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Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement (Caldecott Honor Book) Hardcover – Picture Book, September 6, 2022

by Angela Joy (Author), Janelle Washington (Illustrator)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 29 ratings
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A Caldecott-honor winning picture book biography of the mother of Emmett Till, and how she channeled grief over her son's death into a call to action for the civil rights movement.

Mamie Till-Mobley is the mother of Emmett Till, the 14-year-old boy who was brutally murdered while visiting the South in 1955. His death became a rallying point for the civil rights movement, but few know that it was his mother who was the catalyst for bringing his name to the forefront of history.

In Choosing Brave, Angela Joy and Janelle Washington offer a testament to the power of love, the bond of motherhood, and one woman's unwavering advocacy for justice. It is a poised, moving work about a woman who refocused her unimaginable grief into action for the greater good. Mamie fearlessly refused to allow America to turn away from what happened to her only child. She turned pain into change that ensured her son's life mattered.

Timely, powerful, and beautifully told, this thorough and moving story has been masterfully crafted to be both comprehensive and suitable for younger readers.

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  1. Reading age
    8 - 12 years
  2. Print length
    64 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 2
  5. Lexile measure
    680L
  6. Dimensions
    9.3 x 0.45 x 11.4 inches
  7. Publisher
    Roaring Brook Press
  8. Publication date
    September 6, 2022
  9. ISBN-10
    1250220955
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1250220950
  11. See all details
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From the Publisher

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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 2–6—The heartbreaking story of Emmett Till is shared with great emotional depth. Using cut-paper collage and lyrical storytelling, Joy and Washington revive Mamie Till-Mobley's story. The brilliant, loving mother of Emmett was a child of the Great Migration. Mamie and her family moved up from Mississippi to Argo, a Chicago suburb, where the studious girl worked hard to graduate at the top of her class. She married Louis Till, and after a strenuous birth, their only son arrived. Though doctors predicted he would have severe cognitive and motor delays, Mamie insisted on bringing Emmett home. Louis turned violent, and Mamie refused to tolerate the behavior. Now with just his mother and grandmother, Emmett grew into a kind boy who played joyfully in the streets of Argo until he fell ill with polio. The disease left him with a stutter, which his ingenious mother helped him circumvent using a clever trick of stopping when he was stuck on a word and whistling to calm him before he continued speaking. Unfortunately, like Mamie before them, readers are powerless to stop Emmett's fateful trip to Mississippi. They cannot stop Emmett's alleged whistle, the white woman's lie, the white kidnappers' murder, or the jury's unjust verdict. The symbolic red and blue colors in the collage, weaving Mamie and Emmett's lives and stories together, creates a beautiful artistic tapestry. With rich language and a wealth of knowledge in the back matter, this text has depth and usefulness for a broad audience. VERDICT An essential purchase for all libraries.—Abby Bussen

Review

"In an extraordinary volume, Joy’s cadenced prose and Washington’s dimensional cut-paper artwork portray Mamie Till-Mobley’s (1921–2003) life." ―Publishers Weekly, starred review

"[T]old with hauntingly lyrical language... [and] powerful expressionistic art crafted from cut paper and silhouettes. A devastating, uniquely told story that will resonate." ―Kirkus, starred review

"Washington’s dramatic paper-cut art, featuring bold black-and-white silhouettes and figures on brown backgrounds with blue, brown, and red tissue-paper accents, perfectly captures the courage and dignity of the subject." ―Horn Book, starred review

"[A] forceful, strikingly illustrated nonfiction picture book." ―Shelf Awareness, starred review

"By placing Emmett’s murder in the context of [Mamie Till-Mobley's] life, the narrative brings a deep intimacy to the portrayal of a woman mourning her son, not a symbol." ―The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

"The heartbreaking story of Emmett Till is shared with great emotional depth... An essential purchase." ―School Library Journal, starred review

"A moving, memorable picture book." ―Booklist, starred review

Caldecott Honor Book
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor
Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe Award for Illustrations
Orbis Pictus Honor Book
Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Winner
Walter Dean Myer Award Winner
Cybils 2022 Award Winner for Middle School Nonfiction
Boston Globe-Horn Nonfiction Honor Book
2022 Blue Ribbon List
Kirkus Reviews Best of the Year List
Horn Book Fanfare Best of 2022 List
Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2022
Shelf Awareness Best Books of the Year
New York Public Library Best Books of 2022
Chicago Public Library Best Books of the Year
Evanston Public Library 101 Great Books for Kids
Friends of American Writers' Young People's Literature Award Winner for 2022

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Roaring Brook Press (September 6, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 64 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250220955
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250220950
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 680L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 2
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.28 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.3 x 0.45 x 11.4 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 29 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Janelle Washington

    Janelle Washington

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Janelle Washington is a paper cut and silhouette artist, educator, and illustrator living and working in Virginia. She has her BFA in Fashion Design from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her primary materials are paper, tissue paper, and digital media. All her papercuts and silhouettes are created using an Exacto knife and a single piece of paper. She also incorporates colorful tissue paper, thread, and gold leaf to add color and dimension to her paper designs. Choosing Brave, written by Angela Joy, is her debut picture book as an illustrator.

    Janelle's paper cuts and silhouettes have been exhibited at the National Children's Hospital in Washington, DC, the National Institute of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD, and the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art in Virginia Beach, VA, among many others. In addition, she has commissioned silhouettes housed at the SmithsonianNational Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, and created art installations for the historic St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Richmond, VA. Her work has been published in O, The Oprah Magazine, and Country Living magazine. When Janelle is not cutting paper, she spends time traveling with her husband, reading sci-fi and fiction books, and basking in the sun.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Angela Joy

    Angela Joy

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Angela Joy was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. Before graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Minnesota, she attended New York University and Spelman College. Based in Los Angeles, Angela traveled extensively as a background vocalist, also working in television and movie soundtracks. Currently, she writes for young people in Southern California with a focus on African American history and culture. Her upcoming book, CHOOSING BRAVE: HOW MAMIE TILL-MOBLEY AND EMMETT TILL SPARKED THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, has been selected as a 2022 Junior Library Guild Book. Release date: 9/6/2022.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
29 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Erica
5.0 out of 5 stars I Was Touched By This Amazing Look Into The Life Of Mamie Till Mobley
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2022
Verified Purchase
If you are looking for a children's book about Emmett Till look up author, Angela Joy and her book Choosing Brave. It offers a beautiful way to tell a complicated story so young people and adults can understand and recognize how Mamie Till, made way for them to live the way we do now.

Love is present in this book. It illustrates the love Mamie had for her son. The love Emmett had for his mom. The love Mrs. Till-Mobley had for her people, and for sure demonstrates the love that she had for God who was her strength. It's an incredible testament to her legacy, told in a thoughtful and beautiful way with creative and carefully crafted, poetic words and impeccably compelling illustrations. An excellent gift for any occasion or to add to any classroom library.
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Carol Gordon Ekster
5.0 out of 5 stars Text like poetry - Wonderful picture book biography!
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2023
The writing is absolutely gorgeous and the story is a tear jerker. So well done. I had wished the illustrations aligned more with the beautiful text, but still felt it worthy of 5 stars.
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Carla Cruse
4.0 out of 5 stars What a Woman!
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2023
Verified Purchase
Her bravery against such outrageous odds makes her a hero, but she never should have had to be that brave.
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TheBrookeList
5.0 out of 5 stars "It was the braver thing, that changed everything."
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2022
Angela Joy's words of fortitude and courage are a perfect match to the remarkable layered-paper-cutting of illustrator Janelle Washington. The story of Emmett Till has never been this powerful; the love of a mother has seldom felt this palpable. Words cannot do credit to the excellence and masterful execution of this picture book biography. Strong images with bold lines and solid colors show us the firm and steadfast courage of the maternal heart. Mamie Till-Mobley is shown here in a way this story deserves to be told. It is exquisite.

My pick for Caldecott this year. I know, I said I believed in Farmhouse (and it should be an honor), but Choosing Brave is truly wonderful.

Read as a nomination in the nonfiction book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).
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Deborah Freedman
5.0 out of 5 stars Bravely persisting
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2023
She should have been the last mother who had to carry such weight and persist so bravely, and yet...
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Beth A.
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely incredible storytelling
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2023
Such a powerful story - superb straight to the heart text and bold, brave illustrations. So important.
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Betsy Bird
5.0 out of 5 stars “Let the people see what I have seen."
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2022
Recently I had the great pleasure of attending an exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. The museum, should you ever get a chance to visit, is a bit of a trip. It may conceivably be called the best children’s museum in America, and that’s due in large part to the water clock in the lobby, and exhibits that encompass everything from National Geographic archaeological tours to Scooby Doo mysteries. But on this particular visit I was able to view the exhibit “Let the World See: Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley”. It’s precisely as you might expect. Not far from where Scooby and Shaggy are solving crimes, we’ve a real world exhibit for the older kids, replete with truth and exhibits with titles like “Murdered for Whistling”. And as I made my way through the stations, I couldn’t help but appreciate that I live in an era when a major museum for kids is unafraid to tackle head on a great injustice of American history. Now with the film “Till” coming out in theaters, it seems the right time to have a particularly good children’s book on Emmett Till and his mother come to publication as well. “Choosing Brave” by Angela Joy is NOT the first book for children on Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley. It is, however probably the best. Told not simply with accuracy but with soul, illustrated by a paper-cut artist who has never created a picture book before, “Choosing Brave” proves that it’s true that history can be presented to children in book form if, and only if, the author and artist at work give it all their heart and intelligence. “Choosing Brave” is the book for kids we will turn to on this topic for decades and decades and decades to come.

There is a quote at the beginning of this book. “I just had to pray and brave it. – Mamie Till-Mobley”. What is bravery? Kids read about it all the time in stories of fighters and warriors. This is a book that shows the kind of bravery than an average, everyday person is capable of performing. Time and again Mamie Till-Mobley was given the chance to do the easy thing or the right thing. Every time she chose the right but harder route. Our story begins in Mississippi, where little Mamie Elizabeth Carthan was born. She moved with her family to the North to Argo, outside of Chicago. There, Mamie grew up and married an amateur boxer. After she bore their son Emmett he left and it was just the two of them. Emmett was smart and smiling, but polio left him with a stutter. The cure? To calm down and whistle. Soon he wanted to visit his cousins in the South, so she let him go. What happened next made history. Her son was murdered for that very whistling, his body returned after Mamie insisted that this crime not be buried. She made the nation look at what had happened to her child. She made people confront harsh, hard, awful truths that they did not want to see. And long after her death, her strength lives on. The end of the book shows what looks like a stained glass window, a woman seated, in silhouette, in front of it. Roses climb the sides. And around the border are the names of twenty Black men, women, and children that have been killed for the color of their skin. Everyone from Trayvon Martin to George Floyd Jr. On the opposite page is a single quote: “Let the people see what I have seen. We have averted our eyes far too long. Everybody needs to know what happened to Emmett Till.” Back matter includes an Author’s Note, an Illustrator’s Note, a suggested soundtrack, vocabulary words, a timeline, and Sources.

Where does the line lay? Where can we say, definitively and without hesitation, that one topic or another is either appropriate or not appropriate for children to learn? This is an old question. Maybe an ancient one. Over the course of my own lifetime I’ve seen a subtle chipping away at what has historically been considered “appropriate” for kids. I’m trying to imagine the 1980s, when I was a child, and what a book on Emmett Till would have even encompassed. Back then we were mostly reliant on the “Childhood of Famous Americans” series (no Emmett Till there) or books by Jean Fritz (not a chance). Had “Choosing Brave” been released at that time, I honestly don’t think the country would have been ready for it. So what makes this topic not merely acceptable, but desperately needed, today? Perhaps it has something to do with the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests. Maybe these sparked an awakening not simply in the public consciousness but also in the children’s book publishing industry. However it happened, what makes me so happy about this book is not simply that it exists but that it’s as good as it is. Good intentions are fine and all, but when you get a book as wonderfully written and expertly illustrated as this one, it just shows a level of care and attention that puts the heart at ease.

Words first. And I would go so far as to describe the words in "Choosing Brave” as “clever”. Now the term “clever” is too often used as an insult, meant to besmirch. Something “clever” is not usually considered heartfelt or emotionally resonant, but I would argue that when thought and care is placed in the writing of a book, that care can be equally referred to as having clever AND caring wordplay. Here, author Angela Joy had a challenge on her hands. As I mentioned before, the Emmett Till story had been told in picture book form before. But considering the difficulty of the subject matter, it makes sense that even the best of these, like “A Wreath for Emmett Till” by Marilyn Nelson, spent most of their time covering the facts of the Till case. “Choosing Brave” takes a different tactic. First and foremost, the title is the key. “Choosing Brave”. Angela Joy’s goal here is to show that Mamie Till-Mobley is not being honored in this book for merely being the mother of a victim. We follow her life from childhood onward, and throughout the book we see the moments that defined her. The moments when she was faced with the choice of doing the easy thing or the much harder and much braver thing, whether it was sitting at a counter in the face of a furious white man or keeping her baby when others told her to put him in an institution. The focus of this book is on Mamie and by framing the story of Emmett within the story of Mamie’s life and what made her tick, you understand a lot more about what happened after his death. And you understand too why what she did was so much harder. So much braver.

Hard to believe that “Choosing Brave” is illustrator Janelle Washington’s first picture book. Describing herself on the book’s flap as “a self-taught paper-cut artist from Virginia” it’s true enough that I couldn’t find any other picture books, or really books of any sort, mentioned on her website. Her work here ranges from the evocative to the metaphorical. I think of cut paper as a fairly straightforward medium, but often Ms. Washington would work in clever details that I’d only notice on a reread. For example, when explaining about Mamie’s early life, the book mentions that she was a child of the Great Migration. We then see Mamie held in the arms of her mother, and a path like an arrow points straight to a northern city. The path itself is covered in cotton plants. They’re not mentioned in the text. They’re just a small, significant detail that adds so much context to the book along the way. Then I noticed how certain images repeat themselves. Whenever a man leaves his family behind, be it Mamie’s father or her first husband, he’s always just seen as a silhouette walking off the page. Other details might include how baby Emmett’s heartbeat coming from the womb turns into a thread that he can hold onto on the next page. And I could wax eloquent for days about how Ms. Washington might depict negative space, cutting images out of the black, like Rosa Parks on the bus, or how Mamie is seen in the shadow of the all-white jury that found her child’s murderers not guilty. You can have great written picture books with subpar art and you can have brilliantly illustrated picture books with tepid wordplay. This book truly is what happens when the words are worth of the pictures and the pictures worthy of the words.

Near the end of this book there is a single quote on a pure black page. It reads: “Let the people see what I have seen. We have averted our eyes far too long. Everybody needs to know what happened to Emmett Till.” A little later Angela Joy writes this about the final spread. “.. the story of a mother being denied justice for her murdered Black son, is still so relevant.” It’s why I see it in children’s museums and in films like “Till”. It’s why we cannot stop talking about this. And it’s why, when you find a book for children that does a better job of explaining a terrible moment in history than most adult titles, you need to sing its praises to the hills. We are currently living through a time when forces in our country are fighting to cover up the awful, horrible, racist moments of our history for fear that the children won’t be able to handle it. It just goes to show how little folks understand about kids. They need truth. Kids, when given books like “Choosing Brave” will learn so much about the past and how it relates to our present. Let the people see what I have seen. Let the children read this book and others like it. After all, our kids deserve the rarest kind of best, and Joy and Washington’s latest delivers. If Mamie could choose bravery, the literal least we can do is to read about it.
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