Brewster's first day of school is rife with conflict. `As the author notes, this book is a based on the fact that many young African American children were bused in the 1970's into previously all-white schools. Interestingly, Brewster, the author's character of the story told the friendly librarian he wanted to be President one day! As the author notes, he wrote the book before Barack Obama was elected the first African American president of the United States. Thus, Brewster's dream of the possibility of the potential black president occurred.

The illustrations and the story are strong, but not overpowering. This was written as a backdrop of the United States Supreme Court 's outlawing segregated schools in 1954, with the enactment of Brown vs. Board of Education. As the author notes in this book, in 1971, the Supreme Court took the mandate further and forced busing. Instead of allowing black students to attend a white school, some black children were forced to do so, and were bused far from their house. And, likewise, white students also were bused outside of their neighborhoods. This was a failed experiment, which led to violence and dissatisfaction, but black students did indeed have opportunities in previously all-white schools that were not available to them previously.

Brewster attends a previously all-white school. His first day is filled with comments from white students that his kind should go back where they belong. There were police who helped to integrate the schools. In this story, in order to control potential violence, the policeman brings students to the library. Brewster finds the library to be a safe space, and a wonderful white woman who is the librarian reaches out to him. Thus, Brewster's first day of school has a ray of sunshine that carries him forward.

From personal experience, it was a librarian in the small town school where I lived, who helped me feel safe and wanted. My skin was not black, but I had a dysfunctional childhood, and it was the librarian who welcomed me and gave me a love of reading which lasted all my life.

Highly Recommended. Four Stars! ( )

The first day of school is filled with a bit of fear and excitement for every child. But for Brewster, who is African American, it is especially momentous because he and his brother will be attending the previously all-white school across town. Through this engaging story, young readers learn about forced busing and its effects on children in the early 1970s following the Supreme Court’s decision to further the integration of schools. Author’s Note.

This is the story of a boy named Brewster who can't wait to start the first grade until his mother tells him that he'll be going to Central, a school in the white neighborhood. When Brewster gets to school there's a bunch of white people with signs protesting the blacks arriving at the originally all-white school. They even broke one of the bus windows with a rock. As soon as Brewster walks into the school he goes to the water fountain to get some water, where a kid starts bullying him because of the color of his skin. Bryan, Brewster's brother, stands up for him, but both Bryan and Brewster still end up in detention. Miss O'Grady, the librarian, noticed Brewster picked a rocket ship book from the library and says that he'll make a great astronaut one day, but Brewster replies that he's going to be president one day. He suddenly felt stupid saying that knowing there's never been a black president before, but Miss O'Grady believes in Brewster. She explains to them that every child deserves an education and reads them a book about Kennedy, who was an Irish Catholic that became president during a time when people didn't want the Irish in their schools. Brewster returns home that day and tells her that he's going to be president one day.

This story was set in America during the mid-1950s, shortly after segregation in public schools was no longer allowed. This setting clarifies conflict between the main character and the other characters in the story since the main characters started to attend a predominately white school. I think this setting also illuminates the character, Miss O'Grady, because she was so caring of Brewster, regardless of his skin color and regardless of how the other characters treated him.

I absolutely love this book. Because this book is told from Brewster's perspective, it explains segregation in a child-friendly way and in a way that children would view it as if it were happening to them, which is really cool. I also love how kind and how much the teacher believes in Brewster despite the color of his skin. As a future teacher, I aspire to make a difference in my student's lives like Miss O'Grady did to Brewster. I think this book is a great book to read to your students when learning about segregation. ( )

While this book focusing on a very serious matter it still manages to stay positive for the audience. I believe this would be a great book to read to a class. It does a wonderful job of showing kids to stay positive through anything life throws at them and to face new things with a smile. ( )

I enjoyed reading this book however it made me feel sad to reflect back on this part of our history. When reading the dates it really wasn't all that long ago that schools and public places were still segregated. I thank God for people like Miss O' Grady and who excepted people of all color and wanted them to succeed and encouraged them to try their best and believe that anything can be possible. ( )