Starred ReviewStarred Review 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 |
|---|---|---|
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978-1-7284-7793-0
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$14.24 | |
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979-8-7656-3028-0
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$23.99 |
Awards
- Booklist Top 10 History for Youth
- Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books of the Year
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
Starred ReviewStarred Review 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