This absolutely beautiful book, inspired by a civil rights pilgrimage, follows Liberty and her friend Abdullah on an interfaith bus trip through landmarks of the civil rights movement
in the South. Scenes on the bus show the children’s friendship, play, and growing relationships with their diverse fellow passengers.
Tadgell's richly colored illustrations of each stop show us the solemnity of the group and the children taking comfort from their parents and fellow passengers. These are well balanced with paintings of Liberty and Abdullah’s playfulness and energy. The soft watercolors contrast with black and white inserts of the historical figures of each site.

The endnotes, More about places and people from Liberty’s travels, feature thumbnails of the illustrations and more detailed information about each stop, and website information for the Civil Rights Trail.
The author’s note provides background on the Southern Methodist University’s Civil Rights Pilgrimage he founded and the trip he led recently, which included his daughter Liberty and her friend Abdullah, the youngest of the group.

This is a stunning book with a unique approach to introducing the civil rights events that began our ongoing story of the struggle. While recommended for ages 3-7, I believe its appeal and usefulness extend far beyond that range. It is a powerful book for home libraries and gifts and ideal for an introduction to civil rights history; highly recommended for classroom and school libraries.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review

Loved this book! In fact, I wanted to know how I could be part of the next bus tour. I think this is a great way to get students interested in historical places history. The story is simple, can connect easily for students of various ages and leaves the reader interested in knowing more.

This book is fine, but “Show, don’t tell” would be a good revision rule. Lots of passive voice where dialogue would have made the story come alive. And, I felt like the bus trip—the gimmick that has Liberty visiting Civil Rights sites—glossed over making meaning by covering too much ground. I get that the topics are rough for small children but if so, a series about Liberty that delicately ponders each site might be far more meaningful.

Thanks, Netgalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book should be in every home. It explores some of the places that were extremely important in obtaining the right to vote for black people. I grew up during this tumultuous time and knew about their struggles and strength to persevere. Even though this story is geared towards young people, it reminded me of that time. It is important to teach kids history so when they are adults, they keep the fires burning for all people to have the right to vote.
I received an advanced reader copy for free from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Through a bus ride with a diverse group of families, Michael Waters gives kids a look at various locations in the south that were instrumental in the fight for civil liberty.

Each location includes pictures of the people who were important in that city.

At the end there is additional information about each person and location discussed.

On the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, the author, Michael W. Waters took his family, including his young daughter Liberty, Imam Dr. Omar Suleiman and his family, including his young son [and Liberty's best friend] Abdullah and others [of multiple beliefs, and ethnic backgrounds], on a Civil Rights road trip that ended with them marching on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, together, in celebration and love and friendship. This book is the result of that trip, and what an absolutely beautiful book it is. It shows people discovery history together, small children learning about children close to their own ages that died during the Civil Rights Movement, and how important that time was and still is - we must continue to share this history so we do not doom ourselves to repeat it. That time was ugly and the lessons these travelers learned were not easy ones, but it was good for all of them to share in it.

This book [that is lovingly illustrated with true to life pictures and script] is a perfect stepping off point for younger children to learn about that time frame. It touches on different things that happened over the years without being graphic in the telling. Parents and caregivers will be able to embellish the story depending on the child's age and the more it is read, the more that child will learn about a important part of American's history. I think every parent and caregiver [and teachers] should be reading this book with their children and discussing this time in our history. It will be good for families to have these discussions and to learn from past mistakes and discuss how to move forward and not make them again. Very well done.

Thank you to Michael W. Waters, Nicole Tadgell [Illustrator], and Flyaway Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Liberty travels with her and other families to significant sites of the Civil Rights events. We learn what happened and how it helped change things. This is a heavy, but important and hopeful book. This would be a great introduction and companion to learning about the Civil Rights movement.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

Thank you to the Publisher for the Advanced Copy.

This book is wonderful. I loved the illustrations and the writing.

This book is a beautiful one to read. From the gorgeous water color illustrations to the story itself.

The pilgrimage Michael Waters created in a Civil Rights Road Trip is one that needs to be shared and highlighted. Teaching children the truth of history, even the difficult aspects, is key to progress. It's sad to learn about the murders of Martin Luther King, Jr., Emmitt Till, and Medgar Evers, but it's imperative. I felt both somber and hopeful reading this book as Liberty and her family and friends visit historic sites and memorials. Liberty's basic understanding and feelings of sadness over tragic events highlight how children understand the gravity of injustice. It's not harming Liberty to have exposure to sad things, it's okay to be sad. It pays homage to the people who've come before us and fought for rights and it keeps their stories alive.

I love that so many children's books have additional information in the back to help elevate the experience for the children AND the adults. This extra information about the sites mentioned in the book can give adults an education on things they likely didn't learn about in school text books and help spark important conversations about race and equality and love.

Pack up your bags! After reading this book, you will want to go on Liberty's Travels. This age appropriate book introduces children to the Civil Rights movement, including the people and places that were important. It is told in a straightforward, yet gentle way for children to understand. The back of the book has more information about each person and place mentioned, so you can do your own research on the topic.
I highly recommend this book to teaches and parents alike. It will be a good way to spark a discussion about Civil Rights.
I would like to thank the author, Flyaway Books and the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Liberty is a young girl who is on a civil rights road trip with her family. She visits Jackson, Mississippi to learn about Medgar Evers who worked towards voting rights for African Americans. She the visits Glendora, Mississippi and learns about the death of Emmett Till. She then visits the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee to learn about the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Next she visits the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama where four young girls were killed in a bombing. In Montgomery, Alabama she visits Dr. King’s home which still has a hole on the porch from a bombing. Finally, she visits Selma, Alabama and sees the bridge where many people marched for civil rights. Along the way, Liberty learns history and makes new friends.
At the end of the book there is a note from the author. Liberty is his daughter and he wants fo make sure that all generations connect with the events/ people in history who worked together to ensure equal rights for all.
This is a beautifully illustrated book which talks about history in a way that children can understand and relate to without getting overwhelmed by too much information that they will learn about as they get older. This would be a wonderful book to add to a classroom or home library to help introduce the civil rights movement to younger children.

My students were really engaged while i read this book. We did google image search while reading to see the places in real life. They audibly ooohhed when I showed them Medgar Evars real house and we all agreed the illustrator did a great job recreating the places. I myself wondered if a real bus tour like this existed and would love to take it if so.

Liberty’s Civil Rights Road Trip by Michael W. Waters is a story full of important references to the Civil Rights Movement. Liberty is a young girl with her family who is on a bus tour of important places that help explain the significant events of the Civil Rights movement. Liberty’s family is joined by many others on this trip and Liberty has made friends with many of them. The stops the book made were a mixture of expected and unexpected and all were explained well. Liberty’s enthusiasm for the trip and her friends was one of the highlights of the book.

Liberty’s Civil Rights Road Trip by Michael W Waters was a good children’s book to read with multiple ages.

Liberty's Civil Rights Road Trip was a very sweet story about what were really heavy times and places. The bus trip stopped at six very important places on the road to Black freedom. Each stop explained the circumstances that made the site historic in appropriate language.

It's a starting place for teaching children about the history of this country. I found myself feeling sad because I knew the truth and the more grim stories of the locations but the author kept it truthful but appropriate for about the ages of 6 to 12. There is an option in the back of the book to go deeper into the story if you choose too. I read this to my eight year old and it not only held his attention but he asked me questions. I love a book that sparks conversation.

The artwork (which looked like watercolors) was very sweet-perfect for a children's book. Liberty was a sweet and inquisitive little girl. I loved her character. I loved the diversity of the characters on the trip. It didn't make it so that only black people are on this bus.

There were people of all faiths and colors and that's who should be looking into this history because black history is American history. I appreciated that so much. This is a book that I would buy for every classroom and every child's library because it is a great primer for civil rights history.

Thank you Flyaway Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This is a really nice and informative book for children. I think it is a great book to have in the classroom and libraries too. Explains things about the Civil Rights in terms that will help children understand. I was very happy to see that this picture book is a longer one and will appeal to various ages. The illustrations are great too, and inclusive of many cultures. Very well qualified author that actually led this journey.

An excellent story for children (& adults will find this excellent too!).....telling of a road trip seeing places of civil rights importance. The nicely colored illustrations show a varied group of travelers learning about these especially important places. It's done in a very enlightening way, not done in a preachy manner....... all very comfortable learning about very important events in our nation's history. A great book for kids & adults, for all Americans, & done in a manner of speaking that everyone can enjoy & follow along. At the back of the book, they offer a bit more about each of the destinations on the trip/tour.
I received an e-ARC of the book from Flyaway Books via NetGalley, for review purposes...& these are my own fair/honest opinions.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review ::

A beautifully written and illustrated book, Liberty's Civil Rights Road Trip is a perfect story to share the history of the Civil Rights movement with children. The main character Liberty is taking a trip with her family across the south to see several important places that were part of the civil rights story of this country; including the Lorraine Motel and the Edmond Pettus Bridge in Selma and several other locations. As Liberty learns about each place, she thinks about how each place impacts her own life today. The author does a fantastic job of writing in a child-friendly way without talking down to children. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful.

I would definitely recommend this book.

Great picture book to spark conversations and talk about important people in history. I will definitely get this book and read it to my 2nd grade students.

Medgar Evers, Emmett Till, Dr. Martin Luther King, four young girls at a church in Alabama, the bridge in Selma-these evoke iconic images and memories of the Civil Rights movement. They are the places visited by Liberty and a diverse group of people in this book for kids.

The story is simply and honestly told and introduces why the people included were so important and why the places mentioned need to be remembered. Additional information is included at the end of the book.

I think that this title is very age appropriated and important. Read it with a child or in a classroom and begin to have those important and necessary conversations.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Michael Waters strikes the right note as we join Liberty and her family on a trip to six key locations along the Civil Rights Trail. The characters and readers are introduced not only to the locations and events but also to the other members of the bus trip. The inclusion of a variety of ages, ethnicities, and families helps children realize that this is OUR history, not someone else's.

The story from a child's perspective recognizes the significance of people and events without being overwhelming, making it a good introduction for young readers. It also acknowledges that children are children and that they need the time and space to process things which sometimes occurs later as they play. This portrayal also makes the children realistic and facilitates their connection with the people they are learning about.

Illustrator Nicol Tadgell's illustrations help tell the tale through gentle, detailed paintings that convey emotions and relationships beautifully.

Thank you to flyaway books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.