Reviewed by Brad Manker
Review Source: Teaching for Change
Book Author: Megan Madison, Jessica Ralli
We Care: A First Conversation About Justice by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, with illustrations by Sharee Miller, introduces young children to the concept of justice as an active process. In their introduction, the authors state: “All children deserve to grow up in a just society . . . We wrote this book to help young children acknowledge, repair, and transform the harm they experience throughout their lives.” Part of the First Conversations series, this book goes beyond simply explaining fairness; it empowers youngsters to see themselves as agents of change within their communities.
The story follows a young Black girl on a journey of transformative justice alongside her loving family. She works alongside her grandmother and brother in a community garden, she attends a town hall meeting with her family where her father advocates for affordable housing, and she and her father distribute lunches to people experiencing houselessness under the steely gaze of the police. Later, they join a peaceful protest march, demonstrating the importance of raising one’s voice and collectively finding solutions to problems. The story ends on a hopeful note, with the girl contributing to a community pantry and enjoying the fruits of their labor — a new housing co-op has opened next to their thriving community garden.
Vibrant and cheerful illustrations depict a diverse and inclusive world. Sharee Miller’s thoughtful illustrations contain a vast array of characters, including people living in tent encampments, hijabs, a Deaf interpreter with vitiligo, and an incarcerated man. Her welcoming visual style makes a complex topic approachable for young readers. The book concludes with a message of perseverance: “Justice is hard work, so it’s okay to feel tired and to take a break,” which emphasizes the importance of self-care while remaining committed to the ongoing fight for justice. The “Continue the Conversation” section provides adults with additional information about topics like community care, safety, collective responsibility, and disrupting white supremacist binaries. There is also a hyperlink to additional resources on transformative justice practices.
This book also presents opportunities for further discussion beyond the story itself. There’s a section that introduces concepts like feelings, fairness, communication, making mistakes, and the nuance of human nature. This section could be a springboard for parents and educators to explore these ideas with young readers. Kid-friendly questions are also sprinkled throughout the text, allowing adults and children to take reflection breaks.
We Care is a valuable resource for those raising socially-conscious children. It provides caregivers and educators a powerful tool to generate conversations about fairness, empathy, and social responsibility. Through the relatable experiences of a young girl and her family, the book equips young people to become active participants in creating a more just and equitable world.
Brad Manker serves as a fellow with Teaching for Change. He is an educator, curriculum designer, and independent researcher with a background in elementary education.
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We Care: A First Conversation About Justice by Megan Madison, Jessica Ralli
Published by Penguin on May 14, 2024
Genres: Board Books
Pages: 38
Reading Level: Early Childhood
ISBN: 9780593521007
Review Source: Teaching for Change
Also by this author: Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race, Yes! No!: A First Conversation About Consent, We Care: A First Conversation About Justice
Publisher's Synopsis: Based on the research that race, gender, justice, and other important topics should be discussed with toddlers on up, this read-aloud series offers adults the opportunity to begin important conversations with young children in an informed, safe, and supported way.
Developed by experts in the fields of early childhood and activism, this topic-driven picture book offers clear, concrete language, and compelling imagery to introduce the concept of justice. This book aims to ground the idea of justice within the responsibilities and benefits of being part of a healthy community.
While young children are avid observers and questioners of their world, adults often shut down or postpone conversations on complicated topics because it's hard to know where to begin. Research shows that talking about tough issues from the age of two not only helps children understand what they see, but also increases self-awareness, self-esteem, and allows them to recognize and confront things that are unfair, like discrimination and prejudice.
These books offer a supportive approach that considers both the child and the adult. Stunning art accompanies the simple and interactive text, and the backmatter offers additional resources and ideas for extending this discussion.
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