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How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee Hardcover – Picture Book, April 11, 2023

by Carole Boston Weatherford (Author), Frank Morrison (Illustrator)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 18 ratings
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A Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book

"This moving picture book portrays a girl who met injustice with dignity and excelled."—Booklist (starred review)

From a multi-award-winning pair comes a deeply affecting portrait of determination against discrimination: the story of young spelling champion MacNolia Cox.

MacNolia Cox was no ordinary kid.
Her idea of fun was reading the dictionary.

In 1936, eighth grader MacNolia Cox became the first African American to win the Akron, Ohio, spelling bee. And with that win, she was asked to compete at the prestigious National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC, where she and a girl from New Jersey were the first African Americans invited since its founding. She left her home state a celebrity—right up there with Ohio’s own Joe Louis and Jesse Owens—with a military band and a crowd of thousands to see her off at the station. But celebration turned to chill when the train crossed the state line into Maryland, where segregation was the law of the land. Prejudice and discrimination ruled—on the train, in the hotel, and, sadly, at the spelling bee itself. With a brief epilogue recounting MacNolia’s further history, How Do You Spell Unfair? is the story of her groundbreaking achievement magnificently told by award-winning creators and frequent picture-book collaborators Carole Boston Weatherford and Frank Morrison.
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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    7 - 10 years
  2. Print length
    40 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    2 - 5
  5. Lexile measure
    840L
  6. Dimensions
    8.63 x 0.38 x 11.31 inches
  7. Publisher
    Candlewick
  8. Publication date
    April 11, 2023
  9. ISBN-10
    1536215546
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1536215540
  11. See all details
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From the Publisher

human rights; civil rights; hard work; women in history; racism; prejudice; determination
human rights; civil rights; hard work; women in history; racism; prejudice; determination

human rights; civil rights; hard work; women in history; racism; prejudice; determination

human rights; civil rights; hard work; women in history; racism; prejudice; determination

human rights; civil rights; hard work; women in history; racism; prejudice; determination

human rights; civil rights; hard work; women in history; racism; prejudice; determination
activism; nonfiction; black history month; juneteenth; civil rights movement; racism history books for kids; diverity; black children's books; library; books about books; harlem juneteenth; biographies; nonfiction books for kids; poems for kids; black history for kids performing arts; social activists; advocacy; black history books for kids; civil rights growing up; friendship books for kids; community; childhood; black children's books; kindness
Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library BOX: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom Outspoken: Paul Robeson, Ahead of His Time Bros
Customer Reviews
4.9 out of 5 stars
281
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4.7 out of 5 stars
50
5.0 out of 5 stars
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Price $9.49 $9.99 $10.90 $17.89 $16.37
Read more from the award-winning Carole Boston Weatherford! A multi award-winning book! Despite fierce prejudice and abuse, Fannie Lou Hamer was a champion of civil rights from the 1950s until her death in 1977. Read this celebration of her life and legacy with a message of hope, determination, and strength. Arturo Schomburg’s collection of books, letters, music, and art was a beacon that highlighted the achievements of people of African descent through the ages. Discover how this groundbreaking collection drew scholars from all over the world. A Newbery Honor Book! Henry Brown was his enslaved whole life. After his family’s ripped away, he planned for his escape by way of the Underground Railroad and a box. Follow the journey of how he came to send himself in a box from slavery to freedom. Paul Robeson was a true Renaissance man: an accomplished athlete, a bright intellect, and a passionate activist. As his fame grew, so did his unflinching activism. Learn how he used the power of his voice to speak out as America’s conscience. From sunrise to sunset, a group of young Black boys joyously spend the day together as they live their best lives freely in their community. Celebrate the joy found in boyhood and friendship as this group of friends enjoy a day of adventure!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Functions both as history and as antiracist reading that will inspire discussion in homes and libraries. . . Frank Morrison’s illustrations, in which her physical size fluctuates, provide the emotional core of the story. Drawn large, Cox swells with joy; drawn small, she is ensnared in a gargantuan system of arbitrary barriers and migrating goal posts. The deep and somber color palette conveys both cultural richness and the tragedy of a dream derailed.
—The New York Times Book Review

In this thoughtfully conceived picture book, Boston Weatherford centers MacNolia Cox (1923–1976), who achieved celebrity status in 1936 after becoming the first African American to win the Akron, Ohio, spelling bee, thus qualifying for the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. . . a powerful, word-by-word telling of a child’s personal triumph.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Weatherford tells of MacNolia’s experiences in concise, direct narrative, while occasionally asking a question such as, “Can you spell discrimination? D-I-S-C-R-I-M-I-N-A-T-IO-N.” . . . Capturing the characters’ emotions and their personalities, Morrison’s vibrant oil-and-spray-paint illustrations are riveting. This moving picture book portrays a girl who met injustice with dignity and excelled.
—Booklist (starred review)

MacNolia Cox was neither the first African American child to win a national spelling contest (1908) nor the next (2021)—but she was the first even to win a spot as a finalist in all the intervening decades. . . the author pays tribute to the Akron, Ohio, eighth grader’s indomitable spirit and focus as well as her love of words while recording the public excitement she caused. . . Spells out reasons to vow N-E-V-E-R A-G-A-I-N.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Morrison’s illustrations capture the emotions, tenacity, and strength of Cox and her supporters while Weatherford’s free verse tells the story of a young girl with a gift for spelling. . . Without shying away from the racism Cox endured, Weatherford keeps the focus squarely on the determination of the champion and her supporters for the opportunity to show her talents as a speller. . . . ­Another stunning title from a gifted pair of creators, this deserves a place in all collections as children will root for Cox and be inspired by her amazing accomplishments.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

Weatherford cleverly structures this picture book biography around the repetition of the question “Can you spell…?” . . . Smooth oil and spray paint illustrations emanate the characteristic warm richness of Morrison’s art, and a balance between the neutral color palette and pops of jewel tones at key moments guides readers’ emotional journey through the narrative. . . . Despite stylistic similarities to Weatherford and Morrison’s other biography collaboration R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul (BCCB 07/20), this story is superb in its own right.
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Cox is remembered for her perseverance under pressure, and both the affecting text (with its spelling-centered refrain: “Can you spell dedication?…Can you spell excited?”) and brilliantly hued oil- and spray-paint illustrations portray her with dignity while reflecting the intensity of the times. An epilogue reinforces how every victory encourages others.
—The Horn Book

Acclaimed author and poet Carole Boston Weatherford and her frequent collaborator, illustrator Frank Morrison, team up yet again for this illuminating picture book about the 1936 National Spelling Bee and the African-American girl from Akron, Ohio, who almost won it. Weatherford mines all the dramatic possibilities for this story about spelling and discrimination, drawing the reader in from the first sentences. . . Morrison's magnificent illustrations, using oil and spray paints, have a somber dignity.
—The Buffalo News

About the Author

Carole Boston Weatherford, a New York Times best-selling author and poet,was named the 2019 Washington Post–Children’s Book Guild Nonfiction Award winner. Her numerous books for children include the Coretta Scott King Author Award winner Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre, illustrated by Floyd Cooper; the Caldecott Honor Books Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, and Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement, illustrated by Ekua Holmes, which was also a Robert F. Sibert Honor Book; the critically acclaimed Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library, illustrated by Eric Velasquez; and the Newbery Honor Book BOX: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom,illustrated by Michele Wood. Carole Boston Weatherford lives in North Carolina.

Frank Morrison has won numerous awards for his picture book illustration, including two Coretta Scott King Illustrator Awards. He previously collaborated with Carole Boston Weatherford on Standing in the Need of Prayer: A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual; R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul; How Sweet the Sound: The Story of Amazing Grace;and The Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip-Hop. Frank Morrison lives outside Atlanta.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Candlewick (April 11, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1536215546
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1536215540
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7 - 10 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 840L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 2 - 5
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.63 x 0.38 x 11.31 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 18 ratings

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Carole Boston Weatherford

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
18 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Sara R
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2024
How Do You Spell Unfair?

MacNolia loved to spell, her idea of fun was reading the dictionary. Learning the meaning and spelling of different words fascinated her. Her dedication paid off. First by excelling at her school spelling bee, then by becoming the first African American to win the Akron Ohio’s spelling bee. This meant that she qualified for the National Spelling Bee in Washington DC. Her family, school, community, and more all rallied behind MacNolia. Her dedication was fierce but she also faced discrimination and racism all along the way. Still she persisted, MacNolia had qualified for the top five at the spelling bee. The judges (being from the segregated South) could not seem to stump her, so instead they decided to trick her. A word that was not on the official list was given to MacNolia and her time at the spelling bee was over.

Even though she did not accomplish her dream of winning the National Spelling Bee, her hard work and determination will never be forgotten and deserves to be celebrated.

My oldest really enjoyed learning about MacNolia and we have taken another opportunity to have further discussions about racism. I always appreciate books that help me as a parent carry on important lessons and education for my daughters and son. This book is such an excellent resource for your elementary age children. The illustrations are beautiful and powerful and I appreciated the forward and epilogue.
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Lauren H. Kerstein
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Important
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2024
I loved this book from the fabulous text to the gorgeous illustrations. It is an important and beautiful book.
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John Bamberg
1.0 out of 5 stars A new ending and follow-up book are needed
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2024
The book has a curious disjointed message. There was racism in American many years ago demonstrated by real experiences of a little black girl. But then when she lost the spelling bee, the explanation was unfair racism, but is that based on any hard evidence or direct testimony of people who were there? No.
They didn't wrongly say she misspelled the word, she really did misspell it. So? The worst part is that the moral of the story for the readers of TODAY is left hanging... today many people are claiming that there is still pervasive racism holding people back like when there was slavery or Jim Crow, but that is patently false. That reality should be added to the end of the next edition. And maybe a whole new follow-up book should be written to give an update on the little black girl named Ketanji Brown-Jackson who rose to the highest level of the Judicial branch in our country... and a little black girl named Kamala Harris rose to the second-highest level in our nation's Executive branch. That follow-up story could tell how those suffering under racism don't learn their lesson and be FAIR to others, but are quite willing to use their power to perpetuate racism on others. Both Justice Brown-Jackson and VP Harris would have told a young Asian girl who really deserved to win a place at Harvard that she had to go home a loser so a black girl less qualified could win. That excruciating irony would make a powerful lesson to young readers.
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