Antiracist Family Book Club: the OTHER talk & Deep Diversity

English MG & Up Antiracism White Privilege Action Accountability Unlearning Implicit Bias Social Change Community Organizing summary In an ongoing effort to help facilitate discussions, consider this the first installment of the Antiracist Family Book Club. My goal is to try and pair a book for MG/YA readers with a book for grownup readers (educators,…

The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks: Young Readers Edition

English YA & Up History Historical Figures Civil Rights Movement Modern Black Freedom Struggle Activism Social Movements Jeanne Theoharis & Brandy Colbert summary I love Rosa Parks. So much. I’m that insufferable person that will talk about how simplified her narrative has become when referring to the Modern Black Freedom Struggle/Civil Rights Movement of the…

The Protest

english emergent readers, early chapter book. Community Activism Community Garden Samantha Thornhill & Shirley Ng-Benitez summary For #SweetsAndSocialJustice this week, I still wanted to make a sweet treat even though the book is about a garden. So I thought about how composting and using up all our of food scraps is important, and decided to…

Okapi Tale

Written By: Jacob Kramer Illustrated by: K-Fai Steele For Ages: 4 years and up Language: English Topics Covered: Anti-Capitalism, Social Movements, Community Organizing, Pasta, Sequels. Summary: Listen…I know…I KNOW I’m late to reviewing this book. It’s been out for over a month, and I’ve just now gotten my life together enough to gather my thoughts…

Five Things About Ava Andrews

Written By: Margaret Dilloway Cover Art by: Yaoyao Ma Van As For Ages: Middle Grade Language: English Topics Covered: Invisible Disabilities, Interracial Families, Anxiety, Growing Up, Acting, Improv, Friendship, Gentrification, Activism, Community Organizing, Japanese-American, Own Voices. Summary: Half-Japanese Ava Andrews has two invisible disabilities that complicate her life: a pacemaker from a genetic heart condition,…

Harlem Grown

Written By: Tony Hillery Illustrated by: Jessie Hartland For Ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Own Voices, Black Culture & Identity, Food Equity, Community Involvement, Community Garden, Food Desert. Summary: Harlem Grown is an awesome true story about a man named Tony (the author himself!) who helped kids clear our a vacant lot across…

Lift as You Climb: The Story of Ella Baker

Written By: Patricia Hruby Powell Illustrated by: R. Gregory Christie For Ages: 8-12 years Language: English Topics Covered: Black Culture & Identity, Activism, History, Historical Figures, Modern Black Freedom Struggle, Voting, Community Organizing, Women in Leadership, Civil Rights. Summary: This week for #sweetsandsocialjustice I’m really excited to have a book aimed at older readers about…

Antiracist Baby

Written By: Ibram X. Kendi Illustrated by: Ashley Lukashevsky For Ages: 3 years and up Language: English Topics Covered: Racism, Antiracism, Community Involvement, Self-Empowerment, Oppression, Social-Emotional Learning, Family. Summary: In this rhyming hardcover version of the board book, readers are introduced to 9 steps that anyone can take to begin their antiracist journey. The reader…

Girls Resist! A Guide to Activism, Leadership, and Starting a Revolution

Written & Illustrated By: KaeLyn Rich For Ages: YA Middle grades & up Language: English Topics Covered: Feminism, Activism, Community Organizing, Education, Critical Thinking, Growing Up, Social-Emotional Learning, Grassroots Change. Summary: Spoiler: this book is AMAZING! It was perfect for this week’s edition of #sweetsandsocialjustice for which I made apple berry galette. Why, do you…

Sofia Valdez, Future Prez

Written by: Andrea Beaty Illustrated by: David Roberts For ages: 4-8 years Language: English, minor Spanish.  Topics Covered: Community Action, Environmentalism, Girls Outdoors, Creativity, Feminism, Girls in Leadership, Latinx, Activism.  Summary:  Sofia Valdez loves her community, and she especially loves helping her community be better.  When her Abuelo injures his ankle slipping on trash and can’t walk Sofia to school anymore,…