Mother Jones and Her Army of Mill Children
by Jonah Winter (Author) Nancy Carpenter (Illustrator)
A stunning picture book about Mary Mother Jones and the 100 children who marched from Philadelphia to New York in a fiery protest against child labor.
Here's the inspiring story of the woman who raised her voice and fist to protect kids' childhoods and futures-- and changed America forever. Mother Jones is MAD, and she wants you to be MAD TOO, and stand up for what's right! Told in first-person, New York Times bestelling author, Jonah Winter, and acclaimed illustrator, Nancy Carpenter, share the incredible story of Mother Jones, an Irish immigrant who was essential in the fight to create child labor laws. Well into her sixties, Mother Jones had finally had enough of children working long hours in dangerous factory jobs, and decided she was going to do something about it. The powerful protests she organized earned her the name the most dangerous woman in America. And in the Children's Crusade of 1903, she lead one hundred boys and girls on a glorious march from Philadelphia right to the front door of President Theodore Roosevelt's Long Island home.
Open this beautiful and inspiring picture book to learn more about this feminist icon and how she inspired thousands to make change.
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Publishers Weekly
A doughty white-haired woman, arms akimbo, nearly steps off the opening page of this book: "My name is Mother Jones, / and I'm MAD./ And you'd be MAD, too, if you'd/ seen what I've seen." Using Jones's folksy voice, Winter whirls readers into descriptions of abominable working conditions, where "children YOUR AGE... worked like grown-ups." To protest, Jones leads a march of child mill workers in 1903 from Pennsylvania to the Long Island summer home of President Theodore Roosevelt. Though the march doesn't trigger immediate action, over the next 40 years, the cause prevails through legislation. Carpenter's illustrations adroitly capture both the grim reality of children at work and the irresistible hope of people coming together to demand change. Supplemental materials note that "worldwide, there are 215 million child workers" yet today. Ages 4-8. (Feb.)
Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.School Library Journal
Gr 1-4—Young readers are introduced to labor union organizer Mary Harris Jones (1837-1930), aka Mother Jones. The narrative begins by revealing that Jones was angry, then lists the issues that angered her: the conditions that coal miners experienced and children working in the mills for long days and little pay. When newspapers would not run her stories, she led the children, all dressed like people from the American Revolution, on a march from Philadelphia to New York City. While the laws were not changed immediately, Jones helped set the framework for the labor laws passed years later that kept children out of factories and in schools during the day. Pre- and post-story author's notes explain the selected quotes and the life of Jones. A bibliography discusses the featured sources. Winter's words will encourage young activists to fight for what is right. Carpenter's illustrations capture both the bleakness of children working in factories and the joy and hope of young people with her use of color and light and dark. VERDICT An inspiring story about the fight against child labor. Recommended for children's nonfiction collections.—Lia Carruthers, Gill St. Bernard's School, Gladstone, NJ
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
United States
Labor movement
Women labor leaders
Jones
