Tonya Leslie

I ordered The Story of Kamala Harris by Tonya Leslie, PhD., as a supplement to our homeschool social studies curriculum which is currently covering citizenship, civic duties, civic rights, etc. This biography was a good match for that as it showed how Kamala Harris was involved in such things even as a young child (attending racial protests with her parents).

My 8YO said she loved learning about Kamala because of all the things she did: advocating for civil rights, being a lawyer, working as a prosecutor, serving as attorney general of California, and, most recently, being elected Vice President.

I am pleased that The Story of Kamala Harris accomplished the purpose I had ordered it for: supplementing our social studies program with a biography that shows that everyone has a place in our country and should be treated equally. However, I felt the racism and politics addressed in the book overshadowed Kamala as a person. Especially since she is still alive, I would have liked to have seen more about her as a person, rather than a recitation of all she has done (though those things are certainly notable).

The Story of Kamala Harris is part of “The Story Of” biography series, most of which we have thoroughly enjoyed. I do not consider myself a Democrat or Republican, but I do wish the series would highlight people of all parties (including independents) as it currently seems focused on Democratic leaders.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product via the Amazon Vine program. All opinions in this review are my own.… (more)

This picture book describes the life of Martin Luther King Jr. He was a very passionate, brave, and determined man. Martin Luther King Jr. believed that black people should have the same rights as white people. He led many peaceful protests and fought for equality. Nothing was going to stop him until he achieved this goal. Some people went so far as to break into his home and attack him, but not even that would stop him. He even spoke in front of half a million people in Washington, D.C. Even though he was killed in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. contributed greatly to the equality that we now have in our country.… (more)

In my opinion this is a good biography about Rosa Parks and her fight for freedom. The book gives background knowledge about Rosa Parks and discusses her refusal to give up her seat on the bus to a white person. I really liked how the author bolded words that the reader may not know, for instance, segregation. The bolded words could then be found in the glossary at the back of the book. This is important in a historical book that discusses terminology that may not be widely known. I also liked how the book was organized. The table of contents broke the book up into sections to help guide the reader. For instance, pages 1-4 were about "meeting Rosa Parks." Giving this background knowledge before delving into her courageous act helps the reader get an idea of what and who they will be reading about. The big idea in this book is that Rosa Parks is a historical figure that helped African Americans earn civil rights.… (more)