Social Justice Books

Critically reviewed selection of multicultural and social justice books for children, young adults, and educators.

Putting Visions of Social Justice Education into Practice

Challenges and Contested Ground in Early Childhood Education By Louise Derman-Sparks Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it’s the presence of justice.” Consistent with that perspective, the impetus for anti-bias education work is rooted in a desire to build just early childhood programs for all children. […]

Wolf Mark

Reviewed by Beverly Slapin Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Joe Bruchac is not yet known for his YA werewolf/vampire/espionage novels, but this talented writer can sure pull off the genre(s). Middle readers who have the ability to suspend disbelief will relate to the teen protagonist, an Abenaki wolf-boy with multiple challenges. Such […]

When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop

Reviewed by Derrick Weston Brown Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: In most children’s books about the history of Hip-Hop, there’s often one figure who has continuously been relegated to the background, even though he’s the architect of the sound from which Hip-Hop was born. Clive Campbell, also known as DJ Kool Herc, finally […]

We Sang You Home

Reviewed by KT Horning Review Source: Reading While White Book Author: The same team who brought us Little You has created another beautiful board book that celebrates a new baby. Richard Van Camp, a member of the Dogrib (Tlicho) Nation, has a special gift for writing short but eloquent board book texts aimed at the very […]

Walking Home

Reviewed by Esther Mukewa Lisanza Review Source: Africa Access Book Author: Walking Home is about Muchoki, a thirteen-year-old Kenyan boy and his younger sister, Jata. Together they make a long journey in search of their mother’s family. They have just lost their mother to malaria in an overcrowded refugee camp and not long ago they lost […]

Urban Tribes: Native Americans in the City

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Charyleyboy and Leatherdale’s new book, Urban Tribes: Native Americans in the City, also published by Annick Press, was released in August of this year. Isn’t that cover exquisite? Inside you’ll find art, and stories, and poems written by Native people. There’s joy, for […]