A remarkable woman achieves a lifelong dream in this nonfiction picture book. Gifted a Bible by a group of evangelists, Mary longed to learn how to read but had no time or opportunity to do so. Enslaved until she was 15, Mary later worked to help her single mother support their family; as a married adult she worked as a sharecropper to support her three sons, whose birthdays she marked in her Bible. At 114 years old, having outlived her husband and children, Mary became the nation's oldest student as she learned to read in her retirement home. Celebrating her birthdays with family and friends, Mary, who lived to be 121, would read aloud from her Bible. Cut-paper collage illustrations accompany the narrative of this impressive, persevering Black historical figure. (Ages 5-9)

Imagine learning to read at the age of 116! Discover the true story of Mary Walker, the nation's oldest student who did just that, in this picture book from a Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator and a rising star author.

In 1848, Mary Walker was born into slavery. At age 15, she was freed, and by age 20, she was married and had her first child. By age 68, she had worked numerous jobs, including cooking, cleaning, babysitting, and selling sandwiches to raise money for her church. At 114, she was the last remaining member of her family. And at 116, she learned to read. From Rita Lorraine Hubbard and rising star Oge More comes the inspirational story of Mary Walker, a woman whose long life spanned from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, and who--with perseverance and dedication--proved that you're never too old to learn.