t think it will, but we will see if I have to eat my words. I think the illustrations are better than the text. I’m going to try some books in the biography. The back matter, with life and achievement timeline was really well done! Recommended…and if you can’t find it in the library, ask if they have an oversize shelf!
October 11, 2020
Wonderful biographical tribute with brilliant illustrations. Nice timeline of his life and landmark cases at the end.
November 17, 2022
It is all well and good for kids to be attracted to comic book superheroes, but Thurgood Marshall was every inch a superhero in real life, even without extraterrestrial powers. While some kids may recognize his name for his role as the first Black to serve on the US Supreme Court, most of Marshall’s incredible courage and trailblazing heroism dated from before that time.
As Gilbert King, one of Marshall’s biographers wrote in Devil in the Grove, by the mid-1940’s, Thurgood Marshall, the grandson of a mixed-race slave, “was engineering the greatest social transformation in American since the Reconstruction era.”
As a boy, Magoon writes, Thurgood loved learning about the law, but it also puzzled him:
“The nation’s Constitution says all people are equal, so how can segregation laws treat people differently? Thurgood wondered.”
He went to a Black college (not entirely by choice, but because of segregation policies) and joined the debate team, participating in the first interracial debate between US colleges in 1928. He went to Howard University Law School in DC after the University of Maryland’s law school said it would not admit Black students, but it had a good outcome. At Howard he was mentored by the great legal scholar Professor Charles Hamilton Houston. Thurgood graduated first in his class.
As a young lawyer, he fought the University of Maryland’s whites-only admission policy and won, resulting in the nation’s first court order to desegregate a school.
He took over as lead attorney for New York’s NAACP when Professor Houston retired from that role, gaining national recognition.
Thurgood Marshall and his colleagues in the Legal Defense Fund of the NAACP traveled throughout the South in the 1950’s, trying to fight white supremacy using the weapon of the Constitution. Marshall knew he could not win cases at the local or state level, so his goal became to establish firm grounds for appeals on record. If favorable rulings on equal protection could be obtained in higher courts, these precedents could then be used as additional building blocks for the rights of Blacks.
In fighting for justice for Blacks in the South, Thurgood was almost lynched himself; King’s book details the horrific threat to his life after Thurgood decided to defend the Groveland Boys in Florida, where there was a higher per capita lynching rate than Mississippi, Georgia, or Louisiana.
Thurgood’s most famous case was the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case which found school segregation was unconstitutional.
After Thurgood’s first wife died, he remarried a Filipina woman, even though it would be 12 more years until the Supreme Court struck down the ban on interracial marriages. Magoon observes, “Thurgood didn’t care what people thought.”
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy asked Thurgood to become a judge, thus beginning his judicial career. In 1967 President Lyndon Johnson nominated him to the US Supreme Court. Magoon writes:
“Thurgood Marshall was sworn in to the United States Supreme Court on October 2, 1967. He was no longer a young Black boy from Baltimore, limited by unjust laws. Now he was one of the people who made sure the laws were fair.”
He retired from the Supreme Court in 1991, and died in 1993 at age 84. Extensive back matter includes a timeline, description of major court cases, bibliography, and suggestions for further reading.
Prolific illustrator Laura Freeman enhances the narrative with bright, colorful, and historically accurate digital artwork.
Evaluation: There are few contemporary heroes more worth knowing about than Thurgood Marshall. While this book for kids age 4 and over focuses on the positive aspects of Thurgood’s story rather than, for example, the constant threats against his life and his many hair-raising escapes from death at the hands of white racists, it may inspire kids to look deeper into his biography. It does emphasize his unflagging dedication to others, and his unfailing good humor and optimism in the face of unrelenting efforts by whites to keep him down. His story is utterly amazing and inspirational, and as usual, Kekla Magoon excels at bringing stories of Black heroes to life.
Rating: 4.5/5
As Gilbert King, one of Marshall’s biographers wrote in Devil in the Grove, by the mid-1940’s, Thurgood Marshall, the grandson of a mixed-race slave, “was engineering the greatest social transformation in American since the Reconstruction era.”
As a boy, Magoon writes, Thurgood loved learning about the law, but it also puzzled him:
“The nation’s Constitution says all people are equal, so how can segregation laws treat people differently? Thurgood wondered.”
He went to a Black college (not entirely by choice, but because of segregation policies) and joined the debate team, participating in the first interracial debate between US colleges in 1928. He went to Howard University Law School in DC after the University of Maryland’s law school said it would not admit Black students, but it had a good outcome. At Howard he was mentored by the great legal scholar Professor Charles Hamilton Houston. Thurgood graduated first in his class.
As a young lawyer, he fought the University of Maryland’s whites-only admission policy and won, resulting in the nation’s first court order to desegregate a school.
He took over as lead attorney for New York’s NAACP when Professor Houston retired from that role, gaining national recognition.
Thurgood Marshall and his colleagues in the Legal Defense Fund of the NAACP traveled throughout the South in the 1950’s, trying to fight white supremacy using the weapon of the Constitution. Marshall knew he could not win cases at the local or state level, so his goal became to establish firm grounds for appeals on record. If favorable rulings on equal protection could be obtained in higher courts, these precedents could then be used as additional building blocks for the rights of Blacks.
In fighting for justice for Blacks in the South, Thurgood was almost lynched himself; King’s book details the horrific threat to his life after Thurgood decided to defend the Groveland Boys in Florida, where there was a higher per capita lynching rate than Mississippi, Georgia, or Louisiana.
Thurgood’s most famous case was the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case which found school segregation was unconstitutional.
After Thurgood’s first wife died, he remarried a Filipina woman, even though it would be 12 more years until the Supreme Court struck down the ban on interracial marriages. Magoon observes, “Thurgood didn’t care what people thought.”
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy asked Thurgood to become a judge, thus beginning his judicial career. In 1967 President Lyndon Johnson nominated him to the US Supreme Court. Magoon writes:
“Thurgood Marshall was sworn in to the United States Supreme Court on October 2, 1967. He was no longer a young Black boy from Baltimore, limited by unjust laws. Now he was one of the people who made sure the laws were fair.”
He retired from the Supreme Court in 1991, and died in 1993 at age 84. Extensive back matter includes a timeline, description of major court cases, bibliography, and suggestions for further reading.
Prolific illustrator Laura Freeman enhances the narrative with bright, colorful, and historically accurate digital artwork.
Evaluation: There are few contemporary heroes more worth knowing about than Thurgood Marshall. While this book for kids age 4 and over focuses on the positive aspects of Thurgood’s story rather than, for example, the constant threats against his life and his many hair-raising escapes from death at the hands of white racists, it may inspire kids to look deeper into his biography. It does emphasize his unflagging dedication to others, and his unfailing good humor and optimism in the face of unrelenting efforts by whites to keep him down. His story is utterly amazing and inspirational, and as usual, Kekla Magoon excels at bringing stories of Black heroes to life.
Rating: 4.5/5
April 29, 2022
This is the perfect book to get to know Thurgood Marshall! The text is ideally age-appropriate. His entire life fits into this short book. I like how this slightly misbehaving youth was told to read the Constitution of the United States as punishment!
In HS he joined the debate team. At Lincoln University in PA he stayed on the debate team, as well as met his (encouraging) wife Vivian "Buster" Burey. In 1928 the Lincoln University (black college) debate team beat Penn State in the first interracial debate between US Colleges.
He continued on achieving 'firsts' throughout his career, as "Mr Civil Rights" eventually was named to the Supreme Court in 1967, as its first black member.
The graphic pictures are representative of each phase of his life, but they are just average in quality.
A nice timeline, and major court cases, further reading, and bibliography are included in the appendix.
Art/design: 4+*
Text: 5*
Book: 5*
In HS he joined the debate team. At Lincoln University in PA he stayed on the debate team, as well as met his (encouraging) wife Vivian "Buster" Burey. In 1928 the Lincoln University (black college) debate team beat Penn State in the first interracial debate between US Colleges.
He continued on achieving 'firsts' throughout his career, as "Mr Civil Rights" eventually was named to the Supreme Court in 1967, as its first black member.
The graphic pictures are representative of each phase of his life, but they are just average in quality.
A nice timeline, and major court cases, further reading, and bibliography are included in the appendix.
Art/design: 4+*
Text: 5*
Book: 5*
July 11, 2023
I loved that this book didn’t just present facts about Thurgood Marshall, it also explained the impact of Thurgood Marshall in an approachable way for young readers.
Example: “As a young lawyer in Baltimore, he represented Donald Murray, a Black man who wanted to attend the University of Maryland. The school’s white’s-only admission policy was wrong, and it was time to try to change it. Thurgood won the case, resulting in the nation’s first court order to desegregate a school.”
Loved the timeline and more information about his leagal appointments, and court cases, at the back.
Example: “As a young lawyer in Baltimore, he represented Donald Murray, a Black man who wanted to attend the University of Maryland. The school’s white’s-only admission policy was wrong, and it was time to try to change it. Thurgood won the case, resulting in the nation’s first court order to desegregate a school.”
Loved the timeline and more information about his leagal appointments, and court cases, at the back.
January 23, 2021
The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall's Life, Leadership, and Legacy is a children's picture book written by Kekla Magoon and illustrated by Laura Freeman. Born, raised, and educated in segregated early-20th-century Baltimore, Thurgood Marshall did not allow what he saw around him to determine who he could become.
Thurgood Marshall was an American lawyer and civil rights activist who served as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from October 1967 until October 1991. Marshall was the Court's first African-American justice.
Magoon's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Magoon employs a measured tone throughout, emphasizing Marshall’s concern with fairness alongside plenty of biographical details, including his two marriages, the second of which defied anti-miscegenation laws. Backmatter includes a timeline of Marshall's life, a list of his major cases, and a bibliography for further reading. Freeman’s layered digital illustrations enrich the narrative.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It is an overview of the life of Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall, covering his early-20th-century childhood in segregated Baltimore, his persistent fight against segregation, his initiation as the first Black member of the Supreme Court in 1967, and his death in 1993.
All in all, The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall's Life, Leadership, and Legacy is wonderfully written and will serve to empower children who feel as powerless as Thurgood Marshall once felt.
Thurgood Marshall was an American lawyer and civil rights activist who served as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from October 1967 until October 1991. Marshall was the Court's first African-American justice.
Magoon's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Magoon employs a measured tone throughout, emphasizing Marshall’s concern with fairness alongside plenty of biographical details, including his two marriages, the second of which defied anti-miscegenation laws. Backmatter includes a timeline of Marshall's life, a list of his major cases, and a bibliography for further reading. Freeman’s layered digital illustrations enrich the narrative.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It is an overview of the life of Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall, covering his early-20th-century childhood in segregated Baltimore, his persistent fight against segregation, his initiation as the first Black member of the Supreme Court in 1967, and his death in 1993.
All in all, The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall's Life, Leadership, and Legacy is wonderfully written and will serve to empower children who feel as powerless as Thurgood Marshall once felt.
February 8, 2021
The Highest Tribute tells the story of the amazing Thurgood Marshall, a man who knew even as a young child that he wanted to fight for justice for all in the world. He became a lawyer and then a judge, and he finally ended up as America's first black Supreme Court justice.
A noble story of a noble man.
A noble story of a noble man.
July 17, 2021
A biography of the first Black Supreme Court Justice, who before his appointment argued and won more Supreme Court cases than any other lawyer. The second justice to be given the highest honor of laying in state in the Supreme Court rotunda.
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December 30, 2021Thurgood Marshall has become a (well-deserved) name in American history, with ground-breaking leadership and accomplishments in civil rights, the Supreme Court, and social justice. Depiste that, this is now an individual or a period in history that receives the attention it deserves. This comprehensively written book, with sourced quotations, timeline, and valuable backwater, will go a long way in bringing Marshall's life story to young readers. The reality of his early years of injustice as the fuel that fired his career is well done and makes the adult aspects of his life all the more vibrant and admirable.
September 25, 2020
Fascinating biography picture book with a great overview of his life and contributions. The author's notes at the end highlight the important cases he participated in.
April 8, 2021
Interesting biography with nice illustrations. Is it wrong that I want to know more about his wives?
May 8, 2021
This picture book biography tells the life story of the first Black justice on the Supreme Court. It begins with Marshall changing his first name in second grade from Thoroughgood. From a child, Marshall knew that there were things that needed to change in the world around him, including segregation. Marshall discovered a love of the law and of debate in school, before heading to Lincoln University for college. He wanted to attend law school at the University of Maryland, but they did not admit Black students, so he attended Howard University, another Black college. As a young lawyer, Marshall won a case to allow a Black student to attend the University of Maryland. He worked on all sorts of civil rights cases with his most famous being arguing before the Supreme Court against school segregation and winning. He argued seven cases before the Supreme Court in his career, winning new rights for Black people along the way. Marshall was asked by JFK to become a judge and was himself sworn in as a member of the Supreme Court in 1967.
Magoon has created a focused and interesting biography for young readers in this nonfiction picture book. She takes a man of many accomplishments and highlights those of the most importance. By starting in his early years, she shows how a passion at a young age can become a career and a way to make a difference in our world. Her writing is insightful and fast moving, taking us through his career and personal life without her pace dragging at all.
Freeman’s illustrations focus on Marshall and the people around him. Even on the pages focused on his education, Marshall stays right in the center of the images rather than the university buildings. This focus on Marshall as a person centers the book visually, matching the text. The captures famous faces beyond Marshall’s in a recognizable yet simple way.
A resounding success of a biography. Appropriate for ages 6-9.
Magoon has created a focused and interesting biography for young readers in this nonfiction picture book. She takes a man of many accomplishments and highlights those of the most importance. By starting in his early years, she shows how a passion at a young age can become a career and a way to make a difference in our world. Her writing is insightful and fast moving, taking us through his career and personal life without her pace dragging at all.
Freeman’s illustrations focus on Marshall and the people around him. Even on the pages focused on his education, Marshall stays right in the center of the images rather than the university buildings. This focus on Marshall as a person centers the book visually, matching the text. The captures famous faces beyond Marshall’s in a recognizable yet simple way.
A resounding success of a biography. Appropriate for ages 6-9.
April 18, 2022
The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshal’s Life, Leadership and Legacy by Kekla Magoon, (goodreads author) Illustrator Laura Freeman- Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The book narrates the story of Thurgood Marshal, first Afro-American Supreme Court Judge. The book begins with Marshall changing his first name in second grade from Thoroughgood. From a child, Marshall knew that there were things that needed to change in the world around him, including segregation. Marshall discovered a love of the law and of debate in school, before heading to Lincoln University for college. He wanted to attend law school at the University of Maryland, but they did not admit Black students, so he attended Howard University, another Black college. As a young lawyer, Marshall won a case to allow a Black student to attend the University of Maryland. He worked on all sorts of civil rights cases with his most famous being arguing before the Supreme Court against school segregation and winning. He argued seven cases before the Supreme Court in his career, winning new rights for Black people along the way. Marshall was asked by JF Kennedy to become a judge and was himself sworn in as a member of the Supreme Court in 1967. He worked for the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (the NAACP). Many of his cases pertained to civil rights, and there's even a nifty double-page spread showing seven different images of Marshall at different points in his life arguing those cases. Eventually, of course, he is appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court where he is able to use this influence to make sure that laws are fair. This biography also touches on Marshall's two marriages, the second one to a Filipina woman. From 1967 to 1991 he worked a Judge of Supreme Court. He expired in 1993. Coloured pictures help the reader to relate to the story. I have read the Hindi language translation of this book.
March 21, 2021
As a longtime admirer of Thurgood Marshall and his civil rights work and change accomplished through the nation's legal system, I was pleased to read this book. It begins with Marshall's motivation to change how things were--from the way his first name was spelled [in second grade] to what life was like in the segregated city of Baltimore. Various influences, including his father, teachers, and extracurricular activities such as debate sharpened his skills and raised his awareness. The narrative follows Marshall through high school, college, and law school, all in Black schools, and his work at the NAACP. Many of his cases pertained to civil rights, and there's even a nifty double-page spread showing seven different images of Marshall at different points in his life arguing those cases. Eventually, of course, he is appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court where he is able to use this influence to make sure that laws are fair. This biography also touches on Marshall's two marriages, the second one to a Filipina woman. It's clear that this man was a legal giant and a tireless advocate for changing the status quo. The digital illustrations feature large images of the man himself as well as words such as justice and equality related to his causes. The only thing that didn't work for me was how the book ends with a reference to how he "earned himself the highest tribute" (unpaged), a notion that wasn't mentioned in the text but appeared only in the quote from Marshall in the opening pages before the biography started. The inclusion of the phrase at the end seemed a bit abrupt and without support, and I wish that idea had been woven in from the beginning. Still, this book is an essential addition to any classroom collection dedicated to civil rights or individuals who made a difference in the world around them.
April 13, 2021
Also out this year is a great story of the persistence of Justice Thurgood Marshall, from second grade when he decided he would try to change things about the world that he didn't like. The first thing was his name. Born Thoroughgood Marshall, he decided from then on he would be known as Thurgood Marshall. Kekla Magoon makes him the complete star of this book and Laura Freeman acknowledges his life of accomplishments with bold illustrations at every turn. For example, he noticed that while there were "Whites Only" and "Colored Sections" in stores and theaters, etc., there were unequal differences. Thurgood thought that was wrong. He wanted to change it. Throughout his life, slowly at every winning turn, he did. One interesting event is that he got in trouble in class and the teacher gave him the Constitution to read for punishment. It wasn't. He was fascinated. Through debate teams, he learned to argue. He became a lawyer and won cases. Moving through the court systems part by part showed that persistence again and again until he became the first black member of the Supreme Court. His record there is also included with the landmark cases he argued for. I'm glad to have read this story, glad that it has been published for many students to read, too, and be inspired and supported in their own dreams.
There is a timeline of Justice Marshall's life, a summary of major court cases, suggestions for further reading, and a bibliography. It's a terrific biography!
There is a timeline of Justice Marshall's life, a summary of major court cases, suggestions for further reading, and a bibliography. It's a terrific biography!
February 10, 2025
I saw this available on my eLibrary page and because I've read multiple books on Thurgood Marshall whom I love and see as the quintessential King of Wands, I figured I'd give it a read. Because it's a kid's book, it's not going to be as in-depth or nuanced as a normal biography, but I think it's an important book for children to read and understand and to be inspired by.
This is a man who came of age during a time of segregation, who couldn't attend his state college or law school because they didn't accept POC. And he was able to get an education and change that forever, for all POC to have more freedoms than he did. He won so many cases that made us a freer, better nation, more inclusive. And he put himself in danger, time and again, going into the South and fighting against Jim Crow. This didn't get covered as overtly as was real, but again--it's a children's book.
This would also be a great book for teaching literacy to adults because it's such a story of perseverance and has more mature themes than most children's books. It includes a very abbreviated list of Thurgood Marshall's landmark cases and teaches history in such an accessible way.
I plan to buy it for the children I know because this material is vital, and with MAGA goons trying to rewrite history, we need facts and truth to be emanent.
This is a man who came of age during a time of segregation, who couldn't attend his state college or law school because they didn't accept POC. And he was able to get an education and change that forever, for all POC to have more freedoms than he did. He won so many cases that made us a freer, better nation, more inclusive. And he put himself in danger, time and again, going into the South and fighting against Jim Crow. This didn't get covered as overtly as was real, but again--it's a children's book.
This would also be a great book for teaching literacy to adults because it's such a story of perseverance and has more mature themes than most children's books. It includes a very abbreviated list of Thurgood Marshall's landmark cases and teaches history in such an accessible way.
I plan to buy it for the children I know because this material is vital, and with MAGA goons trying to rewrite history, we need facts and truth to be emanent.
July 31, 2021
"In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute." -- Thurgood Marshall.
That quote was used as the epigraph of this biography and truly hit home in this overly long season of caring for each other, and watching as others demonstrate a lack of care. The story of Marshall is one of the triumph of recognizing each other as fully human, but also highlights how hard it is to get that recognition. Marshall is inspiring: his hard work, determination, and intelligence are certainly admirable. He also had a supportive family and took advantage of educational opportunity at every turn. But he never seemed to stop working for everyone else to have the same advantages. I found this a fine introduction to an important historical figure.
End matter includes a timeline, highlighted court cases, and some further reading suggestions. Last year I read Thurgood Marshall by Teri Kanefield and came away with an appreciation for the depth of history I do not know. I am glad to see this biography for younger readers.
That quote was used as the epigraph of this biography and truly hit home in this overly long season of caring for each other, and watching as others demonstrate a lack of care. The story of Marshall is one of the triumph of recognizing each other as fully human, but also highlights how hard it is to get that recognition. Marshall is inspiring: his hard work, determination, and intelligence are certainly admirable. He also had a supportive family and took advantage of educational opportunity at every turn. But he never seemed to stop working for everyone else to have the same advantages. I found this a fine introduction to an important historical figure.
End matter includes a timeline, highlighted court cases, and some further reading suggestions. Last year I read Thurgood Marshall by Teri Kanefield and came away with an appreciation for the depth of history I do not know. I am glad to see this biography for younger readers.
February 21, 2021
I am guessing most people have at least heard the name Thurgood Marshall and know that he was the first black Supreme Court Justice, nominated by President Lyndon Johnson. I didn't know that part - that he was nominated by LBJ. Or that his name was originally Thoroughgood but when he was in 2nd grade, he decided to change it to Thurgood. That was one of many things that Thurgood would change in his lifetime!
He was born in Baltimore and saw that black people were certainly separated from whites and that it was not an equal separation. He wanted to make things change.
His father, a porter, would take Thurgood and his brother to hear court cases. Then they would debate them at the dinner table. His parents did not want their children to live with the same discrimination they did so they encouraged their children to change things - which Thurgood definitely did.
I am a big fan of Kekla Magoon and learned a lot by reading this biography. I encourage you to read this book and other books by her!
He was born in Baltimore and saw that black people were certainly separated from whites and that it was not an equal separation. He wanted to make things change.
His father, a porter, would take Thurgood and his brother to hear court cases. Then they would debate them at the dinner table. His parents did not want their children to live with the same discrimination they did so they encouraged their children to change things - which Thurgood definitely did.
I am a big fan of Kekla Magoon and learned a lot by reading this biography. I encourage you to read this book and other books by her!
December 27, 2021
Even as a boy, Thurgood Marshall saw things that were unfair, he wanted to change them - he started by changing the spelling of his name. Joining the debate team in high school taught himto work with a team to win an argument, attended law school - at Howard University, worked with the NAACP and soon began to fight unfair laws, including school segregation - all the way to the Supreme Court. He was appointed to be a judge by President Kennedy, was President Johnson's solicitor general, and sworn in as a Supreme Court Justice in 1967.
So text friendly - the pages are more picture than text, and the illustrations provide more detail and context. I loved how Marshall is represented mostly with others (as he didn't work alone) and my favorite illustration was 7 different Thurgood Marshalls arguing cases before the Supreme Court. Includes a timeline, bibliography and summary of some of the major court cases Marshall worked on. A great short biography of a very important lawyer and judge.
Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com
So text friendly - the pages are more picture than text, and the illustrations provide more detail and context. I loved how Marshall is represented mostly with others (as he didn't work alone) and my favorite illustration was 7 different Thurgood Marshalls arguing cases before the Supreme Court. Includes a timeline, bibliography and summary of some of the major court cases Marshall worked on. A great short biography of a very important lawyer and judge.
Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com
April 1, 2021
There are too many excellent new picture books out! My budget isn't going to be able to snag them all ;)
I have read some of Magoon's middle grade novels but her writing is just as good in this book! I learned a lot about Thurgood Marshall. I knew he was influential but I didn't realize how influential he was. I didn't know that before he was a Supreme Court Justice that he had argued the most cases in front of the Supreme Court of any lawyer! I think I used to know (and then forgot) that he was involved in the Brown vs Board of Education of Topeka. I definitely didn't know he is basically responsible for the Miranda rights! This was a well done and informative picture book.
I didn't love the way that the people's faces were illustrated in many of the spreads but the backgrounds were amazing. I especially liked the ones that including an overlay of words.
I have read some of Magoon's middle grade novels but her writing is just as good in this book! I learned a lot about Thurgood Marshall. I knew he was influential but I didn't realize how influential he was. I didn't know that before he was a Supreme Court Justice that he had argued the most cases in front of the Supreme Court of any lawyer! I think I used to know (and then forgot) that he was involved in the Brown vs Board of Education of Topeka. I definitely didn't know he is basically responsible for the Miranda rights! This was a well done and informative picture book.
I didn't love the way that the people's faces were illustrated in many of the spreads but the backgrounds were amazing. I especially liked the ones that including an overlay of words.
February 25, 2022
This picture book biography of US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall takes the reader from Marshall's beginnings, as a child, through his law school days and as he argued cases in front of the US Supreme Court for the NAACP, to appointment as Solicitor General and later confirmation to the country's highest court as a justice.
It includes a timeline of his life and brief summaries of six (6) of the landmark cases which he argued before the Supreme Court, including Brown vs. Board of Education. As a sitting justice, he heard Roe v. Wade and US v. Nixon cases.
It's beautifully illustrated and an excellent additon to your home, classroom or school shelf.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
It includes a timeline of his life and brief summaries of six (6) of the landmark cases which he argued before the Supreme Court, including Brown vs. Board of Education. As a sitting justice, he heard Roe v. Wade and US v. Nixon cases.
It's beautifully illustrated and an excellent additon to your home, classroom or school shelf.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
October 7, 2021
This is another great picture book biography of Thurgood Marshall (I reviewed Thurgood by Jonah Winter and illustrated by Bryan Collier, in March 2020). This one started with his young life in second grade when he changed his name from Thoroughgood to Thurgood. And it ended sharing that when he died, he was laid in state in the Supreme Court rotunda, “and honor given to only one other justice before him.” The back matter has a detailed timeline, summaries of his major court cases, a list for further reading, and a bibliography. The artist used Photoshop to create the digital illustrations for this book.
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
May 11, 2021
The Highest Tribute is a magnificent picture biography on the life of Thurgood Marshall. Kekla Magoon tells the story of Thurgood's life and dedication to improving humanity in such a few pages! In the back of the book, there is a timeline of Thurgood's life and important summaries of his major court cases. The illustrations by Laura Freeman, likewise, are appealing. The illustrator has layered images of a great leader with a muted look at important documents devoted to freedom and human rights throughout history.
This is a perfect resource to begin a study of diversity and American history -- for grades 4 to age 104!
This is a perfect resource to begin a study of diversity and American history -- for grades 4 to age 104!
June 5, 2024
Growing up in segregated Baltimore, Maryland, Thurgood Marshall saw and experienced the unfairness of segregation and was determined to make all Americans equal. As an attorney, he fought and won important cases for Civil Rights, like the famous Brown v. Board of Education before becoming the first Black American to be appointed a Supreme Court Justice. This picture book biography is a great book to read aloud. It manages to effectively show Marshall's many accomplishments while still engaging young readers.
February 16, 2021
A biographical look at the life of Thoroughgood Marshall. The first of many changes he made was changing his name to Thurgood. This led to many firsts in his life, and major accomplishments. This book is well written, with excellent art work, a time line, and list of major court cases that Thurgood Marshall was a part of. A must read for the young reader, and anyone else interested in America's Laws and how some were changed for the betterment of everyone.
August 17, 2021
This picture book biography of the first Black supreme court justice is beautifully illustrated. The text is interesting and accessible to middle-upper elementary readers. The value of education and persistence are themes of this remarkable life story.
Tie-in with Black history studies, biography studies.
Adults may need to explain a bit about racial injustice, the judicial system, and the Supreme Court for students to be appropriately impressed with Thurgood Marshall's achievements.
Tie-in with Black history studies, biography studies.
Adults may need to explain a bit about racial injustice, the judicial system, and the Supreme Court for students to be appropriately impressed with Thurgood Marshall's achievements.
February 23, 2021
Very good text and fantastic subject matter here, but the illustrations fell flat for me and made this something of a boring read. I would have liked to see more lively illustrations in a different style here. These are just a little too flat and dull and don't do justice (terrible pun fully intended) to Thurgood Marshall while introducing him to young readers.
May 18, 2021
A fantastic look into the life of Thurgood Marshall and many of the obstacles he had to overcome to get to a position where he could help remove those obstacles for others. Kekla Magoon and Laura Freeman did a wonderful job of honoring some of Marshall’s life and most notable cases he was a part of. A must have addition to any elementary library or classroom.
February 11, 2023
Good biography that my 2nd graders enjoyed. They made a lot of connections to MLK and this book helped to expand their knowledge of important Black figures in US history.
I’m aware that this is a lame criticism, but the shape of the book is super inconvenient for any standard classroom’s bookshelf.
I’m aware that this is a lame criticism, but the shape of the book is super inconvenient for any standard classroom’s bookshelf.
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