A new children's book that's out now traces the history of a Bridgeport civil rights leader.

Mary McBride-Lee, whom President Barack Obama recognized for her work during the civil rights movement, wrote "At the Foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge."

She has now released a children's version of the book.

"It's important for children to learn about their history and learn where they came from because I feel like if they don't know where they came from, they certainly don't know where they're going," McBride-Lee said.

"Kids need to get off their iPhones and iPads and read about the history of this country so they will have role models to make history themselves," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

The book explores McBride-Lee's personal experience as a teenager during the Alabama Civil Rights Movement, in particular, the 1965 march that came to be known as "Bloody Sunday."