Alko, Selina. The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage. Sean Qualls, Illus. Non-fiction. Levine/Scholastic, 01/2015. [40]p. $18.99. 978-0-545-47853-3. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 2-5.
With a family portrait on the cover and title page and family scenes on the opening pages, Richard and Mildred Loving’s family is the centerpiece of this picture-book history. Until a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision in Loving v. Virginia, interracial marriages were illegal in Virginia. Richard and Mildred’s fight for the right to marry each other and have their family is the heart of the account. A clear narrative succinctly describes the Jim Crow setting and attitudes behind that law and the Lovings’ struggle to change it. Intriguing mixed-media illustrations comprised of gouache, acrylic, collage, and colored pencil feature the Loving family among jaunty hearts, butterflies, and flowers, emphasizing their love for each other. In appended notes, the author and illustrator, an interracial couple, explain their personal connection to the book. Back matter also includes sources and suggestions for further reading.
Linda Perkins, Independent