The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963

In his book, Christopher Paul Curtis describes the life of Kenny, at ten-year-old African American child growing up during the civil rights era.

Kenny lives at home in Flint, Michigan with his Momma, Dad, younger sister Joetta, and his "delinquent" brother of thirteen years, Byron.

Early in the book, each chapter tells a different story of Kenny's life, whether it be when his brother comes home with chemically straightened hair, or when his brother gets him involved in his feature film, Nazi Parachutes Attack America and Get Shot Down over the Flint River by Captain Byron Watson and His Flamethrower of Death. Eventually Kenny's dad comes home one day with the Ultra-Glide. Portable record player for their car is the beginning of a trip to Birmingham to visit his grandma.

When they get to Birmingham, the characters have their lives put at risk whether it be by the Wool Pooh or a bomb in a church that takes the lives of four young African American children.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 is fully of laughs as it turns into a medium of showing the dark days of civil rights as hate crimes are committed in the south.