Social Justice Books

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

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You

Reviewed by Edi Campbell Review Source: Cotton Quilts Book Authors: I didn’t begin to appreciate nonfiction until my adult years. During my childhood, nonfiction I think was primarily written for for adults; particularly white, male adults. Even more so, it was a dry, informational text, a text that led readers to think it was delivering honest, bias […]

Someday Is Now: Clara Luper and the 1958 Oklahoma City Sit-In

Reviewed by Deborah Menkart Review Source: Cotton Quilts Book Author: Every year in the Zinn Education Project “this day in history” series, we feature the story of high school history teacher Clara Luper and the NAACP Youth Council in Oklahoma who began sit-ins to desegregate lunch counters at the Katz Drugstore on Aug. 19, 1958. This was […]

Man Up!

Reviewed by Deborah Menkart Review Source: Cotton Quilts Book Authors: Man Up! by Riley Campbell, London Jones, and Shirelle Hurt, illustrated by Joy Ingram.  Dedicated to “all the boys who are told they can’t be themselves” — this is the book we have been waiting for. Not since William’s Doll have I seen a book […]

The Big Bed

Reviewed by Deborah W. Thomas Tellin’ Stories Roving Readers Coordinator Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: A young girl negotiates with her dad about who should sleep in the big bed with mommy. Not wanting to hurt her dad’s feelings, a little girl calls a meeting to discuss a problem they have, The Big […]

Hair Love

Reviewed by Breanna McDaniel Review Source: Shelf Awareness Book Author: Matthew A. Cherry wears many hats as a film director, producer and editor. With his debut picture book, Hair Love, he can now add children’s book author to that list. A colorful collaboration with illustrator Vashti Harrison (Little Leaders), Hair Love was inspired by an animated short of the […]

Biddy Mason Speaks Up

Reviewed by Sarah Jo Zaharako Review Source: Reading While White Book Author: In 1866, Biddy Mason bought a parcel of land on the outskirts of Los Angeles. The purchase provided a legacy for her family and helped Mason become one of the wealthiest people in Los Angeles. She was 48 years old, a midwife and herbalist; […]