Social Justice Books

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

Swashby and the Sea

Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: This joyful picture book for early elementary children emphasizes the transformative influence of friendship. Old Swashby is a recluse who retires to a small house on the beach to be closer to his only long-time friend, the playful sea. Life is solitary and serene […]

Birdsong

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Reviewed Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Add Julie Flett’s Birdsong to your shelves! It is on several Best Books of 2019 lists and it got starred reviews from the major review journals. Most of the reviews note Flett’s artistic style and the seasonal arrangement of the story. Most note the growth […]

Kimotinâniwiw Itwêwina / Stolen Words

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Reviewed Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: I picked up Melanie Florence’s Stolen Words with a bit of trepidation because her previous picture book, Missing Nimama, was so troubling. It, and her novel, The Missing, felt off. (Here’s my post about them.) At the time, I couldn’t put my finger on why her books were unsettling. […]

Wounded Falcons

Reviewed by Beverly Slapin Review Source: De Colores Book Author: “It was a bad day at school.” Young Adrián’s face is bloody and bruised, his shirt is torn, and his fists are clenched with rage. It’s always a bad day at school. Adrián gets into trouble with everyone — except his friend, Santiago, who never has […]

Always Anjali

Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: On the eve of Anjali’s seventh birthday, all she can think about is the new bike she asked her parents for. When she wakes up to the gift in her living room, she immediately wants to go riding with her friends, Mary and Courtney, to […]

I Am Jazz

Teaching Idea Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Jazz is humanized/normalized in this book as a child who enjoys things any other child would enjoy. She plays dress-up and bounces on trampolines with her best friends, Samantha and Casey. But she confides to the readers: “I’m not exactly like Samantha and […]