Social Justice Books

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

When Aidan Became a Brother

Reviewed by MaKenna Pierre, edited by Zapoura Newton-Calvert Review Source: Reading Is Resistance Book Author:  Aidan knew how to love someone, and that was the most important part of being a brother. When Aidan Became a Brother, by Kyle Lukoff, follows the story of Aidan, a young transgender boy, and his understanding of himself and […]

When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha): A Cherokee Tribal Feast

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: In professional development workshops that I do where I ask people to bring books with Native content, I look over what they’ve brought. Lots of old — and not good — nonfiction (series books and biographies) and fiction. I also see dreadful […]

Simone

Reviewed by Pat Corekin Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Simone tells the story of a mother and child during an evacuation from a raging fire in California and the mother’s memories of fleeing a flood in Vietnam when she was a child. As Simone’s mother recounts the story of the flood when she […]

Mamie Tape Fights to Go to School

Reviewed by Deborah Menkart Review Source: Rethinking Schools Book Author: This picture book tells the true story of a fight for access to public education by an 8-year-old Chinese American girl, Mamie Tape, and her parents. There were no public schools for Chinese Americans in 1884 in San Francisco when Mamie tried to attend the white […]

Zion Learns to See: Opening Our Eyes to Homelessness

Reviewed by Keesha Ceran Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Zion Learns to See is a new children’s book by father-daughter duo, Terence and Zion Lester. The book follows Zion as she spends a day with her father, Terence, in the community work he is doing around houselessness and economic justice.  Through the storytelling and […]

Viva’s Voice

Reviewed by Issac Abernethy Review Source: Reading Is Resistance Book Author:  Many voices together can make a big noise, Papi. Viva’s Voice, written by Raquel Donoso and illustrated by Carlos Vélez Auiglera, is the story of Viva and her papi standing up for change and is inspired by the author’s  childhood experiences as the daughter […]