The Doll Test
Choosing Equality
Four dolls.
Two psychologists.
One landmark court case.
During the first half of the twentieth century, schoolchildren in many parts of the United States were segregated—Black children and white children could not legally attend the same schools. In their so-called doll test, pioneering Black psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark investigated the effects of segregation by presenting children with two Black and two white baby dolls. “Show me the doll that you like best,” they said. “Show me the doll that looks like you.”
Their research showed that segregation harmed Black children. When the Brown v. Board of Education case came along to challenge school segregation, Kenneth Clark testified about the doll test. His testimony was compelling, and in 1954, the US Supreme court ultimately declared school segregation illegal.
Narrated by dolls, this book-length poem by acclaimed author Carole Boston Weatherford introduces Kenneth and Mamie Clark and their powerful research to young readers.
| Format | Your Price | Add |
|---|---|---|
|
978-1-7284-7793-0
|
$14.24 | |
|
979-8-7656-3028-0
|
$23.99 |
| Interest Level | Grade 2 - Grade 5 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 3 |
| Genre | Picture Books, Social Studies |
| Category | Diverse Books: #OwnVoices, Diverse Books: Race & Ethnicity, Diverse Books: Social Justice, Diversity, SEL: C Social Awareness, Social Emotional Learning |
| Copyright | 2024 |
| Publisher | Lerner Publishing Group |
| Imprint | Carolrhoda Books ® |
| Language | English |
| Number of Pages | 32 |
| Publication Date | 2024-11-05 |
Author: Carole Boston Weatherford
Carole Boston Weatherford is the author of numerous award-winning books. Her picture book BOX: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom, illustrated by Michele Wood received a Newbery Honor. Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre, illustrated by the late Floyd Cooper, was a National Book Award longlist title, won the Coretta Scott King Award for author and illustrator, and received a Caldecott Honor and a Sibert Honor. She is dedicated to writing poetry for children and is the 2025 and 2026 Young People’s Poet Laureate. When she’s not traveling or visiting museums, Carole is mining the past for family stories, fading traditions, and forgotten struggles. She lives in North Carolina.
Illustrator: David Elmo Cooper
David Elmo Cooper is a multi-media artist and muralist, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors of The Society of Publications Designers. His work has appeared on book covers, ad campaigns, and editorial publications, such as The New York Times, Print Magazine, and POZ Magazine. David most recently illustrated the New York Times Best Selling children’s book, Marcus Makes a Movie, the debut children’s book by comedian and actor Kevin Hart.
Lerner eSource™ offers free digital teaching and learning resources, including Common Core State Standards (CCSS) teaching guides. These guides, created by classroom teachers, offer short lessons and writing exercises that give students specific instruction and practice using Common Core skills and strategies. Lerner eSource also provides additional resources including online activities, downloadable/printable graphic organizers, and additional educational materials that would also support Common Core instruction. Download, share, pin, print, and save as many of these free resources as you like!
The Doll Test
Four dolls. Two psychologists. One landmark court case. During the first half of the twentieth century, schoolchildren in many parts of the United States were segregated—Black children and white children could not… View available downloads →
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The Doll Test: An Interview with Illustrator David Elmo Cooper
Narrated by dolls, The Doll Test: Choosing Equality is a book-length poem by acclaimed author Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by David Elmo Cooper which focuses on the pivotal research of Black psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark. In the so-called “doll test,” they presented… View →
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Reviews
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
“The text is accessible and direct, but it’s given a particularly subversive quality with its doll narrators, who are somewhat bemused by the idea of separating anyone by skin color . . . The digitally collaged art is, as noted in the illustrator’s note, purposefully distorted and unsettling, with bodies out of proportion and composition off-kilter, reminding readers of the literal imbalance of rights and laws built from white supremacy.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
The Horn Book Magazine
“Cooper’s visuals enhance Weatherford’s assured storytelling, creating a harmonious blend that amplifies the story’s impact. Weatherford’s elegant and relatable explanation of the significance of the Clarks’ work is more than a recounting of facts; this book is a call to action, prompting readers to consider the ongoing pursuit of equality and justice.”—Horn Book Magazine
Booklist
“This powerful picture book effectively documents the research that validated the substantial damage to generations of students wrought by segregationist, separate-but equal education policies . . . Suitable for kids, but deserving of a much wider audience, award winners Weatherford and Cooper have created an impactful and compelling book.”—starred, Booklist
School Library Journal
“An astonishing and solid purchase for libraries looking for history books about racial segregation.”—School Library Journal