Young people grow up strong and resilient when they are taught about inequities and injustices and learn that they have the power to do something about them. The adults in their lives need to empower them to become informed, active contributors in creating positive change. The books in this article teach kids how they can make the world a better place.
"School Dishes: A Climate Action Kids Book" by Elizabeth Kelch, illustrated by Christopher Fowler
As a means of showing young people that they have the power to make a difference in their world, this book tells the story of three young people who decide a situation is intolerable and do something to fix it. Middle grade kids will appreciate the narrative and see themselves in the characters.
I wrote this book with the idea of encouraging young folks to step up to the challenges ahead and do the work to make the world a better place for themselves and all of us.
Learn more about Elizabeth Kelch and her work.
Buy your copy of School Dishes: A Climate Action Kids Book on Amazon.
"A Young People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn
Howard Zinn was an American historian and a veteran of World War II who taught at Boston University and Spelman College. He wrote several books throughout his career, one of which was "A People's History of the United States." This book became a seminal work because it portrays the side of American history that often goes unexamined. It's the uglier side of American history, involving manipulation and exploitation that give much greater preference to a limited group of influential leaders.
This powerful, classic work has been adapted and revised for young folks. It is a valuable means of teaching young readers the less celebrated, less glorious history that is no less a part of how America became what it is. Share this book with young folks to get them asking questions about the side of America not always taught in schools.
Learn more about A Young People's History of the United States.
Buy your copy of A Young People's History of the United States on Amazon.
"I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark" by Debbie Levy
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is an icon of the American legal system, a powerful woman many have heard of, but too few know enough about to emulate. She spent her life disagreeing with doing things the way we've always done them simply because we've always done them that way. When she saw inequity, unfairness, or injustice, she spoke up about it. She objected, resisted, and dissented. In a time when women who spoke up were labeled disagreeable, she was determined to voice her disagreement and stand up for what she believed was right.
Share this book with young people to help them understand the power of speaking up and how they can make the world a better place.
Learn more about I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark.
Buy your copy of I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark on Amazon.
"Be the Change: Robin Greenfield's Call to Kids Making a Difference in a Messed-Up World" by Rob Greenfield
Rob Greenfield is a man dedicated to sustainability and teaching sustainable living. He has completed a variety of feats, some fairly extreme, in support of his work, and he's written this book in a way that speaks directly to kids and introduces his ideas to young folks. He, like many sustainability teachers, recognizes that young folks are the future and that they can be leaders if they know how.
Learn more about Be the Change.
"A Is for Activist" by Innosanto Nagara
Even the youngest children, just starting their learning journey, can benefit from an introduction to the values we want them to grow up with. There is merit in exposing them to the ideas of activism, civil rights, environmental justice, sexuality and gender rights, and other important issues that activists believe in and fight for. Share this book with young children to introduce them to these ideas from an early age.
Learn more about A Is for Activist.
Buy your copy of A Is for Activist on Amazon.
"How to Change Everything: The Young Human's Guide to Protecting the Planet and Each Other" by Naomi Klein
This book comes from an author who's been reporting on climate change and the movements to stop it for quite some time. Her stories and information for young people will inspire them to become involved in this global movement. Young people are leading the way in this fight and showing the world that this time of peril is also a time of great possibility. This book empowers them with the strength and knowledge to keep up the good fight.
Learn more about How to Change Everything.
"Imaginary Borders" by Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky
This author has been working in environmental activism since he was a child, and now he explains to young folks the relationship between global crises and climate change. He delivers a profound, genuine call to action with subject matter that reflects current issues. His book shows readers how they can meaningfully engage in activism.
Read the School Library Journal review of Imaginary Borders.
Buy your copy of Imaginary Borders on Amazon.
"We Are All Born Free: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures" by Amnesty International
In 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. After the world had been through the dreadful events of World War II, this document was composed with the purpose of stating and protecting the rights of all people. In an effort to bring this important document to life for young people today, Amnesty International created this book with powerful illustrations to help even the youngest readers understand the value of what this text declares.
Learn more about We Are All Born Free.
"Each Kindness" by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E. B. Lewis
We sometimes tell children to be kind, but what happens if they aren't? This author has written a story to help kids understand why kindness is so important and the personal consequences of being unkind. In a world where the value of kindness is sometimes lost, this author uses the consequences of our actions as the teacher for the characters. This book helps young readers understand a beautiful way forward into a better world for all of us.
Learn more about Each Kindness.
Buy your copy of Each Kindness on Amazon.
"Malala's Magic Pencil" by Malala Yousafzai, illustrated by Kerascoët
Along the lines of "Harold and the Purple Crayon," this book imagines what would happen if we could use a magic pencil to draw the world into a better place. Many of us know the circumstances of this author's life. As a child, she wished for a magic pencil to make her life better, but as she grew up, she recognized that much more than her own life needed to be better. This book's handsome illustrations tell the story of this amazing young woman's life in a way younger audiences will appreciate and demonstrate how she was able to embrace hope even in her most challenging circumstances.
Learn more about Malala's Magic Pencil.
Buy your copy of Malala's Magic Pencil on Amazon.
Teaching young folks about social justice nurtures their critical thinking and compassion. This learning enables them to embrace the different ways other people think and feel and work for a fairer world.
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