Lovely book for young readers which would make an excellent addition to any classroom or home bookshelf.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

While reading this story, I asked myself, is this how people back then taught their kids? Of hatred and racism? I thought the adults should show children how to be an upstanding citizen, by looking down on others? The racism issue is everywhere, and what Ms. Luper did really mean something and need to be done. And for those who look down on others ........... well, beware of neck pain.

A lovely non fiction book about Clara Luper and her early childhood along with her experiences with racism. She was a leader in the civil Rights Movement, she led sit ins in Oklahoma city, after inspiring her student on a trip to New York. She taught her students the steps of non violence – investigation, negotiation, education and demonstration.
It shows children reading this book that they are the change the world needs. They must stand up and act today. Brilliant book. Highly recommend.

Someday is Now shares about segregation through a picture book. It explains all the ways things were separate but equal including medical care and school. The book shares the hope for the day when equality would be achieved. Some pages did seem too wordy for younger readers. Recommended for ages 8-12

I loved that this book focused on a civil rights history member that is not well known. I is written for older elementary age readers, but it does a good job explaining how kids were involved in the sit-in. I think the readers would understand the concept easily. It was well written.

This is a lovely picture book history of Clara Luper. This is a bit longer and meant more for kids in school rather than bedtime reading. It is interesting and entertaining and a great way to learn of a figure in American history.

Very well written story of Clara Luper, a determined Black person who got to take students to integrated States with a NAACP-linked stage performance, and when back in the segregated south pressured local venues to drop the colour bar. Katz diners was where she first had students placidly sit and read and study until the stores caved, and things only went from there. The book tells this side of her story, with an infodump of an end-matter page to catch up on every other aspect of her civic and campaigning life from then on. Thumbs up for showing someone who could get so far with a non-violent and deliberately non-confrontational standpoint; thumbs down for the horrendous, Picassoesque artwork here, with side-on profiles of people exceedingly ugly, and generally showing two noses. Three and a half stars as a result.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

Prior to this book, I knew nothing about the Civil Rights Movement in Oklahoma. Considering the fact that Clara Luper's student led sit-ins occurred before the Montgomery sit-ins that I did learn about, briefly, in school, it seems weird to me that mention of them wasn't even like a short footnote for that learning. Reading this book really helped bring home for me just how recent the Civil Rights movement was because it gave me some more personal reference points. For instance, at least one of the children that participated in the sit-ins with Mrs. Luper was at most a year older than my dad. And Mrs. Luper was still alive when my daughter was born.

The details in this book were really easy to understand, it was very simple language used for the most part so children can understand the story. It also felt more personal, so hopefully it sticks better than memorizing facts for school can, because that is important too. I know it's going to stick with me better at least.

The illustrations were something. There were definitely style choices that are very different from the children's books I've been reading lately and so they kind of threw me off. I think they did do a good job of showing the way black children were treated differently than white children.

Overall I give this book 4.87 out of 5 stars.

I did not know who Clara Luper was before picking up this children’s book. Now, I will never forget her.

Clara was a civil rights leader and teacher who led by example. Her actions were of a piece with those who sat in at Woolworths and with Rosa Parks and that bus.

Clara grew up in segregated Oklahoma. As a teacher, she and a group of students traveled to New York. There, they saw what it was like to go into just any restaurant and sit down. So, back in Oklahoma, Clara and her students repeatedly went to a drugstore, sat down and asked to be served Cokes. You can imagine how that went until…something changed.

This is an inspiring story. It is perfect for Black History Month or any time. It serves as a reminder of how people can truly make a difference. This is a great title for home and school libraries.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

What a great depiction of this infamous sit. I love learning the names of these historical figures, instead of just the “counter sit” the author uses Carla Luper’s name on almost every page. We should never forget her name and the way she taught her students.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
This book shows Clara Luper's early childhood and her experiences with racism. It then shows how, in 1958, she led her students in a series of sit-ins in Oklahoma City. Her students were inspired after they took a trip to New York and experienced what it was like to be in an unsegregated city. When the students return, they plan and execute sit-ins in segregated spaces.
This is a good book to introduce readers to the topic of sit-ins. Also, Clara Luper led her students in sit-ins before the more famous sit-ins that occurred later. It also shows younger readers how children their age can have an effect on the world around them.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC!

I love children's educational books - you learn so much so quickly! This was fantastic, truly fantastic - as a White adult, I'm ashamed to say I didn't know who Clara Luper was - though I had heard of the Oklahoma Sit-ins. This was brilliantly written - easy to understand for younger kids but still informational. The art style was simple but well done and matched the story.

This needs to be taught in schools and in homes and to children of all ages and races - Clara Luper's story is important, and this book teaches her lessons well. Someday is today!

Someday Is Now is the engaging new picture book biography of Clara Luper, a too often forgotten civil rights hero who led her students in the 1958 Oklahoma City sit-ins. The story covers this part of history wonderfully, and it makes a great introduction to the life and work of Luper. The art is cute and adds a friendly feeling to the whole story that make it feel easy to connect with. I also really liked the note at the end that told us more about some of the things Luper did after those sit-ins. It's a great little introduction to someone that sadly not enough of us have been introduced to. Definitely recommended (and I enjoyed it as an adult, but I would recommend it for children 6+).

<b>My Rating:</b> 4 out of 5 stars.

<b>Received for review:</b> I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not obligated to write a good review, nor did I receive any compensation for writing this review.

<b>Why did I decide to turn the pages?</b> The topic caught my interest.

<b>My Overall Thoughts/Impressions:</b> This one is written in a way that it is suited for older middle-grade/elementary school readers, which at first caught me off guard. However, I really enjoyed it after that. This book did a great job explaining the children's involvement in the sit-ins. It is easily understandable by older children.

I liked the repetition in this as I think it helps younger readers understand the concept.

<b>So why 4 stars?</b> It stood out over others I've read in the genre.

<b>Pages:</b> 36 pages.

<b>Reading age:</b> I'd recommend it personally for 3-5th grade readers.

<b>Love,

Danica Page</b>

A non-fiction book about historic events, about segregation, protests, and about activism.
There are beautiful drawings and quite a lot of text, but the text is well-worded, it makes perfect sense and this book is a great, great resource to start talking about important matters and explaining the horrible things from history. There should be more, more books like this. About brave, courageous people who stood up for themselves and for others, to make the world a better place for everyone.

This biography chronicles the actions of an important leader of sit-ins to end segregation. The brave school teacher taught her students the art of nonviolent protest which lead to the segregation of a whole chain of lunch counters. Others followed suit. The woman went on to have involvements in different areas of equal rights during her time.

On reading this story of Clara Mae Shepard/Luper it is so hard to believe that the world used to be that way. I have mentioned before I want my Granddaughter to know about all races and cultures. I want her to know the heroes of all races. Clara was one of those heroes as were her student. She was right about education being a power because those students that stood behind her were very brave. This book also shows that perseverance will out, and by taking it one at a time you will win. The patience shown in the face of fear and attack was admirable. I highly recommend this book for children 6-10.

Clara Luper was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement who deserves to be talked about more! This book details how she became a teacher and taught her students the steps of non-violence: investigation, negotiation, education, and demonstration. While on a school trip to perform a play she wrote, the children saw an integrated city and wanted that for their own town. Being doing the steps taught to them by Luper, the children had a sit-in at a local diner until it was declared to be integrated. This came at the cost of threats, verbal abuse, and food throwing at both Clara and her students. But she made sure her students understood the concept that instead of waiting and hoping for "someday", they should act and stand up today because "someday is now".

A story about one woman, Clare Luper, who led a sit-in a year before the famous Greensboro sit-ins. It's great that this story is finally being told in a way that children can access!