Social Justice Books

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

Missing Daddy

Reviewed by Rethinking Schools Staff Review Source: Rethinking Schools Book Author: According to author Mariame Kaba, 2.7 million children under the age of 18 have an incarcerated parent. In an author’s note, Kaba says that she wrote Missing Daddy because of her frustration finding materials that can help children deal with the “loss, grief, and trauma” […]

Sometimes We Do

Reviewed by Kent Haines Review Source: Games for Young Minds Book Author: You probably don’t need a rant from me about the state of our country or our world. After all, you signed up to receive lighthearted math game recommendations. So I’ll be brief: I fully and wholeheartedly support the protesters, their political goals, and […]

Nibi Is Water

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Last month I (Debbie) was in Toronto at the 2020 Ontario Library Association’s Super Conference. There, I spoke (and ate, and laughed–a lot!) with Native women. At one of these moments, they were asking me if I’d seen Joanne Robertson’s new board […]

The Big Bed

Reviewed by Deborah W. Thomas Tellin’ Stories Roving Readers Coordinator Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: A young girl negotiates with her dad about who should sleep in the big bed with mommy. Not wanting to hurt her dad’s feelings, a little girl calls a meeting to discuss a problem they have, The Big […]

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 […]

Julián Is a Mermaid

Reviewed by Beverly Slapin Review Source: De Colores: The Raza Experience Book Author: Dear Readers— Since I wrote and published our review of Julián Is a Mermaid (see it here), there has been much online discussion about this book. Dr. Laura Jiménez has just published a personal and profound essay — entitled Trans People Aren’t Mythical Creatures […]