Walk the Walk

R J Owens

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Book cover for Walk the Walk
Image for variant 9781547609604
Book cover for Walk the Walk
Image for variant 9781547609604

Walk the Walk

Walk the Walk

R J Owens

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Description

We all have the power to make meaningful change! This story about one step in the civil rights movement - the Montgomery Bus Boycott - follows one boy's day walking the walk.

Dexter and his Papa have a long walk ahead to Dex's piano lessons. Dex sure wants to ride one of those buses that keep on passing by-just this once. But when it comes to the Montgomery Bus Boycott and standing up to segregation, Papa always says you can't just talk the talk, you've got to walk the walk, or else they'll keep moving you to the back of the bus. So Dex and Papa keep on walking to the beat of the street, marveling at the sights and the people they see, and discover that their destination is closer than they think.

Including engaging backmatter, this timely, accessible picture book demonstrates how ordinary people-like these characters-can walk the walk through their community as part of a movement to make meaningful change, and will inspire new generations of activists ready to walk the walk. Exciting new author R.J. Owens and New York Times bestselling illustrator Reggie Brown craft an engaging and relevant picture book about the ways we can all work to make change.

About the Author

R.J. Owens is an author who's been engaged as a community storyteller with the Oakland Tribune, a retail advertising copywriter, and an attorney editor for a legal treatise. Walk the Walk is inspired by his interest in the civil rights movement and in portraying the resiliency and courage of children in trying situations. R.J. is a native of Chicago, Illinois, and a longtime resident of Oakland, California. He received a JD from Berkeley Law and pursued an MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. R.J.'s picture books include A Song So Black, So Proud!, Cowgirl Dreaming, and Sunshine's Coming Through. R.J. is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Reggie Brown is an artist and a New York Times bestselling children's illustrator. He has illustrated the picture books Kicks, Who Are Your People?, Santa In the City, Baseball Baby, and the Magnificent Makers chapter book series. He has a background in corporate graphic design, and is now focusing on illustrating for children. His multicultural upbringing as an African-American and Filipino man is what drives his true passion of illustrating children's stories and bringing underrepresented voices alive through his art. Reggie is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and lives in San Diego, California where he enjoys eating burritos, watching Star Wars, and spending time with his wife.
reggiebrownart.com
@reggiebrownart

Critical Reviews

"This is highly recommended for purchase, and especially useful for units on the Civil Rights Movement and civic engagement." --School Library Journal, starred review

"An engaging story that imagines the Montgomery Bus Boycott from the perspective of an African American child. . . . Age-appropriate insight into a defining moment in U.S. history." --Kirkus Reviews

"This tender historical telling affirms the power of perseverance and shared purpose-and getting to 'the place where we need to be when we walk together.'" --Publishers Weekly

"A moving story set during the Montgomery Bus Boycott. . . . An author's note and time line provide helpful historical context." --Booklist

Publishing Information

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Pub date: 2026-04-14
Length: 40 pages

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