Ketanji Brown Jackson: A Justice for All

by Tami Charles, Jemma Skidmore (Illustrator)

Overview

Discover the incredible story of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who followed her childhood dream of becoming a lawyer and eventually became the first Black woman to sit on the US Supreme Court in this picture book biography.

After 232 years and 115 appointments, Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson became the first Black woman appointed to serve on the US Supreme Court. With Tami Charles’s sweeping lyricism and Jemma Skidmore’s unforgettable illustrations, readers learn about the narratives that have shaped the Justice’s life, and how this historic moment will be impressed upon the minds of the young dreamers of the future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665935272
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date:	04/04/2023
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
Lexile:	AD850L (what's this?)
File size:	92 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Tami Charles is the New York Times bestselling author of All Because You Matter and numerous books for children and young adults. Her middle grade debut, Like Vanessa, earned three starred reviews and a Junior Library Guild selection. Her latest titles include young adult novel in verse, Muted, which was a BuzzFeed Top 40 pick for 2021; lyrical picture book We Are Here; and a picture book biography about Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. When Tami isn’t writing, she can be found presenting at schools both stateside and abroad. For more info, you can follow Tami on Twitter @TamiWritesStuff or Instagram @TamiWrites.

Jemma Skidmore is a dyslexic, mixed-race illustrator who grew up in rural Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. Although she wasn’t a confident early reader, she has always been fascinated by the art of storytelling. Jemma studied fine art at Falmouth University and has gone on to work in print, film, and television in London and Vancouver, British Columbia. She has now returned to Gloucestershire, where she lives with her family and a cat named Blue.

Editorial Reviews

07/10/2023

In a stylized picture book biography told through a wide lens, the creators outline the life of Ketanji Brown Jackson (b. 1970) from childhood to her appointment on the U.S. Supreme Court. Opening pages show young Jackson offering up a childhood hope to “protect the people/ and the Constitution,” views of her 2022 entrée as the first Black female Supreme Court justice, and starry images of ancestors with “intentional/ and courageous” dreams. Having established “the hopes/ and the dreams” from which Jackson was born, Charles next follows her through the decades as a child in 1970s Miami, and onward, as she follows in the steps of luminaries such as Charlotte E. Ray, Jane Bolin, and Constance Baker Motley. Skidmore’s stylized gouache and wax pencil illustrations illuminate pivotal years in Jackson’s schooling, then tenure as a law clerk, public defender, circuit court judge, and finally her Supreme Court appointment. It’s an inspiring biography that acknowledges the impact of those who paved the way. An author’s note and timeline conclude. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

A School Library Journal Best Book of 2023
An Orbis Pictus Honor title

★ “Every dream begins with one small step, and those who read this book will know that with work, determination, and love, their dreams can come true, too. An excellent book to share in groups and necessary for all collections.”—School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

“[A]n inspiring biography that acknowledges the impact of those who paved the way.”—Publishers Weekly

“Triumphant and inspiring.”—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

★ 04/01/2023

Gr 2–4—"I love our country and the Constitution and the rights that make us free," stated Ketanji Brown Jackson at the Senate hearing that confirmed her as the first African American female to be appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Charles writes this biography through the eyes of an admiring and inspired young girl under the loving care and guidance of her mother. Charles's dedication to seeing events through a young person's perspective is refreshing and admirable. Her use of poetry and the inclusion of personal details about Jackson and historical facts is intentional and well done. Skidmore's illustrations wonderfully complement the text. Young and old will see themselves in the pages of this book. VERDICT Every dream begins with one small step, and those who read this book will know that with work, determination, and love, their dreams can come true, too. An excellent book to share in groups and necessary for all collections.—Laura Ellis

School Library Journal

2023-02-08
The first Black female U.S. Supreme Court justice’s journey to greatness.

Charles notes that Ketanji Brown Jackson’s groundbreaking achievements are rooted in the dreams of her ancestors, who “fought to change / the fabric of this country.” Born in 1970, Ketanji Onyika Brown was the daughter of a lawyer and a principal. Indeed, she often sat with them as they studied and graded papers. She was an honor student and skilled debater, but when she set her sights on Harvard University, a guidance counselor discouraged her. She nevertheless attended both Harvard University and Harvard Law School, worked as a public defender, and became a district court judge. History was made when President Joe Biden nominated her as a Supreme Court justice. Never in 232 years had a Black woman ever served on the court, but her confirmation by the Senate changed that. This lively picture-book biography tells Justice Jackson’s story in direct, age-appropriate verse, never losing sight of either her struggles or successes. References to Black women lawyers and judges such as Charlotte E. Ray, Jane Bolin, and Constance Baker Motley make clear that many paved the way for her. The text is supported by colorful and expressive gouache and wax pencil illustrations that contribute to the overall hopeful tone of the narrative. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Triumphant and inspiring. (author’s note, important dates, important people and history shown in the art, bibliography) (Picture-book biography. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews