Truth, Justice, and the Activist Way: 5+ Books to Inspire Young Crusaders

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The day the crayons disappeared, poor Duncan was quite surprised.

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As the child was preparing to color a school assignment, he noticed that his crayons had left him a series of notes.Beige aims to be on par with brown. Yellow and orange are fighting. Peach is in trouble because the wrapping has come off. I can’t see white at all. Who knew crayons could be so hard?

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Written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers, The Day the Crayons Quit is about speaking up for yourself and your friends about social norms, identity, and caring for others. It can also be read as an early guide to the labor movement, as young Duncan must find a way to get his homework done while keeping his crayons happy.

Picture books and novels are one of the best ways to explain activities to children. They help show young people and their parents that there are as many shades to activism as there are crayons in a box. Here are some age-appropriate books that introduce advocacy.

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3-5 Years: Change Sings: Children’s National Anthem

Forgiveness and courage have never been more poetic. According to the story, change is within us all, and children are at the forefront as the world changes. doing. Written by Amanda Gorman and illustrated by Lauren Long.

5-7 Years: What Can Citizens Do?

Dave Eggers, author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, teams up with illustrator Shawn Harris to talk about good citizenship, from small things like helping a friend to big things like changing the law. what you do. “

Ages 8-9: Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Rippled Feathers

4 unique girls create their own scout squad. This is an alternative to small-town troops that never let go of outdated traditions. Along the way are mysteries and pranks, animal rights, human rights, and an introduction to the famous female activists who came before them.

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Ages 10-12: Okoye to the People: Black Panther Novel

Author Ibi Zoboi takes us into the world of Marvel Comics through the eyes of Wakanda’s Okoye during his first trip to America. .

Ages 13-18: The silence that binds us

Author Joanna Ho understands that people must speak truth to power. This novel for young adults doesn’t pull any punches, touching on themes like racism, suicide, and parental expectations. Maybelline Chen, a Chinese-Taiwanese American girl who has taken up writing to address stereotypes, says, “The consequences of speaking out are more serious than anyone could have predicted. Who am I?” We can talk, and who will be silent?”

The best way to show (rather than tell) children about community involvement is to lead by example. Most of these books (and hundreds of others) are available at your local bookstore.

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