Unstopppable John: How John Lewis Got His Library Card and Helped Change History. Written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Jerry Jordan. Viking, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 7 and up

"Of course, John got tired. But that didn't matter.
John still did not stop. 
Slowly, slowly, the laws changed. 

Black people could eat at restaurants.
See movies. 
Sit anywhere on the bus. 
Vote in elections. 

Even get library cards."

In a month filled with days when schools are celebrating reading and books, it's important to remember some of the struggles people like John Lewis endured when trying to get a library card. There are many books written about this amazing man who fought for civil rights over a long life and career. 

This story places the focus on his fight to get a library card; all John wanted was to read books. The only book in his home was the Bible, and he had read it many times. His school was the same. The library should have been the answer. Unfortunately, as a young Black man in 1956, he was not afforded the right to have a card or visit the library. 

Even then, John wanted to change his world. In the meantime, he read everything he could. At college, he spent countless hours in the library. One problem solved; many others to consider because of racist laws that kept Black people from eating in restaurants, going to movies, registering to vote, and sitting in any seat on the bus.

Through reading and listening to others, John and his many friends worked to make changes. These were not easy times. They were treated badly, but they kept coming back. They didn't fight back, they carried on. Always seeking equal rights for all, John worked tirelessly. Slowly, laws were changed. John kept reading and learning - and he married a librarian who loved books as he did. 

After being elected to the House of Representatives, John returned to his home town where he was finally given a library card. 

"Forty-two years after he'd first asked for one."

Oils on canvas artwork gives readers a clear look at John, his work, and the historical times. An author's note recalls John's long journey, and is followed by a timeline of John Lewis's life that reflects his hard work and many accomplishments. Finally, a list for reading to learn even more is included.