Seven years before Brown v. Board of Education, the Mendez family fought to end segregation in California schools. Discover their incredible story in Separate Is Never Equal, a picture book from award-winning creator Duncan Tonatiuh.

Jane Addams Children's Book Award Winner * A Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book * A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

* "Masterfully combines text and folk-inspired art to add an important piece to the mosaic of U.S. civil rights history." ―Kirkus (starred review)

When her family moved to the town of Westminster, California, young Sylvia Mendez was excited about enrolling in her neighborhood school. But she and her brothers were turned away and told they had to attend the Mexican school instead.

Sylvia could not understand why--she was an American citizen who spoke perfect English. Why were the children of Mexican families forced to attend a separate school?

Unable to get a satisfactory answer from the school board, the Mendez family decided to take matters into its own hands and organized a lawsuit. In the end, the Mendez family's efforts helped bring an end to segregated schooling in California in 1947, seven years before the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education ended segregation in schools across America.

Author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh writes in his notes, "My hope is that this book will help children and young people learn about this important yet little known event in American history. I also hope that they will see themselves reflected in Sylvia's story and realize that their voices are valuable."

Using his signature illustration style and incorporating his interviews with Sylvia Mendez, as well as information from court files and news accounts, Tonatiuh tells the inspiring story of the Mendez family's fight for justice and equality, a fight that is as relevant today as it was 75 years ago.

Plus don't miss the edition in Spanish: Separados no somos iguales: Sylvia Méndez y la lucha de su familia por la integración

Author: Duncan Tonatiuh
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Published: 05/06/2014
Pages: 40
Weight: 1.14lbs
Size: 11.10h x 9.30w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9781419710544

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.1
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 164558 / Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family's Fight for Desegregation


Award: 2016 Bluebonnet Awards Nominee - Children's
Award: 2015 Orbis Pictus Award Honor Book - Children's Nonfiction
Award: 2015 Pura Belpre Award Honor Book - Illustrator
Award: 2015 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award Honor Book - Children's Book
Award: 2015 Americas Award for Children & Young Adult Literature Winner - Children/Young Adult
Award: 2014 Cybils Finalist - Nonfiction
Award: 2016 Georgia Children's Book Award Finalist - Picture Storybook
Award: 2016 Beehive Awards Nominee - Informational
Award: 2015 Jane Addams Children's Book Award Winner - Bks for Younger Children
Award: 2015 Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens Recommended - Seven to Ten
Award: Alabama Camellia Award Nominee - Nonfiction (Grades 4-5)