Sweet Justice: Georgia Gilmore and the Montgomery Bus Boycott

This mouthwatering motivational picture book centers Georgia Gilmore (1920–1990), a Black cook in Montgomery, Ala., who raised money through food sales to help support transport costs and cover fines for those participating in the Montgomery bus boycott. Rockliff relays the narrative in a smooth, easy-to-read style: “And if they couldn’t find a seat—well, even standing up, they found the spare ribs and the stuffed bell peppers tasted just as good.” Caldecott Honoree Christie offers realistic portraits of figures, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Gilmore herself, rendered in saturated gouache hues. This food-related profile (“A boycott! Something was cooking in Montgomery, and not just Georgia’s black-eyed peas”) succeeds in spotlighting a force who helped fuel the civil rights movement. Back matter includes more about Gilmore, an author’s note, and sources. Ages 4–8. (Jan.)