This Librarian's Quick Picks: Lillian's Right To Vote

Lillian's Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
by Jonah Winter
illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Schwartz & Wade (July 14, 2015)
Historical fiction picture book

Summary:

As Lillian, one-hundred-years old, walks to the polls, she remembers “the long haul up that steep hill” that her African American ancestors climbed to achieve U.S. voting rights.

Why You'll Love It:

• This powerful historical picture book dovetails very nicely with social studies standards, making it a great pick for both librarians and teachers. 
• An author’s note provides historical context, including information about the woman who inspired Lillian (Lillian Allen, who in 2008 at age 100 voted for Barack Obama).
•  Although the book is a celebration of how far we have come, it also ends with a warning that rights are threatened by a 2013 Supreme Court decision.

Who Should Read It:

Grades 2 and up.

What Else You Should Read:

• Grandaddy's Turn by Michael S. Bandy
• I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh