Social Justice Books

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

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 […]

Por ahí viene el huracán: Una aventura de Isa y Mau

Reviewed by Lila Quintero Weaver Review Source: Latinx in Kid Lit Book Author: POR AHÍ VIENE EL HURACÁN: Una aventura de Isa y Mau es escrito por Laura Rexach Olivencia e ilustrado por Mya Pagán. (Editorial Destellos, 2018) El impacto del Huracán María el pasado septiembre de 2017, marcó fuertemente la vida y experiencias de diversas comunidades en Puerto Rico […]

The Old Man

Reviewed by Kirkus Reviews Review Source: Kirkus Reviews Book Author: Everyone is waking up to start the day. The children get ready for school. The old man must wake up, too. He’s sleeping rough on the streets and must leave before he’s shooed away. Sparse text and quickly stroked illustrations allow readers to drift through […]

¡Our Celebración!

Reviewed by Kirkus Review Review Source: Kirkus Review Book Author: Rhyming couplets in English and Spanish offer a language lesson to readers who join multicultural friends at a vibrant neighborhood celebration with music, fireworks, and a fabulous parade. The day begins with sunshine as the text invites readers to follow a happy, interracial group that […]

My Papi Has a Motorcycle

Reviewed by The Horn Book Review Source: The Horn Book Book Author: Quintero’s picture-book text acts as an evocative love letter to her apá and to the interconnected web of Mexican immigrant working-class people who built her hometown of Corona, California. When Papi gets home from work, young Daisy jumps into his arms for a […]