Happy February! Dr. Toughlove has reviewed a newly published book about a civil rights icon, John Lewis. It is written by Pat Zietlow Miller and is illustrated by Jerry Jordan. Enjoy!
Since February is Black History Month, and our country celebrates the accomplishments of African-American citizens, Dr. Toughlove thought it would an ideal time to review a recently written non-fiction picture book entitled “Unstoppable John”. This unique and informative volume is written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Jerry Jordan, and was published in January 2025.
Dr. Toughlove has read several books about John Lewis, who was a tireless, fearless and iconic civil rights leader. John Lewis is known for his march on Selma, AL, to protest voting rights restrictions, his sit-ins at lunch counters, his freedom riders protests, and his distinguished career as a United States Congressman from Georgia. This is by no means an exhaustive list of all of John Lewis’s accomplishments – it would take many pages to begin to scratch the surface of his legacy. But there was something in “Unstoppable John” that Dr. Toughlove didn’t know about, which sheds light on his exemplary career as an advocate for civil rights.
When John was a young boy, he loved to read. His family had limited means, so there wasn’t money to purchase books. John knew that the place to gain access to lots of books was the public library. He also knew that in his town black people were not permitted to have library cards. Despite having this knowledge, John went to the library to request a library card and was denied. Dr. Toughlove doesn’t want to divulge all of the details, but let it suffice to say that John Lewis’s civil rights advocacy journey began as a young boy trying to obtain a library card. At a young age, he knew that some laws were wrong and needed to be changed.
While reading “Unstoppable John”, Dr. Toughlove was struck by its ability to depict John Lewis’s influential life in terms that youngsters can understand. Pat Zietlow Miller describes John Lewis’s tenacious, tireless pursuit of civil rights for all in an elegant, cogent manner. Jerry Jordan’s illustrations amplify the subtle and not so subtle messages embedded on each page.
“Unstoppable John” is a wonderful book to read any time of year, but is particularly timely during Black History Month. While this book is recommended for youngsters aged 4-8, Dr. Toughlove believes that children and adults alike will enjoy reading it and learning about John Lewis. In the back of the book there is additional information about John Lewis’s life, which can appeal to readers of any age. “Unstoppable John” is available at your local library.