Social Justice Books

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

Ella Cara Deloria: Dakota Language Protector

Reviewed by Jean Mendoza Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: . . . . Author Diane Wilson (Dakota) follows Ella Deloria from her childhood on the Standing Rock reservation to the creation of a fellowship in her name at Columbia University in 2010, nearly 4 decades after her death in 1971. Wilson […]

Peggy Flanagan: Ogimaa Kwe, Lieutenant Governor

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: . .  .The biography starts in 1986 when [Peggy] Flanagan was in first grade in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. It is recess time and Peggy is outside playing. But she’s thinking about the lessons they were doing before recess. Her teacher had […]

Navajo Code Talkers

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: I love that Danielle C. Burbank (Diné) opens her book, Navajo Code Talkers, with the word Yá’át’ééh! It signals that we’re going to learn about the Code Talkers from someone for whom this is not a subject. Instead, it is her family’s life. […]

Wings of an Eagle: The Gold Medal Dreams of Billy Mills

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: I spent several hours over the last two weeks, watching the 2024 Olympics. Part way in, I saw that Billy Mills was there. He was sharing photos to his Facebook page. I pulled up the video of his race and shared it […]

Behind Every Rug

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Those who follow my work know that I’ve been frustrated many times with things Scholastic does. Sometimes, though, they do a good thing. Case in point? Behind Every Rug. This little book is by Daniel W. Vandever. I highly recommended his previous books. Fall […]

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 […]