{"id":29806,"date":"2016-04-19T23:02:41","date_gmt":"2016-04-20T03:02:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=29806"},"modified":"2016-04-19T23:02:41","modified_gmt":"2016-04-20T03:02:41","slug":"review-of-two-friends-by-dean-robbins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=29806","title":{"rendered":"Review of Two Friends, by Dean Robbins"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"two_friends_large\"<\/a>Two Friends<\/p>\n

Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass<\/em><\/p>\n

by Dean Robbins
\nillustrated by Sean Qualls & Selina Alko<\/p>\n

Orchard Books (Scholastic), New York, 2016. 32 pages.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a simple picture book telling a story from history about Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. The two were friends and both lived in Rochester, New York. There\u2019s a statue there showing the two of them having tea. This picture book dramatizes one such occasion, mostly using it as an opportunity to talk about both of their lives and how similar they were.<\/p>\n

The language is easy for children to understand:<\/p>\n

As a girl, Susan wanted to learn what boys learned.
\nBut teachers wouldn\u2019t let her. . . .<\/p>\n

Susan wanted something more.
\nShe read about rights in the United States.
\nThe right to live free.
\nThe right to vote.
\nSome people had rights, while others had none.
\nWhy shouldn\u2019t she have them, too?<\/p>\n

Susan taught herself to give speeches.
\nSome people liked her ideas about rights for women.
\nOthers didn\u2019t.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The similar language used about Frederick Douglass highlights their similarities.<\/p>\n

Frederick grew up as a slave in the South.
\nSlaves had to do everything the master said, but Frederick wanted something more.
\nHe secretly learned to read and write.
\nNew ideas thrilled him.<\/p>\n

Frederick read about rights in the United States.
\nThe right to live free.
\nThe right to vote.
\nSome people had rights, while others had none.
\nWhy shouldn\u2019t he have them, too?<\/p>\n

Frederick escaped from his master and headed north.
\nHe taught himself to give speeches.
\nSome people liked his ideas about rights for African Americans.
\nOthers didn\u2019t.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Beyond this, there\u2019s basic information about how the two supported each other and were friends. And the pictures are marvelous.<\/p>\n

A lovely introduction to the topic of equal rights for young readers.<\/p>\n

deanrobbins.net<\/a>
\nseanqualls.com<\/a>
\nselinaalko.com <\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Nonfiction\/two_friends.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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