Social Justice Books

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

My Purple World Series: Not Recommended

At a time when children need to see their diverse identities more represented in children’s literature, celebrity picture books still absorb a significant chunk of the children’s book market.  While there are some authentically wonderful celebrity-authored books, the trend itself indoctrinates kids into the cult of celebrity name recognition and consumption.  These books fly off […]

When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha): A Cherokee Tribal Feast

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: In professional development workshops that I do where I ask people to bring books with Native content, I look over what they’ve brought. Lots of old — and not good — nonfiction (series books and biographies) and fiction. I also see dreadful […]

The Tattooed Soldier

Reviewed by Rodrigo Ribera d’Ebre Review Source: Huffington Post Book Author: Recently I was invited by the California Writers Club to attend a talk at their Long Beach location. This club was founded in 1909, is one of the oldest clubs in the nation, and some of its honorary members include: Jack London, John Muir, […]

Simone

Reviewed by Pat Corekin Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Simone tells the story of a mother and child during an evacuation from a raging fire in California and the mother’s memories of fleeing a flood in Vietnam when she was a child. As Simone’s mother recounts the story of the flood when she […]

Mamie Tape Fights to Go to School

Reviewed by Deborah Menkart Review Source: Rethinking Schools Book Author: This picture book tells the true story of a fight for access to public education by an 8-year-old Chinese American girl, Mamie Tape, and her parents. There were no public schools for Chinese Americans in 1884 in San Francisco when Mamie tried to attend the white […]

Black Girl You Are Atlas

Review Source: Rethinking Schools Book Author: Black Girl You Are Atlas is Renée Watson’s first book of poetry. Like her novels, Watson’s poems explore the intersection of race, class, and gender. And like her novels, this semi-autobiographical collection celebrates the joys and sorrows of growing up a Black girl in this country. Woven throughout the book are […]