A Sweet Smell of Roses

Two young sisters sneak out of their house early one morning to join a civil rights march. With their red ribbons and determination, they make their way through the streets as the sweet smell of roses follows them on their journey. The story takes place during the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, capturing a child's perspective of this historic period. Through spare text and striking black-and-white illustrations by Eric Velasquez, the narrative presents the march through the innocent yet observant eyes of its young protagonists. This picture book explores themes of courage, family, and the role of children in social movements. The combination of simple storytelling with the weight of historical events creates a bridge between young readers and an important chapter of American history.

Readers value this children's book for introducing young children to the Civil Rights Movement through relatable child protagonists. Multiple reviews highlight the effectiveness of the black and white illustrations by Eric Velasquez, with specific praise for how the red roses add symbolic meaning. Parents and teachers note the book helps start conversations about civil rights with elementary school students. Several reviewers mention using it successfully with 1st-3rd grade classes. Some readers found the narrative too simple and wanted more historical context. A few reviews criticized the lack of specific details about the march depicted. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (276 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (32 ratings) From a teacher on Goodreads: "The simple text makes this accessible for younger students while still conveying the importance of ordinary people participating in the movement." From a parent on Amazon: "My 6-year-old asked thoughtful questions about segregation and peaceful protest after we read this together."

Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles Through a child's perspective, this story chronicles an interracial friendship during the civil rights movement of 1964.

Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson The book documents the 1963 Birmingham Children's Crusade, when young people took to the streets to fight for civil rights.

The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson Two girls, one Black and one White, form a friendship across a fence during segregation in this picture book set in the American South.

We March by Shane W. Evans The narrative follows a family participating in the historic 1963 March on Washington for civil rights.

Belle, The Last Mule at Gee's Bend by Calvin Alexander Ramsey The story reveals how a humble mule played a role in carrying the casket of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during his funeral procession.

🌹 Author Angela Johnson grew up during the Civil Rights Movement and based this story on children who, like herself, participated in freedom marches during the 1960s. 📚 The book's striking black-and-white illustrations, created by Eric Velasquez, are punctuated only by the red roses that appear throughout the story—a powerful artistic choice that emphasizes hope and courage. ✊ The title references the fact that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. often spoke of how freedom would smell as sweet as roses when it finally came. 👧 The story follows two young sisters who sneak out of their house to join a civil rights march, representing the often-overlooked role of children in the movement. 🏆 A Sweet Smell of Roses received the Coretta Scott King Honor and was named an ALA Notable Children's Book in 2005.