Download high-resolution image Look inside
Listen to a clip from the audiobook
audio pause button
0:00
0:00

She Persisted: Coretta Scott King

Look inside
Listen to a clip from the audiobook
audio pause button
0:00
0:00
Hardcover
$14.99 US
5.69"W x 7.88"H x 0.43"D  
On sale Jan 04, 2022 | 80 Pages | 9780593353509
Grades 1-4
Reading Level: Fountas & Pinnell S
Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, a chapter book series about women who spoke up and rose up against the odds--including Coretta Scott King!

In this chapter book biography by award-winning author Kelly Starling Lyons, readers learn about the amazing life of Coretta Scott King--and how she persisted
 
Coretta Scott King is known for being the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but she was a civil rights activist and leader in her own right! She was a singer and an author too, and her work made a difference for Black Americans and for all women for decades to come.

Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Coretta Scott King's footsteps and make a difference! A perfect choice for kids who love learning and teachers who want to bring inspiring women into their curriculum.
 
And don’t miss out on the rest of the books in the She Persisted series, featuring so many more women who persisted, including Oprah Winfrey, Harriet Tubman, Ruby Bridges, and more!

Praise for She Persisted: Coretta Scott King:

"This book profiles the uplifting voice of an activist worth recognizing in her own right [and] Lyons manages to weave in a healthy amount of emotion into this account . . . A brief but effective account of not-often-taught figure that would nicely complement curriculum units on the Civil Rights Movement." --School Library Journal
Kelly Starling Lyons (kellystarlinglyons.com) is the award-winning author of more than 30 books for young readers including Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice & Sing Inspired Generations, Ellen's Broom, Hope’s Gift, and Tea Cakes for Tosh. Her chapter books include the popular Jada Jones and Miles Lewis series and She Persisted: Dorothy Height and She Persisted: Coretta Scott King. Kelly is a teaching artist and founding member of The Brown Bookshelf. She lives in North Carolina. View titles by Kelly Starling Lyons
© Photo courtesy of the author
Chelsea Clinton is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World; She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History; She Persisted in Sports: American Olympians Who Changed the Game; She Persisted in Science: Brilliant Women Who Made a Difference; Don't Let Them Disappear: 12 Endangered Species Across the Globe; Welcome to the Big Kids Club; It's Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going!; Start Now!: You Can Make a Difference; with Hillary Clinton, Grandma's Gardens and Gutsy Women; and, with Devi Sridhar, Governing Global Health: Who Runs the World and Why? She is also the Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation, where she works on many initiatives, including those that help empower the next generation of leaders. She lives in New York City with her husband, Marc, and their children. You can follow Chelsea Clinton on Twitter @ChelseaClinton or on Facebook at facebook.com/ChelseaClinton. View titles by Chelsea Clinton
© Vanessa Blasich
Alexandra Boiger (AlexandraBoiger.com) has illustrated nearly twenty picture books, including the She Persisted series by by Chelsea Clinton; the popular Tallulah series by Marilyn Singer; and the Max and Marla books, which she also wrote. Originally from Munich, Germany, she now lives outside of San Francisco, California, with her husband, Andrea; daughter, Vanessa; and two cats, Luiso and Winter. You can follow Alexandra on Instagram @alexandra_boiger. View titles by Alexandra Boiger
Dear Reader,

As Sally Ride and Marian Wright Edelman both powerfully said, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” When Sally Ride said that, she meant that it was hard to dream of being an astronaut, like she was, or a doctor or an athlete or anything at all if you didn’t see someone like you who already had lived that dream. She especially was talking about seeing women in jobs that historically were held by men. 

I wrote the first She Persisted and the books that came after it because I wanted young girls—and children of all genders—to see women who worked hard to live their dreams. And I wanted all of us to see examples of persistence in the face of different challenges to help inspire us in our own lives. 

I’m so thrilled now to partner with a sisterhood of writers to bring longer, more in-depth versions of these stories of women’s persistence and achievement to readers. I hope you enjoy these chapter books as much as I do and find them inspiring and empowering. 

And remember: If anyone ever tells you no, if anyone ever says your voice isn’t important or your dreams are too big, remember these women. They persisted and so should you.

Warmly,
Chelsea Clinton


TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Strong Roots
Chapter 2: Gifted Voice
Chapter 3: Determined to Succeed
Chapter 4: Fortified by Faith
Chapter 5: Freedom Fighter
Chapter 6: Legacy Builder
How You Can Persist
References


Chapter 1
Strong Roots

 
Named after her grandma Cora, Coretta Scott came into the world connected to a deep legacy of faith, bravery and belief in the importance of education. Everyone knew she was destined for something special. But no one—not even her parents or Coretta herself—could imagine that one day her voice and strength would inspire people around the world.

Born on April 27, 1927, at home in Perry County, Alabama, Coretta was the child of Obadiah (Obie) Scott and Bernice McMurryScott. They lived on family land in a house her father had built. Surrounded by the power of people who loved her, Coretta felt safe and protected. But outside the safety of their home, there were dangers everywhere.

In Alabama and throughout the South, segregation—racist laws that separated Black and white people—was the rule. Being Black meant you had to drink from “Colored” water fountains, go through back doors of businesses and restaurants and only be served after whites were. You were called hateful names and faced the danger of being hurt or killed because of the color of your skin. The weight of oppression was as thick as summer Alabama air. But the Scotts surrounded their kids with the winds of possibility.

In their proud Black community with family all around, there was a history of land ownership, hard-won and passed on. The Scotts knew land was a complicated issue full of injustice. The forced removal of the Muscogee people from their homelands and the terrible institution of slavery built wealth for some people while keeping others down. Decades later, many families who lived near Coretta’s didn’t own land and had little money. The unfairness broke Coretta’s heart.

But being with her family brought her joy. She dreamed and explored as she played with her big sister Edythe, little brother, Obie Leonard, and cousins. She climbed trees, swung on tire swings, and wrestled boys. She was imaginative and strong—and proud of it.
Praise for She Persisted: Coretta Scott King:

"This book profiles the uplifting voice of an activist worth recognizing in her own right [and] Lyons manages to weave in a healthy amount of emotion into this account . . . A brief but effective account of not-often-taught figure that would nicely complement curriculum units on the Civil Rights Movement." --School Library Journal

About

Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, a chapter book series about women who spoke up and rose up against the odds--including Coretta Scott King!

In this chapter book biography by award-winning author Kelly Starling Lyons, readers learn about the amazing life of Coretta Scott King--and how she persisted
 
Coretta Scott King is known for being the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but she was a civil rights activist and leader in her own right! She was a singer and an author too, and her work made a difference for Black Americans and for all women for decades to come.

Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Coretta Scott King's footsteps and make a difference! A perfect choice for kids who love learning and teachers who want to bring inspiring women into their curriculum.
 
And don’t miss out on the rest of the books in the She Persisted series, featuring so many more women who persisted, including Oprah Winfrey, Harriet Tubman, Ruby Bridges, and more!

Praise for She Persisted: Coretta Scott King:

"This book profiles the uplifting voice of an activist worth recognizing in her own right [and] Lyons manages to weave in a healthy amount of emotion into this account . . . A brief but effective account of not-often-taught figure that would nicely complement curriculum units on the Civil Rights Movement." --School Library Journal

Author

Kelly Starling Lyons (kellystarlinglyons.com) is the award-winning author of more than 30 books for young readers including Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice & Sing Inspired Generations, Ellen's Broom, Hope’s Gift, and Tea Cakes for Tosh. Her chapter books include the popular Jada Jones and Miles Lewis series and She Persisted: Dorothy Height and She Persisted: Coretta Scott King. Kelly is a teaching artist and founding member of The Brown Bookshelf. She lives in North Carolina. View titles by Kelly Starling Lyons
© Photo courtesy of the author
Chelsea Clinton is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World; She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History; She Persisted in Sports: American Olympians Who Changed the Game; She Persisted in Science: Brilliant Women Who Made a Difference; Don't Let Them Disappear: 12 Endangered Species Across the Globe; Welcome to the Big Kids Club; It's Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going!; Start Now!: You Can Make a Difference; with Hillary Clinton, Grandma's Gardens and Gutsy Women; and, with Devi Sridhar, Governing Global Health: Who Runs the World and Why? She is also the Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation, where she works on many initiatives, including those that help empower the next generation of leaders. She lives in New York City with her husband, Marc, and their children. You can follow Chelsea Clinton on Twitter @ChelseaClinton or on Facebook at facebook.com/ChelseaClinton. View titles by Chelsea Clinton
© Vanessa Blasich
Alexandra Boiger (AlexandraBoiger.com) has illustrated nearly twenty picture books, including the She Persisted series by by Chelsea Clinton; the popular Tallulah series by Marilyn Singer; and the Max and Marla books, which she also wrote. Originally from Munich, Germany, she now lives outside of San Francisco, California, with her husband, Andrea; daughter, Vanessa; and two cats, Luiso and Winter. You can follow Alexandra on Instagram @alexandra_boiger. View titles by Alexandra Boiger

Excerpt

Dear Reader,

As Sally Ride and Marian Wright Edelman both powerfully said, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” When Sally Ride said that, she meant that it was hard to dream of being an astronaut, like she was, or a doctor or an athlete or anything at all if you didn’t see someone like you who already had lived that dream. She especially was talking about seeing women in jobs that historically were held by men. 

I wrote the first She Persisted and the books that came after it because I wanted young girls—and children of all genders—to see women who worked hard to live their dreams. And I wanted all of us to see examples of persistence in the face of different challenges to help inspire us in our own lives. 

I’m so thrilled now to partner with a sisterhood of writers to bring longer, more in-depth versions of these stories of women’s persistence and achievement to readers. I hope you enjoy these chapter books as much as I do and find them inspiring and empowering. 

And remember: If anyone ever tells you no, if anyone ever says your voice isn’t important or your dreams are too big, remember these women. They persisted and so should you.

Warmly,
Chelsea Clinton


TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Strong Roots
Chapter 2: Gifted Voice
Chapter 3: Determined to Succeed
Chapter 4: Fortified by Faith
Chapter 5: Freedom Fighter
Chapter 6: Legacy Builder
How You Can Persist
References


Chapter 1
Strong Roots

 
Named after her grandma Cora, Coretta Scott came into the world connected to a deep legacy of faith, bravery and belief in the importance of education. Everyone knew she was destined for something special. But no one—not even her parents or Coretta herself—could imagine that one day her voice and strength would inspire people around the world.

Born on April 27, 1927, at home in Perry County, Alabama, Coretta was the child of Obadiah (Obie) Scott and Bernice McMurryScott. They lived on family land in a house her father had built. Surrounded by the power of people who loved her, Coretta felt safe and protected. But outside the safety of their home, there were dangers everywhere.

In Alabama and throughout the South, segregation—racist laws that separated Black and white people—was the rule. Being Black meant you had to drink from “Colored” water fountains, go through back doors of businesses and restaurants and only be served after whites were. You were called hateful names and faced the danger of being hurt or killed because of the color of your skin. The weight of oppression was as thick as summer Alabama air. But the Scotts surrounded their kids with the winds of possibility.

In their proud Black community with family all around, there was a history of land ownership, hard-won and passed on. The Scotts knew land was a complicated issue full of injustice. The forced removal of the Muscogee people from their homelands and the terrible institution of slavery built wealth for some people while keeping others down. Decades later, many families who lived near Coretta’s didn’t own land and had little money. The unfairness broke Coretta’s heart.

But being with her family brought her joy. She dreamed and explored as she played with her big sister Edythe, little brother, Obie Leonard, and cousins. She climbed trees, swung on tire swings, and wrestled boys. She was imaginative and strong—and proud of it.

Praise

Praise for She Persisted: Coretta Scott King:

"This book profiles the uplifting voice of an activist worth recognizing in her own right [and] Lyons manages to weave in a healthy amount of emotion into this account . . . A brief but effective account of not-often-taught figure that would nicely complement curriculum units on the Civil Rights Movement." --School Library Journal

Reading with Purpose Summit Event

On Monday, June 10th, Penguin Random House Education and DK Learning co-hosted a Reading with Purpose Summit Event in collaboration with Molly Ness, PhD. The event took place at Penguin Random House’s NYC headquarters and included sessions featuring leading education experts and a lunchtime author panel. The in-person professional learning event was built to show

Read more

2024 Elementary School Collection

The Penguin Random House Education Elementary School Collection features outstanding fiction, nonfiction, and picture books from Penguin Young Reader’s, Random House Children’s, DK, and Grupo Editorial, as well as children’s publishers distributed by Penguin Random House. Explore online or download this valuable resource to discover great books in specific topic areas such as: Leveled Readers,

Read more

DK Learning Phonic Books Sampler Request

Thank you for your interest in DK Learning | Phonic Books. To download the DK Learning | Phonic Books sampler with four complete readers, please click here and complete the form. Once your information is successfully submitted, a link to download the sampler will be provided on the confirmation screen.   Click here to learn

Read more

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more