Social Justice Books

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

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 […]

Areli Is a Dreamer

Reviewed by Alex Morales Review Source: Reading Is Resistance Book Author:  Areli is a Dreamer by Areli Morales tells the compelling story of Areli’s experience immigrating to the United States from Mexico as a young child. I am a DACA recipient, and this book uncovered emotions within me that I had not confronted since I […]

Black, White, Just Right!

Reviewed by Madisyn Myers Review Source: Reading Is Resistance Book Author:  Black, White, Just Right!, written by Marguerite Davol and illustrated by Irene Trivas, tells the story of an interracial couple and their young daughter.  The story shows the many differences between the young girl’s African American mother and white father and how she has […]