Ruth and the Green Book

Written by Calvin Alexander Ramsey and Gwen Strauss · Illustrated by Floyd Cooper

A family navigates a perilous journey with a guide to safe havens during a time of racial injustice.

4.3/5 Goodreads · 2,521 ratings

32 pages· 1,494 words· Est. 12 min read-aloud

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Ruth embarks on a road trip with her family in the 1950s, only to face the harsh realities of racial discrimination. As they travel from Chicago to Alabama, they encounter hostility and closed doors. But hope arrives in the form of The Green Book, a guide listing safe places for Black travelers. With this lifeline and the kindness of strangers, Ruth's family strives to reach their destination. Will they find safety and acceptance on their journey? Discover the power of resilience and community in a world divided by prejudice.

From the publisher

The picture book inspiration for the Academy Award-winning film The Green Book Ruth was so excited to take a trip in her family’s new car! In the early 1950s, few African Americans could afford to buy cars, so this would be an adventure. But she soon found out that Black travelers weren’t treated very well in some towns. Many hotels and gas stations refused service to Black people. Daddy was upset about something called Jim Crow laws . . . Finally, a friendly attendant at a gas station showed Ruth’s family The Green Book. It listed all of the places that would welcome Black travelers. With this guidebook–and the kindness of strangers–Ruth could finally make a safe journey from Chicago to her grandma’s house in Alabama. Ruth’s story is fiction, but The Green Book and its role in helping a generation of African American travelers avoid some of the indignities of Jim Crow are historical fact.