Mother Jones and Her Army of Mill Children

Gr 1-4–Young readers are introduced to labor union organizer Mary Harris Jones (1837–1930), aka Mother Jones. The narrative begins by revealing that Jones was angry, then lists the issues that angered her: the conditions that coal miners experienced and children working in the mills for long days and little pay. When newspapers would not run her stories, she led the children, all dressed like people from the American Revolution, on a march from Philadelphia to New York City. While the laws were not changed immediately, Jones helped set the framework for the labor laws passed years later that kept children out of factories and in schools during the day. Pre- and post-story author’s notes explain the selected quotes and the life of Jones. A bibliography discusses the featured sources. Winter’s words will encourage young activists to fight for what is right. Carpenter’s illustrations capture both the bleakness of children working in factories and the joy and hope of young people with her use of color and light and dark.