
Writing Toward Justice
The Life and Reporting of Alice A. Dunnigan
Calkins Creek (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 27. January 2026
Book
Hardback
40 pages
978-1-6626-8089-2 (ISBN)
Description
Meet Alice Dunnigan, a pioneering Black journalist, who spoke truth to power—and earned the respect of President Harry S. Truman. This inspiring nonfiction picture book for kids ages 7–10 is from award-winning author and illustrator Peggy Thomas and Tonya Engel.
Alice Dunnigan knew all about injustice—she was the daughter of poor Black sharecroppers in Kentucky. But Alice also knew the key to fighting injustice was to speak out.
At 13 years old, she wrote to a Black newspaper asking for a job—and got it! It was only the beginning. After many years of hard work as a teacher, a cleaner, a typist, and a journalist, Alice became the first Black woman in the Capitol Press Corp. But one person was still beyond her grasp, a person who needed to be held accountable: President Truman. Would he keep his promise to support civil rights for Black Americans? By scrimping and saving for a ticket on the president’s cross-country train tour, Alice was able to meet the president and win him over to her cause: justice.
Alice Dunnigan used her words as a moving force, writing America toward justice, a journey beautifully captured by author Peggy Thomas and illustrator Tonya Engel.
Alice Dunnigan knew all about injustice—she was the daughter of poor Black sharecroppers in Kentucky. But Alice also knew the key to fighting injustice was to speak out.
At 13 years old, she wrote to a Black newspaper asking for a job—and got it! It was only the beginning. After many years of hard work as a teacher, a cleaner, a typist, and a journalist, Alice became the first Black woman in the Capitol Press Corp. But one person was still beyond her grasp, a person who needed to be held accountable: President Truman. Would he keep his promise to support civil rights for Black Americans? By scrimping and saving for a ticket on the president’s cross-country train tour, Alice was able to meet the president and win him over to her cause: justice.
Alice Dunnigan used her words as a moving force, writing America toward justice, a journey beautifully captured by author Peggy Thomas and illustrator Tonya Engel.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Astra Publishing House
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Second Grade to Fifth Grade, Interest Age: From 7 to 10 years
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 259 mm
Width: 262 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
476 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-6626-8089-2 (9781662680892)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
01/2026
Calkins Creek
€11.49
Available for download
Persons
Peggy Thomas; Illustrated by Tonya Engel