Books to help your kids become better activists
As protests and marches continue across the country, parents can use books to help them broach complex topics with their children. Many children recently attended protests for the first time and these budding activists often have tough questions.
Here is a list of six books that can introduce even the youngest children to the idea of rebellion in an age-appropriate and inspiring way. Give the princesses and pirates a rest and try these inspiring tomes — just don’t be surprised if bedtime negotiations rise to a new level. Every activist has to start somewhere!
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo
With 100 stories about the lives of women throughout history, each paired with a striking illustration created by a female artist, this isn’t your typical children’s book. Each story is one page long, making it just the right length for bedtime reading with little ones, or for older children to pick up between activities. It’s beautifully presented, with thick paper and glossy images, and the title catches children’s attention.
“Rebel is usually a word that has a negative connotation, especially when it’s associated with women,” Favilli says. “This was a way to say that being a rebel woman is actually a good thing.”
The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist by Cynthia Levinson, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton
The book tells the true story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, who was arrested in 1963 at a civil rights protest in Birmingham, Ala., when she was 9 years old. In it, Audrey is introduced to stories about the Ku Klux Klan and police brutality, and she decides to join the protest. The compelling story about white supremacy and the civil rights era illustrates the courage and personal
sacrifice that activism requires, and teaches children why it matters.
A Is for Activist by Innosanta Nagara
A familiar format is paired with a progressive message in this book. Each letter sparks thought-provoking entries, such as “A is for Activist. Advocate. Abolitionist. Ally. Actively Answering A call to Action,” or “Y is for You. And Youth. Your planet. Your rights. Your future. Your truth. Y is for Yes. Yes! Yes! Yes!” Young children will enjoy the poetic format and delight in finding the playful black cat hiding on every page. Older children will have questions about everything from black history to McCarthyism, making it a great discussion starter.
We March by Shane W. Evans
Children who participated in the Women’s March in January may especially enjoy this book’s dive into the 1963 March on Washington. It tells the story of two children who, along with their parents, wake up early and travel to join what they call the march for their dreams. The short, simple story begins with the family and swells to encompass the universal tale. The illustrations, drawn by Evans, show people of all colors and religions using wheelchairs and walking. It’s a gentle yet powerful introduction to the historic march, and why we march today, that’s suitable for even the youngest children.
Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel and Melissa Sweet
Children will love hearing the true story of Clara Lemlich, a Ukrainian immigrant who began joining strikes and speaking out about unfair working conditions in shirtwaist factories when she was 17 years old. The book, which chronicles Clara’s arrival in the United States and follows her rise to fame while leading the major shirtwaist makers’ strike of 1909, introduces children to activism and fair working conditions.
I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Elizabeth Baddely
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has become a feminist icon, and I Dissent teaches kids why. The first picture book for children about Ginsburg uses her life as a lens to introduce children to topics ranging from racial and sexual discrimination to nontraditional family roles. In each case, whether at home or on the Supreme Court, Ginsburg stood up for what she believed in, even if she was in the minority.