Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh

illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh 

2015 Pura Belpré Honor Book, 2015 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book 

Multicultural Book 

Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation (Jane Addams Award Book (Awards)): Tonatiuh, Duncan: 9781419710544: Amazon.com: Books

This story takes place about 10 years before the famous Brown vs. Board decision. A young girl of Latino heritage remembers how difficult of a journey her and her family went through in order for her to attend the “whites only” school nearby. Her father made this possible by filing a lawsuit and involving other families who were also struggling with segregation. In the end, Sylvia attends the second day of school at the predominately white school with her head held high and a sense of pride in the actions that got her there. 


This story would be perfect to remind and teach children about the history of the United States and how education was so terribly impacted for all students of color. It could be used within a history/social studies lesson where students discuss how the book made them feel and if it reminds them of anything. I think students in first through fourth grade would be the best audience for this book. I would include this book in my classroom because it serves as a a great lesson on the history of education and it tells it in a interesting way. 

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