Social Justice Books

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

ABC El Salvador

Reviewed by Beverly Slapin Review Source: De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children Book Author: On the front cover, raised lettering in glossy relief — large ABCs on which two Indigenous children climb — invites young readers to touch the painted block letters similar to the wood block letters that El Salvador is […]

Young Water Protectors: A Story About Standing Rock

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Aslan and Kelly Tudor’s Young Water Protectors: A Story About Standing Rock is a non-fiction photo-essay published by EagleSpeaker Publishing. The “about” page tells us that the author, Aslan Tudor, was eight and nine years old during the period depicted in the book, and […]

We Are a Garden: A Story of How Diversity Took Root in America

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: To understand this critique of We Are A Garden: A Story of How Diversity Took Root in America you must begin with, and hold fast to, the fact that Native peoples were nations of peoples before the U.S. was a nation. Our status as nations […]

Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border

Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author:  Between Us and Abuela is a compelling story about family separation at the Mexico-United States border and the longing for reunion. Young María and Juan travel with their mother on La Posada Sin Fronteras (The Inn Without Borders) to the enforcement zone, located between […]

Nubia: Real One

Reviewed by Jessica Review Source: Rich in Color Book Author: Review: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — this is an excellent time to get into comics. Queer romance comics, epic fantasy comics, superhero comics, you name it. There is just so much exciting stuff out there right now, and I feel lucky […]

Other Words for Home

Review Source: Notes from an Islamic School Librarian Book Author: SYNOPSIS: Jude is a 12-year-old girl living on the beach in Syria, watching American movies with her friends and hanging out at her dad’s store.  With an older brother and a little sister on the way, life as told from her own perspective is pretty […]