You Are a Star, Ruth Bader Ginsburg

by Dean Robbins

Make way for Ruth Bader Ginsburg!

It's RBG like you've never seen her before!

Using a unique mix of first-person narrative, hilarious comic panels, and essential facts, Dean Robbins introduces young readers to an American trailblazer. The first book in an exciting new nonfiction series, You Are a Star, Ruth Bader Ginsburg! focuses on Ruth's lifelong mission to bring equality and justice to all. Sarah Green's spot-on comic illustrations bring this icon to life, and engaging back matter instructs readers on how to be more like Ruth!

Genres: Biography, Picture Books, Nonfiction, History, Politics, Childrens, Jewish

40 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2022

About the author

Dean Robbins writes nonfiction children’s picture books about his heroes. His award-winning books have been featured on Public Radio International and praised in The New York Times, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, and other publications, along with receiving starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, and School Library Journal. They’ve been chosen for best-of-the-year honors by the American Library Association, New York Public Library, Chicago Public Library, and Children’s Book Council, among others, and "Two Friends: Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass" was adapted as a short film by Weston Wood Studios. As a journalist, Robbins has served as the editor of Isthmus and contributed to USA Today, The New York Daily News, Space.com, Wisconsin Public Radio, and other media outlets. He draws on his journalism experience to interview the subjects of his children’s books, including Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean and NASA’s pioneering computer scientist Margaret Hamilton.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - interesting facts but didn’t enjoy the format. It felt choppy.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy provided by Scholastic Inc, all thoughts and opinions are my own."

Dean Robbins' "You're a Star, Ruth Bader Ginsburg" presents the iconic Supreme Court Justice in a fresh and engaging way, combining first-person storytelling, brightly colored comic illustrations, and important information. This book, the inaugural title in the new nonfiction series "You Are a Star," introduces young readers to the life and achievements of RBG, one of the few women to serve on the Supreme Court.

Robbins puts together an engaging story and visuals to capture the essence of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's inspiring journey. The book describes RBG’s commitment to her education and highlights the important role her family played in her education and life.

The brightly colored comic illustrations will keep young readers engaged about Ginsburg's life and journey to the Supreme Court. These illustrations not only capture the most important moments of her life but also make the content appealing to young readers.

As an educational resource, "You're a Star, Ruth Bader Ginsburg" includes a timeline of Ginsburg’s life, allowing readers to follow her journey chronologically. The handy glossary at the end of the book explains key terms used throughout the story, ensuring that young readers can fully grasp the significance of Ginsburg's work and legacy.

"You're a Star, Ruth Bader Ginsburg" is a great book for readers to dive into for Jewish American Heritage Month and should be a book that little hands reach for on a regular basis.

[Margaret Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth Bader Ginsburg...we miss you! There are so many good lessons from RBG's life that we need as adults to teach our kids. This is a great book for this. However it seems to be really three books. The left hand side is written in Ruth's voice to the child. The right hand side tells more of the story and introduces important terms like discrimination. The bottom asks important questions, to involve the reader more.
At the back of the book, I love the section, "Be Like Ruth" as well as RBG style. And like many PJ Library Books it has a back flap with activities and more questions.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title is "You are a star", but the text is written in first person.

Every 2 page spread has a sidebar with other information, from "Down with discrimination!" (which explains the meaning of the word to "My Lucky Jewelry" that explains the jewelry she wore for her first argument before the Supreme Court. The sidebar can interrupt the flow of the text somewhat.

Not sure what's in this book that's not in any of the other picture books about RBG.

[Stephanie A-M · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book written in first person about the amazing life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Readers will learn about RBG's humble beginnings, her quest for equal rights for all and some quirky facts about who she was as a person. The book has a glossary for legal terms, awesome comic book like illustrations and a great timeline at the end of the book the covers all of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's major accomplishments.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using a unique mix of first-person narrative, hilarious comic panels, and essential facts, Dean Robbins introduces young readers to an American trailblazer. The first book in an exciting new nonfiction series, You Are a Star, Ruth Bader Ginsburg focuses on Ruth's lifelong mission to bring equality and justice to all. Sarah Green's spot-on comic illustrations bring this icon to life, and engaging backmatter instructs readers on how to be more like Ruth!

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read with lots of pictures about Ruth Bader Ginsbergs life. Definitely a kid picture book with topics very simplified. In the end I liked how they highlighted Ruth’s desire to be kind and be a good friend to all of the justices, especially those she disagreed with.

[Haley Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! This story took us from birth to death of RBG and showed the way she fought for equality for everyone along with why. She took a lot of inspiration from her mother and carried that with her

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small but informative biography on Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG), a small, shy, left-handed, Jewish girl from Brooklyn who fought for Justice and left an imprint on the world, and legacy for all to admire.

[Dawn Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be read to every little girl. And boy. Let them imagine a time when no bathrooms were available for "girls" in a public university building.

[L.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good intro to RBG. Book was just a little choppy—one page’s ellipses didn’t always flow into the next one. My kindergartener enjoyed this though.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great first book on RBG! Looks at the many struggles she had to overcome on her way to SCOTUS. Think it is so important for young children to read books like this; truly believe it can help encourage children to focus on school in a positive way. When you see where education can take you it becomes easier to see why you have to go on.