{"id":39252,"date":"2022-03-21T17:09:33","date_gmt":"2022-03-21T22:09:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=39252"},"modified":"2022-03-21T17:09:33","modified_gmt":"2022-03-21T22:09:33","slug":"review-of-opening-the-road-by-keila-v-dawson-illustrated-by-alleanna-harris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=39252","title":{"rendered":"Review of Opening the Road, by Keila V. Dawson, illustrated by Alleanna Harris"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Opening the Road<\/p>\n

Victor Hugo Green and His Green Book<\/em><\/p>\n

by Keila V. Dawson
\nillustrated by Alleanna Harris<\/p>\n

Beaming Books, Minneapolis, 2021. 40 pages.
\nReview written April 7, 2021, from a library book
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

Opening the Road<\/em> is a picture book that explains in simple and understandable language how Victor Hugo Green saw injustice and inconvenience and turned it into an opportunity.<\/p>\n

First, in several spreads the book lays out the situation:<\/p>\n

Black motorists were told:
\nNo food . . .
\nNo vacancy . . .
\nNo bathroom . . .
\nfor Black people.<\/em><\/p>\n

White American travelers could stop at any roadside restaurant, hotel, or restroom.<\/p>\n

But Black Americans had to pack cold food, blankets, and pillows for sleeping in the car . . . and a make-do toilet.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Then it tells how Victor saw a Kosher Food Guide put out by a Jewish newspaper and wondered if he could make a book with similar information for Black Americans.<\/p>\n

So Victor asked his friends and neighbors in Harlem where they safely dined, shopped, and played in the city. Victor worked as a mail carrier. Along his postal route, Victor asked folks about places that were welcoming to Black people too.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It tells how The Negro Motorist Green Book<\/em> took off and expanded so Black travelers took it with them to safely travel the country. I like the detail that black female entrepreneurs rented out rooms in their homes in cities with no hotels willing to rent to Black people. The discrimination turned into an opportunity.<\/p>\n

A lovely and interesting picture book about a pertinent and inspiring bit of history.<\/p>\n

beamingbooks.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Nonfiction\/opening_the_road.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

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but 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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