Ketanji

Justice Jackson’s Journey to the U.S. Supreme Court

By Kekla Magoon; illustrated by Laura Freeman

Informational Resources:

Author Information:

Kekla Magoon’s Website:

https://keklamagoon.com/

Kekla Magoon: My Reading Life as a Child (1:12):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VYfbzUoYr4

Illustrator Information:

Laura Freeman’s Website:

https://www.lfreemanart.com/

What it’s Like to Illustrate a Biography for Kids:

https://diversebooks.org/what-its-like-to-illustrate-a-biography-for-kids/

Activities & Resources:

The United States Supreme Court:

What Is the Supreme Court of the United States? | Politics on Point (3:26):

https://kera.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/supreme-court-of-the-united-states-video/wviz-politics-on-point/

Ketanji Brown Jackson Sworn in as a Supreme Court Justice (3:52):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APcyucSbzhU

Games and Puzzles from the United States Supreme Court Website:

https://www.supremecourt.gov/visiting/games_puzzles.aspx

Host a mock trial in your library or classroom. For ideas that include a script in both English and Spanish, see the following website:

https://www.txcourts.gov/publications-training/training-materials/class-in-the-courtroom/mock-trial-materials/

Harvard:

Virtual Tour of Harvard. A registration page will pop up but you can close that and still view the tour:

https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/explore-harvard/virtual-tour

Debate:

Divide students into two teams and have a debate. One team should be for the idea and one team should be against the idea. For topic ideas, see the following website: 

https://blog.kialo-edu.com/lesson-ideas/classroom-debate-ideas/

Parent vs. Kid: 9 Year Old Debates Her Dad to Play Video Games (8:40):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFgaPi1LxFE

Improv:

What is Improv? (0:49)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LGd4lC15S8

Play an improv game with the group. See ideas here:

https://www.teachingexpertise.com/classroom-ideas/improv-games/

MakerSpace Activities:

Ketanji Brown Jackson Portrait Coloring Page:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/609a01fd84629c7b4be02b0a/t/6253aa1568c2862301528ae0/1649650205049/KetanjiBrownJackson+ColoringPage.pdf

Ketanji Brown Jackson used determination and hard work to reach her goals. Have children cut out images from magazines to create a vision board that will help them visualize their own goals. 

Create mock campaign posters like the one Ketanji made when she was running for student body president. 

Using legos, have children build their own courtroom:

https://ideas.lego.com/projects/a70642e6-8b14-4757-9fbd-500ebadbc63c

Discussion Questions:

Before reading the story, what is your idea of what a judge is like? Do you think of a man, a wealthy person, or maybe someone who is strict? Describe your first thoughts. 

Ketanji’s parents chose her name, her clothing style, and her hair style because they wanted her to be proud of who she was. What does having pride in your heritage and your unique life mean to you?

Ketanji’s unique style sometimes made it hard to fit in with her classmates. What can we do to help a friend or classmate who might feel like they don’t fit in?

If you had the opportunity to vote for a classmate as class president, what leadership skills would you look for in them?

One of Ketanji’s favorite things to do was work on her coloring books next to her dad while he studied his law books. What are some of your favorite things to do with the adults in your life?

Ketanji won a national speech competition in her senior year of high school. What are some things we can all do to practice speaking in front of large groups?

What would you say to someone who, like Ketanji’s school counselor, told you not to aim too high when setting goals for yourself?

College can be a lot of hard work so Ketanji joined an improv group as a way to have fun outside of school. What are your favorite ways to have fun and be active outside of learning?

Standing up for justice was important to Ketanji when she was a student at Harvard. How can standing up for those not treated equally help our communities and schools?

Ketanji’s motto was always “work first, play later.” What would you say is your life motto?

Having friends from all different cultures and backgrounds was important to Ketanji. Think of your friends. What makes them unique?

While in law school, Ketanji was married and had two daughters. She worried it would be hard to juggle being a mom and working all the time. What are some ways to manage doing two things at one time?

Ketanji wanted to be a judge one day but knew she’d have to practice as a lawyer first. Describe a time when you had a big goal and tell us what steps you had to take first. 

One of her first jobs was as a public defender. How does holding a job like this help our communities? 

After holding ten different jobs in fifteen years, Ketanji was worried because nothing felt right. What would you say to someone who felt discouraged on the path they were on?

President Obama nominated Ketanji for a position on the U.S. District Court in 2012. If you were president, what qualities would you look for when choosing someone as a federal judge?

Ketanji’s daughter wrote a letter to President Obama in which she described why her mom would make a great Supreme Court justice. Think of an adult you really admire and tell us what makes them special. 

When Ketanji was finally nominated for the Supreme Court, she faced the Senate Judiciary Committee for a four day long interview. How do you think she was feeling when she was answering their tough questions?

Ketanji was officially voted in as the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court on April 7, 2022. If you were the first to do something, what kind of emotions would you feel? Maybe scared, proud, or happy?

Book Talk Teasers:

Read the reader’s theater for Ketanji by Kekla Magoon and Laura Freeman.

Watch the book trailer on the Texas Bluebonnet Award website.

Read Alikes: 

Weatherford, Carole Boston. All Rise: The Story of Ketanji Brown Jackson. Multi award-winning author Carole Boston Weatherford delivers a message of perseverance, dignity, and honor in this picture book biography of Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court--. (NoveList Plus)

Patrick, Denise Lewis. A Justice for all: the story of the US Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Discover the rise of Ketanji Brown Jackson, from a young girl growing up in Florida to the first Black woman to be confirmed to the United States Supreme Court. (NoveList Plus)

Magoon, Kekla. The highest tribute: Thurgood Marshall’s life, leadership, and legacy. A picture book portrait of the first Black justice on the Supreme Court, presented by two Coretta Scott King Honor winners, includes coverage of Thurgood Marshall--s upbringing in segregated Baltimore, achievements with the NAACP and contributions to landmark equality rulings. (NoveList Plus)

Levy, Debbie. I dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg makes her mark. Traces the achievements of the celebrated Supreme Court justice through the lens of her many famous acts of civil disagreement against inequality, unfair treatment, and human rights injustice. (NoveList Plus)

Brown, Tameka Fryer. Not done yet: Shirley Chisholm’s fight for change. Paints a vibrant picture of a natural-born fighter who became the first Black woman elected to Congress, showing how the work she did for equal rights, the environment, children and health care still continues today by those she inspired. (NoveList Plus)

Reviews:

Booklist (April 15, 2023 (Vol. 119, No. 16))

Grades K-3. The daughter of former sharecroppers, Ketanji Brown Jackson decided to become a lawyer as a child, watching her father study for his law degree. In high school, she became a student government leader. Although her guidance counselor warned her against aiming too high, she applied to Harvard, where she excelled as an undergraduate, and she stayed to earn her law degree as well. She married a former classmate, and they have two daughters. As a lawyer, Jackson worked in many roles, including public defender, before becoming a federal judge in 2012. Ten years later, the U.S. Senate confirmed her nomination as a Supreme Court justice. Magoon and Freeman, who previously wrote and illustrated The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall’s Life, Leadership, and Legacy (2021), have a good sense of what will interest their audience and what they should know about her. With an informative text and a series of striking digital illustrations, this picture-book biography offers an appealing introduction to Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman ever to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

School Library Journal starred (May 1, 2023)

Gr 1-3-Ketanji Brown Jackson made history as the first Black woman nominated-and then confirmed-to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. Coretta Scott King Honor winners Magoon and Freeman tell Jackson's story in this stirring picture book biography, introducing readers to Jackson, whose drive and determination to succeed took her from a childhood steeped in warmth, African culture, and activism, to Harvard Law School and all the way to her current seat. Never afraid to confront racism, Jackson protested a Confederate flag on campus and the obvious dearth of Black teachers. Magoon makes Jackson relatable to readers by highlighting her improv work and her daughter's letter to President Obama, asking him to consider her mother when filling Justice Scalia's seat. The straightforward narrative is uncluttered and easy to read for newly confident readers; Freeman's illustrations will keep emerging readers focused during a read-aloud. Vibrant scenes create texture and warmth in beautiful portraits of Jackson and her family. Comprehensive back matter includes an author's note, glossary, time line, bibliography, and further resources. VERDICT An excellent choice for picture book biography collections.-Rosemary Kiladitis © Copyright 2023. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.