Social Justice Books

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

Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race

Reviewed by Makai Kellogg Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race is the book we’ve been waiting for! The team (Megan Madison, Jessica Ralli, and Isabel Roxas) did an incredible thing: they explained race and racism to young children. Not only did they do it in a few […]

Each Kindness

Reviewed by Deborah Menkart Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Warning: This picture book for young children does not have a happy ending. And therein is the power and beauty of the story. When a group of children ostracize a new child who is poor, they do not realize how hurtful they are being […]

Swimmy

Reviewed by Deborah Menkart Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Swimmy is the sole survivor of an encounter between a school of small fish and a tuna. When he meets a new group of small fish hiding among the rocks, he is determined to hatch a plan so they can safely explore their world. […]

Pelo Bueno

Reviewed by: Mercy Delgado Cordero and Jeanmary Lugo González Review source: Latinxs in Kid Lit Book author: OUT OF PRINT As a children’s librarian at a public library system in the U.S., and in a neighborhood with a high percentage of Latinxs (mainly Dominicans & Puerto Ricans) and Spanish-speakers, I’m oftentimes being asked for children’s […]

“Seasons of Alaska” board books

Reviewed by: Debbie Reese Review source: American Indians in Children’s Literature   Let’s Play Out! by Yaari Toolie-Walker Button Up! by Angela Y. Gonzales Mittens and Mukluks! by Joni Spiess Bye-Bye Ice! by Carla Snow With delight, I’m here today to tell you about four board books that came out in 2020 from Best Beginnings Alaska. The four books […]

Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book

Reviewed by Beverly Slapin Review Source: De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children Book Author: With his sugar-skull face and Día-de-los-Muertos outfit consisting of a bowler hat, wristwatch, and braces to hold his teeth in, Señor Calavera is polite yet insistent. It’s time, he says, for Grandma Beetle to come along with him. […]