Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation

Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation - Hardcover

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Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation
  • Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation
Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation - Hardcover

Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation - Hardcover

by Duncan Tonatiuh
$19.99
$19.99

Book Overview

by Duncan Tonatiuh (Author)

Seven years before Brown v. Board of Education, the Mendez family fought to end segregation in California schools. Discover their incredible story in Separate Is Never Equal, a picture book from award-winning creator Duncan Tonatiuh.

Jane Addams Children's Book Award Winner * A Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book * A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

* "Masterfully combines text and folk-inspired art to add an important piece to the mosaic of U.S. civil rights history." ―Kirkus (starred review)

When her family moved to the town of Westminster, California, young Sylvia Mendez was excited about enrolling in her neighborhood school. But she and her brothers were turned away and told they had to attend the Mexican school instead.

Sylvia could not understand why--she was an American citizen who spoke perfect English. Why were the children of Mexican families forced to attend a separate school?

Unable to get a satisfactory answer from the school board, the Mendez family decided to take matters into its own hands and organized a lawsuit. In the end, the Mendez family's efforts helped bring an end to segregated schooling in California in 1947, seven years before the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education ended segregation in schools across America.

Author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh writes in his notes, "My hope is that this book will help children and young people learn about this important yet little known event in American history. I also hope that they will see themselves reflected in Sylvia's story and realize that their voices are valuable."

Using his signature illustration style and incorporating his interviews with Sylvia Mendez, as well as information from court files and news accounts, Tonatiuh tells the inspiring story of the Mendez family's fight for justice and equality, a fight that is as relevant today as it was 75 years ago.

Plus don't miss the edition in Spanish: Separados no somos iguales: Sylvia Méndez y la lucha de su familia por la integración

Author Biography

Duncan Tonatiuh was born in Mexico City and grew up in San Miguel de Allende. His books, including Diego Rivera, Dear Primo, and Separate Is Never Equal, have received many awards over the years. He currently lives in San Miguel with his wife and children but travels to the US often.

Number of Pages: 40
Dimensions: 0.6 x 11.1 x 9.3 IN
Illustrated: Yes
Publication Date: May 06, 2014
Award: Bluebonnet Awards (2016)
Award: Orbis Pictus Award (2015)
Award: Pura Belpre Award (2015)
Accelerated Reader:
Quiz Name: Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family's Fight for Desegregation
Interest Level: Lower Grades, K-3
Reading Level: 5.1
Point Value: 0.5
ISBN9781419710544
Author Duncan Tonatiuh
PublisherAbrams Books for Young Readers
GenreChildren, History, and Society & culture
FormatHardcover
PublishedMay 2014
LanguageENG- English
Pages40
Weight1.0 lb
Target AudienceKids
Print SizeStandard Print

Related Subjects

Juvenile Nonfiction Kids

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About Duncan Tonatiuh

Duncan Tonatiuh is an award-winning author-illustrator whose accolades include: a Pura Belpré Medal and multiple Honors, the Robert F. Sibert Medal, the Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award, the Américas Award, the Jane Addams Children's Book Award, and multiple Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List selections and New York Times Best Illustrated mentions. Both Mexican and American, Tonatiuh aims to create images and stories that honor the past but are still relevant to people today, especially children. He grew up in and currently lives in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, with his wife and children, but travels to the United States often.

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