Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Enter the children’s section in any bookstore or library and you are bound to see a display of titles from the Little People, BIG DREAMS picture book series. Written for very young readers, they include titles on a range of activists, religious leaders, artists, […]
Freedom Bird: A Tale of Hope and Courage
Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Following in the tradition of oral storytelling, Freedom Bird is a blend of history and folklore. Reminiscent of Roots, but targeted for children and inspired by The People Could Fly, Nolen tells the multigenerational story of the Wheeler family on Simon Plenty’s fictional plantation. The narrative […]
Sona Sharma, Very Best Big Sister?
Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Note: While I recommend this book for early readers because it offers an authentic representation of the Hindu ceremony, namakarna, along with other Indian traditions and customs that accompany the birth of a new baby, it’s also worthwhile to note this naming ceremony is […]
Nigel and the Moon
Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Nigel and the Moon is whimsically illustrated and intended to encourage children to dream big and voice their aspirations out loud and proud. However, there is also a displacement of anxiety over economic class present in the narrative that can be harmful to children’s […]
Diversity in Children’s and Young Adult Books
By Paige Pagan The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) has released data on books by and about Black, Indigenous, and People of Color published for children and teens. While we are seeing steady increases in the number of children’s and young adult books written by authors of color, the number of books about BIPOC protagonists […]
The Disempowering Impact of the Little People, BIG DREAMS Series
By Paige Pagan and the Social Justice Books Team Enter the children’s section in any bookstore or library and you are bound to see a display of titles from the Little People, BIG DREAMS picture book series. Written for very young readers, they include titles on a range of activists, religious leaders, artists, and entertainers. […]