Social Justice Books

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

A Boy Called Bat

Reviewed by Nicole Panteleakos Review Source: Disabilities in Kid’s Lit Book Author: A Boy Called Bat is a middle grade/chapter book about a third-grader who tries to convince his veterinarian mom to let him keep the baby skunk she brings home. I found this an intriguing novel, and so did my ten-year-old goddaughter Meadow, who was diagnosed […]

Alma and How She Got Her Name

Also available in Spanish: Alma y cómo obtuvo su nombre Reviewed by Sierra Kling Review Source: Reading Is Resistance Book Author: Born in Lima, Perú, Juana Martinez-Neal incorporates her Latinx culture into her debut author/ illustrator book, Alma and How She Got Her Name, published in both Spanish and English! This is a pleasant read because […]

The Banana-Leaf Ball

Reviewed by Breeanna Elliott Review Source: Africa Access Book Author: Although the value of collaborative play to overcome conflict is highlighted throughout the book, The Banana-Leaf Ball may reinforce the stereotype of Africa as overwhelmed by unexplained warfare and riddled with refugee camps. The story begins when the protagonist, Deo Rukundo, suddenly has to flee his family home […]

CCBC 2017 Multicultural Statistics

The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) of the School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison has started to release the 2017 publishing statistics on children’s books about people of color and first/native nations and by people of color and first/native nations. The CCBC’s tracking information doesn’t consider the quality of the titles but does indicate the […]

Wild Eggs: A Tale of Arctic Egg Collecting

Reviewed by Jean Mendoza Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Wild Eggs: A Tale of Arctic Egg Collecting opens with a little girl stepping off a bush plane, holding a stuffed polar bear. Akuluk and her mother have come from Yellowknife to a remote part of Nunavut. She is about to meet her maternal grandparents […]

Solo

Reviewed by Anastasia Shown Review Source: Africa Access Book Author: I enjoyed Solo. The emotions expressed by Blade are true to the teen experience. Rock legends, including Nigerian Fela Kuti, are woven throughout the story and help to push the narrative along. My favorite character is Joy. She is the person who teaches us the most about Ghana. […]