Social Justice Books

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

Zoe and the Fawn

Reviewed by Jean Mendoza Review Source: American Indian’s in Children’s Literature Book Author: Little Zoe and her dad are feeding their horses when Zoe is captivated by a fawn lying under an aspen tree nearby. Dad takes a picture. Zoe wonders where the fawn’s mother is, and Dad suggests they look for her. They walk through […]

Dragonfly Kites

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Fifteen years ago, I learned about three delightful picture books by Tomson Highway. Illustrated by Brian Deines, each one had a great story that was presented in English and in Cree. Fox on the Ice, Caribou Song, and Dragonfly Kites were published by a major publisher […]

Call Me Tree/ Llámame Árbol

Reviewed by Beverly Slapin Review Source: De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children Book Author: Using watercolor, ink and pencil on a gorgeous, vibrant palette of mostly pinks, oranges, blues and greens, González constructs double-page spreads full of magical realism. In this inviting scenario, there are children and trees, in some places leaning into […]

Grandma’s Gift

Reviewed by Lila Quintero Weaver Review Source: De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children Book Author: In a category where such books are woefully rare, both of Velasquez’s Grandma stories represent positive images of Afro-Latino children and their families. Although the story in Grandma’s Gift takes place inside a few square miles of contemporary New York City, it also […]

On the Other Side of the Garden

Reviewed by Beverly Slapin Review Source: De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children Book Author: In the entire universe of graphic comics, is there any sillier way to appeal to the sensibilities of young readers than five pages of fart jokes? Than little kid mosquitos, flying through the air, “powered by pedos”? Pretending to […]

Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets: A Muslim Book of Shapes

Reviewed by Mahasin Review Source: Hijabi Librarians Book Author: “Cone is the tip of the minaret so tall. I hear soft echoes of the prayer call,” begins this charming picture book which explores a variety of everyday shapes and angles, as experienced by Muslims of diverse skin tones, who are depicted living, playing, and worshiping together. […]