Reviews

Opening the Road: Victor Hugo Green and His Green Book by Keila V. Dawson

lostinausten's review

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informative inspiring fast-paced

4.0

The story of Victor Hugo Green and his creation of the Green Book. 

This book provides a brief background on the Civil Rights era and how the Green Book was started. It gives the reader enough information to give the book context and some depth. The illustrations reminded me of Edward Hopper paintings and they really complimented the story. I do wish it gave a bit more information on the time period and what it was like traveling back then (while still keeping it accessible to kids). It just felt a bit too brief at times.  

heisereads's review

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4.0

A piece of Black history that is good to know about, and this book does a great job of showing it. Pair with Ruth and the Green Book.

michellest's review

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5.0

This book really summed up the story of The Green Book well, while still presenting it in a visually appealing way. I read the book Driving While Black a few months ago, and this short children's book managed to hit a lot of the same points.

abigailbat's review

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This is a colorful and informative book about the history of the Green Book, a guidebook that listed safe places for African Americans to stop (restaurants, hotels, businesses, etc.) when they traveled. Did you know that Victor Hugo Green was inspired to create it by a Jewish newspaper that gave information about Jewish-owned hotels and resorts? And that more than 2 million copies of the Green Book were sold? This is an appealing picture book to share with young readers to have a conversation about the history of racism and segregation in this country. And the dates on the timeline in the back matter are cars on a road, which is adorable.

panda_incognito's review

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4.0

This nonfiction picture book has great text and illustrations, and it gives a clear, accurate, and succinct explanation of who Victor Hugo Green was, why the Green Book was necessary, and how it positively impacted Black travel. This is a great introduction for kids of any race, and touches on the Civil Rights Movement as part of the story.

the_fabric_of_words's review

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5.0

For an excellent lesson plan (aimed at 8th grade students, not elementary students) that uses this book and Ruth and the Green Book as an anticipatory set, please visit my blog.

Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/

wordnerd153's review

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4.0

Very accessible for younger readers and packed with important info.

shelly416's review

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5.0

This book really summed up the story of The Green Book well, while still presenting it in a visually appealing way. I read the book Driving While Black a few months ago, and this short children's book managed to hit a lot of the same points.

maidmarianlib's review

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3.0

Straightforward information about the development of the green book, very interesting

librariana's review

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hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

4.0