Social Justice Books

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

It Jes’ Happened

Reviewed by Rebecca Lehr Review Source: Independent Book Author: It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw is a biographical children’s book about the  African American folk artist who started drawing at the age of 81 and produced over 1,000 drawings and paintings by his death at the age of 95. It chronicles his life […]

The Cat Man of Aleppo

Reviewed by Pat Corekin Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Based on the true story of Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel, The Cat Man of Aleppo provides a poignant account of one man’s struggle to save the lives of cats abandoned in the wake of the Syrian war, which started in 2011 and is still ongoing. […]

Frankly in Love

Reviewed by Cierra Kaler-Jones Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Although the title indicates that this might be a romance, the book covers love in not just romantic ways, but as family, friendship, protection, forgiveness, acceptance, and letting go. The true strength of the novel is that the author, David Yoon, navigates cultural differences, […]

Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio

Reviewed by Don Allen Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: This outstanding graphic novel fills a huge void in the Kent State literature. While Kent State University’s library has a whole room dedicated to May 4th, 1970 – there is enough reading to last for years – there have been few books for young […]

Greta and the Giants

  Reviewed by Deborah Menkart Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: NOT RECOMMENDED: So, we just got another picture book in the mail about Greta Thunberg. (This is at least the 4th children’s book about Greta.) Called Greta and the Giants, it implies that Greta was the first climate activist. The story is that […]

Ways to Make Sunshine

Reviewed by Jazelle Hunt Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: With Ways to Make Sunshine, Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Award-winning author Renée Watson brings us a confident, bright, aspiring chef named Ryan Hart, an African American girl “with a name that a lot of boys have.” When we meet Ryan she is […]