White Socks Only (Albert Whitman Prairie Paperback) (edition 1996)

by Evelyn Coleman (Author), Tyrone Geter (Illustrator)

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388	61	69,979	(4.4)	2

EveYoung's review

This is a beautiful story about a young girl and her grandma, who struggled with racism. The young girl wants to know can she walk into town by herself. The grandma had told her she's not big enough to walk into town alone. The young girl knew at that point her grandma was going to tell her favorite story about her past. Grandma snuck into town once with two eggs in her pocket. She had on her Sunday dress with black leather shoes and clean white socks. She was walking and singing at the same time feeling all grown up. She was feeling good until she saw the old chicken man sitting on the porch smiling. Grandma told the young girl how the chicken man could heal the sick by laying his hands on them. He made the blind man see by looking deep in his eyes. Everyone would say he would turn anyone into a chicken if they weren't doing anything right. When the egg cracked in her pocket she took it out, then placed it on the hot cement, and the eggs were frying. As she was walking, she was hot and thirsty, so she saw a water fountain that said, "Whites Only." She knew what that meant, so she took off her shoes and stepped up on the stool because she had on white socks. The white man yelled and pushed her to the ground. The young girl doesn't understand why he did that. All the black people gathered around to drink some water out of the fountain. Once the chicken man came, also, the white man gave up. The chicken man gave her a feather and wiped her tears saying, she did all right. The black people surrounded her and took her home. That's when the whites-only sign was gone forever. This is a powerful and great story to read to children about segregation. The children will understand what black people went through. I believe the theme is segregation because this story takes place when blacks couldn't drink from the whites-only water fountain. (

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EveYoung | Apr 28, 2020 |

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A book about the innocence of a young African American child in the segregated Deep South. Great for opening up discussions about the importance of diversity and the wrongs done to African Americans. (

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smabile | Jul 3, 2021 |

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EveYoung | Apr 28, 2020 |

White Socks Only is told from the viewpoint of a grandmother sharing her experience growing up in the south. She explains the first time she went into town and thought that she could drink from a fountain marked "Whites Only" because she was wearing her white socks. This book shows the innocence that young children possess and to further back up the point that racism is taught, not something you are born with! (

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aengolia | Apr 28, 2020 |

A young black girl's innocence causes her to get into trouble when she thinks that a "white's only" sign at a water fountain means "white socks only" and proceeds to drink. I think this book sends a strong message that racism is taught, not a trait you are inherently born with. (

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SophiaLCastillo | Apr 28, 2020 |

When grandma was a little girl, she sneaked into town on a hot summer day with two eggs. She wanted to know if it was true that you could fry eggs on a hot sidewalk. When she tried and saw that it was true, she began to head home, but she was so thirsty. When she saw a water fountain that read whites only, she took off her shoes to show her white socks and began to drink from the fountain. A white man approached her and began to yell at her and threatened to whoop her with his belt then more and more blacks began to remove their shoes and step up to the water fountain to drink. The white man got angrier and angrier and began whooping everyone. Then everyone got quiet. The Chicken Man was coming through and he took a sip from the fountain as well. When he was done he pointed a crooked finger at the white man, cleaned off grandma's face, and helped her up. The black people surrounded her crying and hugging her and then brought her home. When mama heard what happened she laughed and decided grandma must be old enough to go into town by herself now that she old enough to do good.

This was a great book. I love child innocence and especially in this case where she thought "Whites only" meant sock color. I also loved how everyone began to step up and drink from the fountain as well to defend the child. I really loved that when the Chicken Man came, everyone got quiet because they knew they were doing wrong and they didn't want to be turned into a chicken. Overall, this was a really cute story that I will definitely keep in mind when teaching about segregation. (

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m.curtis | Apr 13, 2020 |

I enjoyed reading this book because it showed the value of community. The author wrote the book in a way to engage readers what would happen next throughout the story. The story can also spark curiosity among readers. Grandma sat down and told a story to her granddaughter about the time she decided to go into town during the era of segregation. I feel as though this can be a coming of age story which is nice for younger readers and it can truly open their eyes to the real world world around them. (

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egelva1 | Sep 4, 2019 |

White Socks Only is a historical fiction story told from the viewpoint of a grandmother sharing her experience growing up in the deep south during the Jim Crow time period. The story begins with a young girl talking with her grandmother. Then, the grandmother tells a story about the first time she went into town. The grandmother talks about when she was a young girl and thoughts she could drink from a fountain marked "Whites Only" because she was wearing her white socks. This book would be a good read for second grade teachers and up, to discuss historical narratives and cultural changes over time. This book allows students to see the hatred that was faced during this time period through the eyes of a child. This book also discusses the coming together of a community to protect one of its own members. (

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tatalai | Apr 21, 2019 |

What a way to show how a child sees things differently then everyone else. A great story of overcoming and starting a movement even if they didn't realize what they did. It shows that children are innocent no matter the skin color or culture. I did not like the white man whipping the blacks who drank from the fountain, I thought that was a little much for the time this is being told in. Otherwise it was a great story for children to understand that time and know that children can see the world differently and innocently. (

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Ashley.Miller | Oct 8, 2018 |

While reading White Socks Only, there were a lot of ideas and concepts that were going through my mind, and because of that, I really enjoyed reading this book. As a future teacher, we are teaching the youth, however we are always learning as well. As I read this book, I learned a lot and that is why I loved reading this book. For example, the main character, a young African American girl, walked into town to use a water fountain that had a sign on it that said “whites only,” and she thought she could use this water fountain because she had white socks on. Although it is portrayed as a young girl misunderstanding the meaning of the sign, it also shows racial and ethical issues in the world and how they are unfortunately still present today. Children can not just be expected to understand all of the issues that are going on in today’s society without being taught. Another reason I liked this book is because of all the symbolism that is portrayed throughout the book. For example, the little girl, the main character, is from way outside the city in a more rural part. The reason this is relevant is because it shows that because she is not from the city and does not spend time in the city, she is unaware of the issues that happen in the city. The book has a lot of great messages behind it that can be used for teachers who need to teach racial and ethical issues in their classrooms and I definitely recommend it for teachers to use in their classroom. (

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Fowler246 | Sep 18, 2018 |

In my opinion, this book was okay. I think the book sent a good message, but it wasn't very enjoyable. The little girl in the beginning asked her grandmother a question. In which, her grandmother proceeded to tell her a story from her childhood. The grandmother spoke in African American English Vernacular, which I thought was a nice touch and set the tone for the story. Most books don't contain this type of dialect. As the story was told it depicted the cruel and mistreatment blacks dealt with at one point in time. The story takes place in Mississippi where slavery was a huge issue back then. When the grandmother was a little girl she drank from an "whites only" water fountain. Instead of allowing the girl to get in trouble, other black citizens followed her lead and took a sip from the same fountain. They were then beaten by a white man for doing so. This book allows students to see the hatred that blacks faced during this time period through the eyes of an innocent child, but it also showed how a community must stick together to make a change. The other black citizens protected the innocent girl by standing by her when she made a mistake. This resulted in a positive outcome, the sign no longer existed after that day. (

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nervin1 | Sep 9, 2018 |

I found "White Socks Only" a very interesting and powerful story. The first thing I noticed about this book is that it could be a great mirror for children who speak in African American English Vernacular, since one of the characters in the book speaks in that way. I've learned that there are not many children's books out there which display this, so I think this could be a great book for children who may feel self-conscious in the way the speak. I also enjoyed reading this book because I loved the main character. She is a very curious and innocent child, which I think is very endearing to readers. Lastly, I think the message is the most important part of the book. In the story, the main character drinks from a water fountain with a sign that says "whites only" because she doesn't know any better. She should have gotten in a lot of trouble, but members of her community band together to protect her from getting punished. I loved reading this because it gave me such a great sense of community. I think the main message of this book is that were all human, and it is important to look out for each other, even when if you don't know someone personally.

cwolfa1 | Mar 1, 2018 |

This story shows the innocence of a child during a time of hatred. Going for a drink of water and being stopped because of the color of her skin. Almost coming to violence, the little girl did not understand what she had done wrong. The book uses total honesty of a time that happened. This book also shows a community coming together to stand up for themselves because they know something is wrong. A small gesture can make a big impact. The water color illustrations are powerful and bring the words to life. They give a great picture to imagine as to what is happening.

rmajeau | Dec 1, 2017 |

I enjoyed this book for many different reasons. The language used in the book was one of the first things I noticed, and I feel it helps you to understand the time we are reading about. For example, her grandmother says, "You know you ain't big enough to walk in no town alone girl." This informal language can be confusing, but it also helps to add emotion to the story which makes it more relatable. I also really enjoyed the illustrations throughout the book. They were brightly colored and mostly realistic which went along with the story very well. Overall, I think this book has an excellent story and can be read by most anyone. If I had to recommend it to a particular age group, it would probably be for a 4th or 5th grader because the informal language can confuse younger readers. (

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epugli2 | Mar 27, 2017 |

The author's and illustrator's wording and illustrations throughout the book show the innocence of the young girl's mind, such as her interpretation of the "whites only" sign. The author does a wonderful job of showing the difference between the minds of young people and older people during this time of segregation. I loved how the author used the young girl's innocence to encourage many individuals to stand up for what they believe and used it to help make a difference in the unfair laws. (

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AshleyJarrard | Oct 10, 2016 |

This book is so touching! The honesty of this story is necessary for children to start to understand how things used to be, and how we never want things to be that way again. The message it sends out is to be yourself and then good things will come your way. All the little innocent girl wanted was a drink of water. She had no idea she was getting herself into trouble. The sign reading "Whites Only" didn't click in her mind as a form of discrimination. Kids don't see each other by race, but rather as people. If more people had the mindset of children, we might just be able to get along a little better.

Overall, this book is very accurate by giving children true information of our past society. Children need to learn the truth and the feelings of each and every individual towards making sure our future is bright. The illustrations were great, giving readers a chance to visually see what bathrooms, water fountains, schools, and buses used to look like. (

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mwatki5 | Oct 5, 2016 |

I liked this book for two reasons specifically. First, I really liked that the book pushes readers to think about a tough issue and it broadens their perspectives. This book introduces students to issues about race that they may not be familiar with or may not have experienced. It also makes the students think about what would it be like if that was them? For example, in the book, the little girl thinks that she can drink from a water fountain that says "White's Only" and then gets yelled at and beaten for it. This could be an opportunity to talk to children about race relations in the past and in the present.

I also liked this book for the illustrations. I liked that they were like paintings rather than drawings. The illustrations also do a nice job of setting the mood of the story and showing what the text was saying.

The big idea of this book was to inform readers about a time period where racial issues were prominent and intense and gives students a look at how people reacted to those things. (

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cboswe2 | Sep 29, 2016 |

This book is a great book for teaching segregation. I love the story within a story style the author gave the book. The illustrations are stunning. This book gives the perceptive most children would have had if they were presented with a sign that said "white only". The book does a great job of teaching what segregation was like but has great comical relief in the book with the use of chickens and the chicken man. Overall, i feel that this certain topic can be heavy and confusing, but the author does a great job of relating the story to children and keeping the topic light.

TaylorAtkinson | Sep 29, 2016 |

This book is about a serious topic and does a great job getting its point across using a wonderful story. The girl in the story is almost beat by a white man, which is a harsh reality for children to grasp, however the book takes caution and the girl is saved before it can happen. I would definitely use this book in my classroom to start a discussion on segregation.

Jaymand | Sep 18, 2016 |

This is a sweet story and is a great way for kids to learn about racism and the way black people were treated. The little girl's innocence is inspiring and is a great way to start that conversation about discrimination. (

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moore.allie1 | Sep 12, 2016 |

I believe that this is a good example of a historical fiction book because of the truth behind majority of the writing. It shows how African Americans were treated many years ago.

KatieScudellari | Sep 8, 2016 |

White Socks Only is about a little girl who decides to go into town one day. In a segregated town, she stepped up in her white socks to a water fountain with a sign that read "whites only." What will happen next?
White Socks Only is a great book to teach about race and the historical hardships on African Americans. It is important to teach the students about the history of segregation. (

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sehuff | Sep 7, 2016 |

I loved reading this book. It would be a great book to read to my students with a class discussion following about things that occurred during this time frame. The setting of this book appears to be before the fifties. It is a way that my students can compare and contrast certain things in this book and things that happen now. The illustration goes well with the story. (

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Neshia.Rowe | Sep 3, 2016 |

I liked this book for many reasons. The first reason is that the language in the story is descriptive. The writing showed that the character had a southern accent, which helps the reader understand that the story takes place in the south. The second reason is that the plot gives suspense. For example, suspense was given when the man was upset at the character for using the fountain for white people, when she is african american. The book also pushes readers to think about the ideas of race and segregation. The big idea of the story is how segregation affects so many people. (

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wclayw1 | Apr 4, 2016 |

This is a great story for young readers to be introduced to for many reasons. This book teaches about the hard times of racism through the eyes of a young girl. The story is greatly impacted because the story is told through the point of view of a little girl. The reader becomes invested in the story and feel sympathy for the little girl because she was not even aware of racism really. She just thought she needed to wear white socks. The illustrations in this book also bring out the many different colors from this culture and help tell the story on each page. The illustrations show how confused the little girl was during all of the fighting and arguing. I also think this is an important message for young students to learn about. During the time of racism, many children did not understand what was going on and why white people would be so mean to them. The language in this book also depicts the southern atmosphere and how life in Mississippi was back then. Overall this is a great story to tell young students. (

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smurph33 | Dec 10, 2015 |

I really loved this book, it left a powerful impression! The author used first person throughout the book to tell of a dark time in American History marked by prejudice and injustice. The setting of the story was a "Whites Only" water fountain, where one brave African American girl drank water even though it was against the law in the south to do so. The diction in this story adds a lot to the story, because it really makes the reader feel like they are in the south during the 1950's and 1960's in the United States, and it helps readers imagine how people acted, talked, and lived. The illustrations were very fitting for the story as well, the expressions of people faces were extremely vivid and displayed a full spectrum of emotion in the book, adding to the message and plot of the story. I believe the message of this story was that sometimes you have to question things and be brave in doing so even if it's scary. This book touches on a heavy period in history, however it is very kid-orientated in how the story unfolds, and I think it is appropriate for kids in 2nd grade and up. (

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mkatri1 | Dec 9, 2015 |

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