Social Justice Books

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

See You Soon

Reviewed by Rethinking Schools Book Author: Pain, love, and hope fill the pages of Mariame Kaba’s most recent picture book about a child with an incarcerated loved one. Like young readers who might be system-impacted themselves, or perhaps children considering a humanized perspective of incarceration for the first time, Reyna thinks, “I have so many questions. […]

Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun’s Thanksgiving Story

Reviewed by Rethinking Schools Book Author: In this powerful picture book, N8hkumuhs (NOO-kuh-mus), Grandmother, shares the story “about the time Weeâchumun [corn] asked our Wampanoag ancestors to help the Pilgrims.” Beginning with Seagull announcing the newcomers’ arrival, this story centers plants and animals as N8hkumuhs tells how Weeâchumun, Beans and Squash, and animals Duck, Fox, Rabbit, […]

Remember

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Look at the book cover. Above the single-word title, Remember, you will see the name of the author — Joy Harjo — and the illustrator — Michaela Goade — and in front of their names you’ll see these words: “U.S. Poet Laureate” and […]

Door of No Return

Reviewed by Elizabeth Abena Osei Reviewed Source: Africa Access Book Author: When I was eight years old, my mother introduced me to slave narratives with Meet Addy, the story of the Black enslaved girl in the American Girl Book Collection. It was one of the first times I read about slavery from the perspective of a […]

Yellow Dog Blues

Reviewed by Zapoura Newton-Calvert Review Source: Reading Is Resistance Book Author:  Yellow Dog moved to Memphis! He followed the city lights. He sings the blues on Beale Street now. He sings all day and night. — From Yellow Dog Blues When Bo Willie sees his front gate swinging open, he knows Yellow Dog is gone. And […]

My Brother Is Away

Reviewed by Keesha Ceran Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Written by Sara Greenwood and illustrated by Luisa Uribe, My Brother is Away is about a young girl whose brother is incarcerated. The story is based on the author’s childhood experience that connects young readers with similar stories all too rarely represented in children’s […]