This book is incredible powerful for a children's book. It describes what African-Americans went through in a way that makes it easy to understand for children. I love how strong grandma is portrayed in the book. She directs the girls attention somewhere else when the girls start to notice segregation. Grandma would tell them that they wouldn't want to go to that bathroom or drink from that water fountain anyway because they are dirty. It is inspiring to see how the family in this book takes something so negative and discouraging and handles it easily and with grace. They are great examples of powerful and smart women who know their worth. ( )

On their yearly trip to the south to visit their grandmother, Sarah Marie and her family experience segregation. Her grandmother would give excuses as to why she would walk instead of ride the bus when going to town or give reasons why she shouldn’t use the public water fountain. Those excuses were her grandmother’s pride. Sarah Maria didn’t notice any of it until she learned to read while visiting and noticed signs in public places like, “Whites Only”. The next year the experienced the end of segregation. They were then able to ride in the front of the bus, sat in the waiting area and used the public restrooms. ( )

I loved the Grandmama in this story, and her pride and strength really made this story whole. Grandmama's Pride is about two girls who visit their grandmother in the south, where segregation was still in existence. The girls did not understand why they could not sit at the front of the bus, or why they had to use separate water fountains and restrooms. Instead of the Grandmama being down or getting worked up about her grandchildren's questions, she had prideful replies. For example, when the girl asked about drinking from the "whites only" water fountain, the Grandmama would say her iced tea at home was better. When the girl asked why they could not sit down on the waiting area seats, the Grandmama said "you don't know who's been sittin there." I loved that, and I think it teaches children the lesson of being confident and strong in difficult or tough situations. ( )

This is an excellent picture book to appropriately make a historical point to children. Sarah Marie, a 6 year old girl, goes down south to visit her grandmother with her mother and her little sister. They travel by bus, and of course must ride in the back seat. Their mother tells them they are riding in the back because it is most comfortable. Once in the south, the girls face a lot of discrimination-- but they aren't truly aware of it. Their grandmother tells them they don't take the bus because they have good legs for walking, they don't drink from the drinking fountain because they have a better drink at home, public bathrooms are dirty, etc. Sarah Marie ends up learning to read, and begins to read signs around her. This is when she realizes the truth: that they were being discriminated against. This is a beautiful, inspiring story about civil rights.

Minden, Douglas County!