Lois 's Reviews > The Doll Test: Choosing Equality

This ebook was made available for me to read and review by Carole Boston Weatherford, Lerner Publishing Group, and NetGalley.

The illustrator of this picture book is David Elmo Cooper. The illustrations are very powerful and beautifully artistic. The illustrator notes indicate that he purchased dolls like those used in the experiment, took pictures of them, and the artwork is created from composite images. The effect is both beautiful and somewhat haunting.

This is well researched and delicately phrased. This is a very difficult experience to explain to young children. Last year, I was trying to explain the civil rights movement in terms a 2nd grader can understand to my own grandkids, so I appreciate the struggle of the author. The information is factual and uncomfortable. The book adds nice images and softens the story by telling it from the dolls point of view. This manages a challenging topic very elegantly.

The text is a poem that was modified for a picture book, which worked well.
I would consider this a low trauma introduction to this subject with grade school-age kids. While this is geared towards younger kids, it's also a good resource for an older demographic because it contains quite a few facts, including an expanded further reading list on this topic. As well as pictures and facts from the actual studies. This functions as a resource beyond the picture book aspect.

Thank you to Carole Boston Weatherford, Lerner Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ebook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.