Written & Illustrated by: Tessa Allen

For Ages: 4-8 years

Language: English

Topics Covered: Community, Social Movements, Social Change, Peaceful Protest, Community Action.

Summary: Sometimes People March is a story that sticks with you long after the covers are closed. The text has a unique ability to ring of both past and current events while I also see this book as a future classic. For #sweetsandsocialjustice this week I made something that can fuel hungry marchers, granola bars!

The text is minimal, and the illustrations invoke the emotions within a person that we are more powerful as a community. Just like ants are stronger as a group, just like a band is louder with more musicians, we can raise our voices for the causes closest to our hearts. The watercolor illustrations call back to previous marches and protests throughout history while also asking the reader to look towards the future and think about what else needs to be changed.

Not only is the book itself an inspiring reminder of what we can achieve as a group, but in the back is information about each of the events that the illustrations depict. Sometimes People March can be used as a discussion point, a history text, or part of larger ongoing discussions about social movements and current events.

This book was kindly sent by Harper Kids, but all opinions are my own.

Recipe: Granola Bars

Ingredients:

1 3/4c oats (I used either rolled or quick)

3oz chocolate chips

1/4c dried berries

1/4c nuts

6T other assorted things (I usually use flax seeds, chia seeds, uncooked quinoa, or more nuts! Sometimes, when I’m low on supplies I just measure out some trail mix and add it in.)

4T melted butter

1/2c brown sugar

1/4c + 2T nut butter (whichever you like best)

1/4c honey

1 1/2t vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 and line a 9×9 pan with parchment paper. This recipe is super versatile and forgiving, and I mix up my ingredients all the time with whatever I have on hand or if I want a specific flavor. I know it sounds wacky to add uncooked quinoa into a granola bar, but it ends up being super crunchy! I usually just add a tablespoon or two, not a whole lot.

Add all of your dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk slightly (leaving out chocolate). Put nut butter and regular butter in a dish and melt together with the honey. Stir in sugar and vanilla until smooth. Now, you have two options here. If you put the chocolate into the dries now, the warm liquids will melt it and the whole bars will be chocolate. If you pour the liquids in and mix for a bit before putting in the chocolate there will be more actual chunks of chocolate left behind. Do whatever you like best! After everything is mixed and there’s no dry pockets, press into the pan and bake for half an hour. After it’s cooked allow to cool in the pan. I trim off the edges because they get crunchy (and eat them too, of course!) and then cut the insides into bar shapes in my preferred size. Perfect to take with you to a march!