Social Justice Books

The best selection of multicultural and social justice books for children, YA, and educators.

This Land Is My Land

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Among my favorite books is George Littlechild’s This Land Is My Land, published in 1993 by Children’s Book Press. Written and illustrated by Littlechild, the book won the Jane Addams Peace Award. The title, of course, is familiar. Across the United States, in schools […]

The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family

Review Source: Hijabi Librarians Book Author: Faizah admires older sister Asiya’s new, strikingly blue and beautiful first-day-hijab, finding inner strength and pride when facing bullies at school who make fun of it. This book discussion was conducted on May 12, 2019, and was based on the fold & gather, received from Little, Brown Books for Young […]

Tikki Tikki Tembo

Reviewed by Irene Rideout Review Source: Grace Lin Blog Book Author: As a child, did you love Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel? Did you find the absurdly long name “Tikki Tikki Tembo-no Sa Rembo-chari Bari Ruchi-pip Peri Pembo” intoxicatingly fun to chant or sing? First published in 1968, the book has won some honors: In 1968, it […]

They She He Me: Free to Be!

Reviewed by Ashleigh ­Williams Review Source: School Library Journal Book Author: The authors have succeeded in creating a gorgeous and much-needed picture book about pronouns and gender fluidity. Rich watercolor artwork, done in a spectrum of blue and green jewel tones, depicts a line of smiling people, each with a different skin color and all sporting […]

Hair Love

Reviewed by Breanna McDaniel Review Source: Shelf Awareness Book Author: Matthew A. Cherry wears many hats as a film director, producer and editor. With his debut picture book, Hair Love, he can now add children’s book author to that list. A colorful collaboration with illustrator Vashti Harrison (Little Leaders), Hair Love was inspired by an animated short of the […]

Mali Under the Night Sky

Review Source: Book Dragon Book Author: As spare as this title might seem, it actually embodies three important sections. The main focus is clearly the story of young Mali, which begins with her carefree life in her native Laos filled with everyday reminders “that the world was big – ngai – and full of wonderful things.” Writer/artist Youme paints Mali’s joy climbing flowering trees, […]