In Imani Perry’s excellent new book for adults, South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation, she points out that, “even if you are a lover of the national romance, integrity requires that the stories be at least halfway honest…Because history is an instruction. And what you neglectContinue reading “Honest History”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
The Politics of Personhood
According to Freedom for All Americans, there are twenty-five anti-transgender bills currently being proposed in states across the nation. Laws that attack members of marginalized communities are certainly not new to the United States. It seems that there are always groups who are seen as “less-than” or who we prefer to not see at all.Continue reading “The Politics of Personhood”
Celebrate Talent
There should be many more books like J.D. and the Great Barber Battle, written by J.Dillard and illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts. Luckily, this is the first title in a series (with two additional books available now), so I can look forward to many adventures with J.D. and his community in Meridian, Mississippi. I haveContinue reading “Celebrate Talent”
Seeing People
Every once in a while my soul aches to read a story where every character, even the most challenging, eventually shows a redeeming quality. In Anybody Here Seen Frenchie?, by Leslie Connor, I found a book with so many loving, quirky, and accepting characters that it makes me want to pack up and move toContinue reading “Seeing People”
Secrets and Lies
The title of my blog, Teaching Social Justice with Children’s Books, did not seem dangerous or problematic when I chose it several years ago, but it does today. Parents, school boards, and government representatives across the country are demanding that children’s and young adult books which address certain aspects of a person’s identity be removedContinue reading “Secrets and Lies”
Room for Everyone
One of the first books I reviewed for this blog was Front Desk by Kelly Yang. I was thrilled to receive an advance reader’s copy of Room to Dream in the mail from Scholastic Press. This is the third book about Mia Tang and I hope there will be many more. Mia is an activist,Continue reading “Room for Everyone”
Boundless Creativity
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, but I didn’t know that until I started to do some research to write this blog post. December 3 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. I didn’t know that either. As a former special education teacher, it seems like I should have. But, honestly, what I wishContinue reading “Boundless Creativity”
Celebration!
Celebration is the word that comes to mind after reading Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids. This is one of the first books published by Heartdrum, a Native-focused imprint of HarperCollin’s Children’s Books. Edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith, it brings together stories from many Native writers centering around a single powwow in Michigan. Each storyContinue reading “Celebration!”
Knowledge of Our Past is Essential to Moving Forward
There are efforts around the country right now to ban the discussion of critical race theory in K-12 schools. Legislatures are doing their best to prevent people of color, particularly Black people, from being able to vote in future elections. In Iowa, where I live, House File 802 specifically prohibits school districts from including certainContinue reading “Knowledge of Our Past is Essential to Moving Forward”
The Shape of Thunder
The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga is truly a book that speaks to issues we need to face today. I am grateful to NetGalley and Balzer+Bray for the opportunity to write this review. Warga has created two characters, Quinn and Cora, who reflect the type of young women that we see in middle schoolsContinue reading “The Shape of Thunder”
Teaching Social Justice with Children's Books 