Children’s book highlights a real-life friendship during Minnesota’s first school integration
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Derek Francis’ debut children’s book is a kid-friendly introduction to an often-overlooked moment in Minnesota’s history: when Minneapolis in 1971 paired a majority black school and majority white school for integration.
“This is history in Minnesota that, growing up, I did not learn about,” Francis said.
“I learned about Ruby Bridges and how that looked in New Orleans but never had a chance to learn about that first integrated bus ride between Hale and Field Elementary,” he said.
“Our First Bus Ride,” is something Francis hopes will make the Hale-Field school pairing better known, better understood and more easily accessible.
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The story is short, with colorful illustrations of Molly Johnson and Monica Lash, two 7-year-olds who were friends and part of the integration project. Readers gain insight into the former students’ relationship — roller skating, playing with puppies and getting ready for their first day of school. The story follows the friends as they learn about their school’s plans for the pairing, witness vehement opposition to integration in their city, and share bus rides and class time at their new school.
Francis hopes the book will be a relatable way for students to learn about Minnesota history.
“Humanity across race or across identity is something that I think is important for children to see … and learn that there was a time, unfortunately, where people did not go to schools together based on their race, and what that process was like to change those things so that things can be fair,” Francis said.
This is not the first time Francis has introduced students to this aspect of Minnesota’s history. He worked as a school counselor at North High in Minneapolis and is currently the culturally responsive instructional lead for Brightworks, a nonprofit school cooperative.
He collaborated with Monica Lash and Molly Johnson to produce a documentary on the Minneapolis’ 1971 integration efforts. He also got their support for the book as well as help from Mike Andrews, who worked at Field School from 1971-1989, and illustrator Ashley Finch.
“Just like in other parts of our country, Minnesota had segregated spaces, including communities, neighborhoods, housing, red-lining, restaurants that people of color in the community knew they could not go to,” Francis said. “This is an opportunity to learn about this history and understand that these events did happen in Minnesota.”
The book is one Francis hopes will give people a gentle way to start important conversations.
“(I want) to create a space for people who it may be hard to talk about race,” Francis said. “I know and understand (in) this day and age where (for) some people, books about race are uncomfortable. This is done in a way for people to learn. It’s to let the guard down to talk about our background.”
The book was published in January 2026.
Derek Francis will be reading from his book at an event in Duluth at Zenith Bookstore on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
