Social Justice Books

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

Counting Kindness

Reviewed by Umm Aminah Review Source: De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children Book Author: Of course, any attempt to generate increased compassion for dislocated individuals should be applauded. However, in an attempt to encourage the welcoming of immigrants from war-torn countries, Counting Kindness // A Contar amabilidad makes a few inexplicit implications. Among these are: (1) Trauma that […]

Knock, Knock: Turning Pain into Power

Reviewed by Linda Christensen Review Source: Rethinking Schools Book Author: The Rethinking Schools article below, by Linda Christensen, is about teaching Daniel Beaty’s poetry that was the basis for his picture book, Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me. Too often today, schools are about standards and common curriculum: Scarlet Letter and Huck Finn first quarter, move on to Great Gatsby … […]

Yes! No! A First Conversation About Consent

Reviewed by Makai Kellogg Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Consent is a big deal for my three to five-year-old students. As a population who navigates their days around people who exert power — both peers and adults — conversations about consent are critical for building a safe classroom environment. Expressing one’s feelings, understanding […]

Hair Twins

Reviewed by Nimarta Narang Reviewed Source: Brown Girl Magazine Book Author:  Growing up, every Sunday morning started the same way for me. My siblings and I would get dressed for the Gurdwara and wander over to our parents’ room, where we would sit and wait for them to finish getting ready. My mom, in her salwar […]

Sharice’s Big Voice: A Native Kid Becomes a Congresswoman

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author:  In some books, I find one thing after another that I absolutely adore. Sharice’s Big Voice is one of those books. First example? The back cover. It is a page from inside. It looks like this: On that page, Sharice is studying. A stack of […]

ABC El Salvador

Reviewed by Beverly Slapin Review Source: De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children Book Author: On the front cover, raised lettering in glossy relief — large ABCs on which two Indigenous children climb — invites young readers to touch the painted block letters similar to the wood block letters that El Salvador is […]