Mother Jones And Her Army of Mill Children

From the flyleaf—Kids forced to work in factories? Never allowed to go to school? Or play? Doesn’t that make you mad? IT MADE MOTHER JONES MAD. This is the true story of the ‘most dangerous woman in America.’ And yet I had never heard of Mother Jones. She was an agitator, using her spirit, wit, and sense of justice to make lasting differences in the world. This book tells her story. Her story really begins in the endpapers that the illustrator uses to introduce Mother Jones through her many of her famous quotes. For example, “Sit down and read. Educate yourself for the coming conflict.” Once a Congressman asked Mother Jones what her address was and her reply was, “My address is like my shoes: it travels with me. . .I abide where there is a fight against wrong.”

Jonah Winter was so inspired by Mother Jones’ speeches that he chose to use her as the narrator of her own story. This partial biography tells the story of the Children’s Crusade. When Mother Jones saw children working in the mills she began to agitate. She had seen cruelty and wanted others to see it. This is the story of the Children’s Crusade. All children should become familiar with this story because it is because of Mother Jones and the brave children who walked with her from Philadelphia to New York City that American children today are barred from working in factories.

The first-person narrative is told with spunk, humor, indignation, and hope. Students will admire Mother Jones and have an introduction to the Pathways 2.0 text, Kids at Work. The author’s note and primary source photographs at the end of the book provide even more fascinating details about this extraordinary woman.

About the Author

Jonah Winter is a pioneer—a pioneer picture-book biographer. He likes to keep his residence a secret but he grew up in TX. He was riding on his father’s shoulders in the Dallas parade when President Kennedy was shot. He likes to be called, always, by his full name, even by his family and friends. He is not a fan of the internet.

Winter identifies extraordinary characters and tells their stories to kids. When he wrote Diego the picture-book biography did not exist as a genre. Now it is the 2nd most popular type of children’s book. He has also collaborated with his artist mother, Jeanette Winter, on several picture books. He knows that when she agrees to illustrate one of his books she will surprise him with her interpretation—and that the books she illustrates will be treasured forever. He has also illustrated two of his books.

Pathways Themes: Yesterday, Heroes, Social Issues & Culture

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Reviewed by Krystal Bishop, EdD

Professor of Education

Southern Adventist University

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