Meet Viola Desmond (Scholastic Canada Biography)

Meet Viola Desmond, community leader and early civil rights trailblazer!

On the night of November 8th 1946, Nova Scotia businesswoman Viola Desmond stood up for her right to be in the “unofficial” whites-only section of a New Glasgow movie theatre . . . and was arrested for it. Supported by the Nova Scotia Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NSCAACP) and the black-owned newspaper The Clarion, Viola took her quest for the right to freedom from discrimination to the courts. While she ultimately did not succeed, she was a beacon to other early civil-rights activists. Her sister Wanda worked hard to promote Viola's legacy, which has been finally honoured by Viola's inclusion on the new Canadian $10 bill.

This new picture book biography series features simple text and full-colour, comic-flavoured illustration with speech balloons that help bring the story alive. Historical photos and a timeline support the narrative.

Elizabeth MacLeod has written more than 80 books, including biographies, picture books, cookbooks and other nonfiction titles. Dinosaurs, royal murder, forensic science, horses that changed history—she’s written about them all. Liz is a Member of the Order of Canada and has won the Sharon Fitzhenry Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction, the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction and the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Juvenile or Young Adult Crime Book. She has also won children’s choice awards across the country, including the Hackmatack, Red Cedar, Red Maple and Silver Birch. Liz's most recent books include How to Become an Accidental Activist and Get Out and Vote!. She lives in Toronto.

MIKE DEAS is an author and illustrator of many picture books and graphic novels, including the Bee & Flea series and the Sueno Bay Adventures. He lives with his family on sunny Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.

• OLA Best BetsCommended 2018
• Hackmatack Children's Choice Award (Atlantic Canada)Short-listed 2019
• Resource Links, Best of the YearCommended 2018
• OLA Silver Birch Award, Non-FictionShort-listed 2019
• OLA Silver Birch Express AwardWinner 2019
• Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Starred SelectionCommended 2019