Giovanni, Nikki. Rosa. Illustrated by Bryan Collier New York: Henry Holt, 2005. ISBN:0-8050-7106-7
Awards: ALA Notable Book, 2006. Caldecott Honor, 2006. Coretta Scott King Award, 2006.
Author Website: http://www.nikki-giovanni.com/
Illustrator Website: http://www.bryancollier.com/
Media: Combination of watercolor paint and collage on paper
Use of Simile: (p. 5) “The needle and thread flew through her hands like the gold,” (p. 25) “justice runs down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream”
Use of Allusion: (p. 5) “like the gold spinning from Rumpelstiltskin’s loom” intimates that Rosa’s work as a seamstress is high caliber and alludes to the fairytale, Rumpelstiltskin.
Use of Repetition: (p. 15) “She was tired of ‘Colored’ entrances . . . she was tired of getting somewhere . . . tired of ‘separate,’ and definitely tired of ‘not equal’.” (p.27) “people walked . . . walked in the rain . . . walked in the hot sun . . . walked early in the morning”
Use of Metaphor: (p. 15) “stand under the umbrella of courage”
Curricular Connection: California History / Social Science, Grades 11, California Standard 11.10.4 Examine the roles of civil rights advocates (e.g. Rosa Parks).
Detailed Artwork Discussion: Bryan Collier mixes vibrant watercolor paint and collage on paper to create his signature style of picture book illustrations. Collier’s mixed media approach results in rich, eye-popping works that convey depth of emotion of his subjects. In Rosa, Collier uses shading to illustrate strength and weariness in Rosa’s face as she boards the bus prior to her famous arrest. Collier draws a strong nose and jaw line on Rosa, but shows her with her eyes closed as waits for her bus (p. 7). Later, Collier uses a close-up illustration of Rosa’s hands as she grips a bag. The painting is so realistic that the subject’s hands appear to actually be tightened around the bag’s handle. The subject’s clothing takes on dimension through the use of collage that has been painted over in rich red and grey tones (p. 18).
Annotation: While riding the bus home from work, Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat for a seat in the “colored” section of the bus. Rosa shares how Parks’ subsequent arrest inspires people to stand up for civil rights.
Personal Reaction: Montgomery, Alabama resident Rosa Parks is tired of being treated like a second-class citizen because of the color of her skin. She is tired of being forced to use separate entrances and drinking fountains. Nikki Giovanni’s repetitious phrasing emphasizes the inequalities of daily life for African-Americans before the passage of civil rights legislation that I take for granted today. Rosa Parks’ story is well known, but when told by Giovanni through Rosa’s eyes and shown in Collier’s artwork, the importance of Rosa’s defiant and brave act comes through more clearly than ever. Readers get to know Rosa Parks and walk through a day in her life as a hardworking seamstress caring for her ailing mother and husband. Collier’s illustrations show us Rosa’s determined eyes as the bus driver threatens to call the police. Readers discover that Rosa “realized she was tired. Not tired from work tired of people putting white people first.” The need for the battle for civil rights crystallizes as Rosa’s role in history is told from her perspective.
