All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything
2021 Schneider Family Book Award Young Children's Honor Book (American Library Association)
Experience the true story of lifelong activist Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins and her participation in the Capitol Crawl in this inspiring autobiographical picture book. This beautifully illustrated story includes a foreword from Jennifer and backmatter detailing her life and the history of the disability rights movement.
This is the story of a little girl who just wanted to go, even when others tried to stop her.
Jennifer Keelan was determined to make a change--even if she was just a kid. She never thought her wheelchair could slow her down, but the way the world around her was built made it hard to do even simple things. Like going to school, or eating lunch in the cafeteria.
Jennifer knew that everyone deserves a voice! Then the Americans with Disabilities Act, a law that would make public spaces much more accessible to people with disabilities, was proposed to Congress. And to make sure it passed, Jennifer went to the steps of the Capitol building in Washington DC to convince them.
And, without her wheelchair, she climbed.
ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP!
A Rise: A Feminist Book Project Nominee
A Junior Library Guild Selection
All the Way to the Top is perfect for:
- Elementary school teachers looking for books to supplement disability rights curriculum and the history of the ADA (find a free Common-Core Aligned Educator Guide at www.sourcebooks.com)
- Parents looking for social justice picture books, books on activism and for young activists, and inspiring books for girls
- Parents, teachers, librarians, and guardians looking for beautifully illustrated, inspirational and educational books for young readers in their life
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Annette Bay Pimentel has published two picture book biographies, Mountain Chef, which won the Carter G. Woodson Award, and Girl, Running, which was a Junior Library Guild pick and received a starred review. She lives in Moscow, Idaho. Visit her at annettebaypimental.com.
NABI H. Ali is a Tamil-American illustrator who enjoys creating diverse works that showcase an array of cultures and peoples. His interest in illustrative works started when he realized he could help create representation in the arts and in media for minorities, and he is very passionate about working with characters that he would have liked to see when he was a kid.
Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins joined the disability rights movement at the age of six and has been a passionate advocate ever since. In 1990, she received the Americans With Disabilities Act Award. Jennifer received her GED in 2002 before earning a B.S. in Family and Human Development from Arizona State University, which she plans to use to help children with disability rights advocacy. She lives in Colorado with her mother, Cynthia Keelan, and her service dog Mya.
"Clear, accessible prose accompanied by Ali's creamily textured digital illustrations...a jumping-off point for conversations." -- Publishers Weekly
" Pimentel's compelling, present-tense narrative gives the story great immediacy, helping children connect with Jennifer's reactions to physical barriers and social injustice...Still an activist, Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins offers a thought-provoking foreword to this inspiring picture book." -- Booklist
"Pimentel offers a great look at a young activist creating change and a better understanding of the importance of the ADA." -- School Library Journal
"A powerful, empowering story!" -- Washington Parent
"I would recommend All the Way to the Top to kids who might have a disability or to kids who like to learn about real people." -- Avery, Age 10 (Kids Book Buzz)
"A 2020 A Mighty Girl Best Book of the Year" -- A Mighty Girl
