Social Justice Books

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

Home Is in Between

Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author:  Mitali Perkins’ words paired with Lavanya Naidu’s art aptly captures an immigrant’s exhausting reality of living in between two spaces and cultures in this picture book for early elementary children. Perkins says in her author’s note, “The space between cultures doesn’t have to be a […]

One Wish: Fatima Al-Fihri and the World’s Oldest University

Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: One Wish is a powerful narrative about a Muslim woman whose faith, passion, and determination led to something greater than herself. Fatima was born in a time and place where boys went to school and girls were tutored at home. Fatima wished that she could […]

Rosa Parks: Little People, Big Dreams Series

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, […]

Martin Luther King Jr.: Little People, Big Dreams Series

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, […]

Greta Thunberg: Little People, Big Dreams Series

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 […]