Social Justice Books

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

The Bridge Home

Reviewed by Edi Campbell Review Source: Cotton Quilts Book Author: Padma Venkatraman has now published four books for young readers. She most often writes stories based in her Indian heritage and just as often reflects themes of social justice and activism. In The Bridge Home, her activism shifts in a more spiritual and inward direction. The Bridge […]

The Frog Mother

Reviewed by Jean Mendoza Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: How I wish we could see a series like Mothers of Xsan for every part of the continent: local ecosystems from Indigenous perspectives! Hetxw’ms Gyetxw, Natasha Donovan, and Highwater Press have come up with a set of richly illustrated informational books about essential animal inhabitants of […]

The Case of the Burgled Bundle

Reviewed by Jean Mendoza Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Oh, the joys of a good mystery! This year saw publication of the third book in the middle-grade Mighty Muskrats series by Michael Hutchinson (Cree). This is a “Short and Sweet” review. The publisher, Second Story Press, says this about The Case of the Burgled Bundle: […]

The Case of Windy Lake

Reviewed by Jean Mendoza Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Hutchinson’s Mighty Muskrats are four cousins — Atim, Chickadee, Otter, and Sam — who live on the Windy Lake First Nation (pretty sure this is a fictional location) in what’s currently called Canada. These tweens are smart, curious, and resourceful. They operate out […]

The Fire

Reviewed by Jean Mendoza Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: I’m very happy to add a title to our 2021 Recommended Books list: Thomas Peacock’s The Fire. This is my “short and sweet” review. As you may remember, “short and sweet” reviews are not in-depth; they cover four reasons for our decision about […]

Bravo, Anjali!

Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author:  Anjali is the only girl in a boy-dominated tabla class. When she rises to the top, her friend Deepak accuses her of standing out not for her talent, but for being a girl playing a man’s instrument. Although Anjali is used to people assuming that […]