Guide for Selecting Anti-Bias Children’s Books
By Louise Derman-Sparks
Children’s books continue to be an invaluable source of information and values. They reflect the attitudes in our society about diversity, power relationships, and various social identities. Read and share these guidelines for selecting books for young children that support the development of a healthy self-image… Read more.
Freedom Reads: Anti-Bias Book Talk Series
In response to the overwhelming number of requests for recommendations of anti-bias children’s books, we are launching the “Anti-Bias Book Talk” series. Beyond just sharing lists, we want to share how we select high-quality anti-bias books so that parents and teachers can do the same. Teaching for Change associate director Allyson Criner Brown is producing… Read more.
Social Justice Books Featured on CNN Sesame Street Town Hall
Beverly Daniel Tatum, author of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? , was a special guest on the CNN Sesame Street Town Hall “Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism” on Saturday, June 6. Tatum (featured in part 2 at 6.55 minutes ) responded to a question from a parent about how to teach young children to be anti-racist in an… Read more.
We Are Kid Lit Collective 2020 Summer Reading List
Are you looking for a curated summer reading list that celebrates diversity, inclusivity and intersecting identities? The We Are Kid Lit Collective selects books by and about IPOC (Indigenous and People of Color), people with disabilities, and people from the LGBTQIA+ communities. Read more.
Hair Representation in Children’s Literature
D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice, Communities for Just Schools Fund, and the Early Childhood Initiative at the National Museum of African American History and Culture offered a workshop on hair representation in children’s books on November 2, 2019. Read more.
Diversity in Children’s Books Graphic Distribution
The 2018 Diversity in Children’s Literature graphic is available as a 2-sided, full color 5 x 7 postcard. Request copies below to disseminate at workshops, conferences, and other public events. Note that we have been positively overwhelmed by the demand for the cards. Within 48 hours of announcing their availability, the 5,000 cards… Read more.
Sense of an Ending: Picture Books as an Entry to Activism
By Colleen Massaquoi. The third graders huddled around the photographs, their faces filled with concern. “Whoa, that’s a lot of bags,” Sam said, scooting closer to examine a picture of a goat surrounded by towering mounds of twisted, multicolored plastic bags. “Oh no!” Claire exclaimed. “It looks like that goat is going to eat the plastic.” Read more.
The Struggle Continues: How the Endings of Children’s Literature Create False Narratives of Social Movements
By Makai Kellogg. We all know what “The End” means when reading a children’s book. The story has concluded. The last sentence of a book can also indicate to a reader that there is closure. But what are the consequences of that closure when it comes to books about ongoing social movements? Isn’t there always more to the story? Read more.
We Are Kid Lit Collective 2019 Summer Reading List
Are you looking for a curated summer reading list that celebrates diversity, inclusivity and intersecting identities? The We Are Kid Lit Collective selects books by and about IPOC (Indigenous and People of Color), people with disabilities, and people from the LGBTQIA+ communities. Chosen books are thoroughly selected, discussed, and vetted… Read more.
Women’s History Month – A Book Every Day
In honor of Women’s History Month, each day Social Justice Books is featuring a children’s book we recommend to highlight grassroots women’s history. Read more.
Whitewashed Colonial History Children’s Book Still in Print
On the last day of Black History Month, children at a predominantly African American D.C. elementary school were each given a book to keep. One of our staff members brought in the outrageous title given to her daughter If You Lived in Colonial Times (Scholastic, 1992). While the book all but erases African Americans and demonizes Native Americans… Read more.
Taking the Stage at NMAAHC to Discuss Representation in Children’s Literature
On December 15, 2018, Teaching for Change joined an important dialogue about representation in children’s literature on-stage at the Oprah Winfrey Theater in the National Museum for African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). Read more.
Highlights from Social Justice Books
It has been one year since Teaching for Change launched SocialJusticeBooks.org to identify and promote the best multicultural and social justice children’s books. We partnered with the See What We See (SWWS) coalition to create a database of critical children’s book reviews. Read more.
Despite National Outrage, Scholastic Defends Children’s Book Celebrating Trump
Earlier this month we published critical reviews of the Scholastic books for early and upper elementary students about the election of President Trump. Both books present Trump’s life and the election in a celebratory tone, as summarized by this poem in the book for first and second grade. Read more.
Junot Díaz’s Islandborn: Before and After
We are proud of the role of Teaching for Change played to make this excellent book even better. When an advance copy arrived at our office in January, we were dismayed to see that that the monster was illustrated as a black bat in an ominous sky. One more time, the message was that black is bad and scary. We quickly consulted with our colleagues… Read more.
Tell Knopf: Stop Publishing “Monkey” Book Series by Marc Brown
It is hard to believe that anyone looking at the Monkey early childhood book series by Marc Brown did not see the racist stereotypes it perpetuates. But, they all missed or overlooked it. In fact, the author, illustrator, publisher, reviewers, and libraries gave it an enthusiastic thumbs up. Edith Campbell, a children’s book reviewer who is a member of the… Read more.
CCBC 2017 Multicultural Statistics
Why is the Monster Black in Islandborn?
The new children’s book Islandborn by Junot Díaz tells the story of a young girl, Lola, who learns from family and friends about the Dominican Republic where she was born. She was brought to the U.S. as a baby, so the stories help paint a picture of life on the island and the forces that led her family to leave such a wonderful place. Read more.
Dragons in a Bag Cover Reveal
The See What We See (SWWS) coalition is thrilled to introduce the cover for Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott. Random House will release Dragons in a Bag in October of 2018. It is a wonderful middle grade novel, the first in a series, that will leave you clamoring for the sequel. This is the first cover reveal for SWWS and the Social Justice Books website. Read more.