When I first got started with social justice education, I had no idea where to start.
I knew this work was important, but I didn't know how to translate that into actual conversations with the kids in my life.
Have you ever felt this way?
If you download our new BIG List of Diverse Children's Books, you'll get hundreds of picture book recommendations. It's a great resource, but it can be overwhelming if you aren't sure where to start.
I'm going to make it simple for you: here are 5 "starter” picture books for teaching about social justice.
Consider these your social justice education starter pack:
- Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights by Rob Sanders
- Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson
- Speak Up by Miranda Paul
- Let's Celebrate! Special Days Around the World by Kate DePalma
- No Voice Too Small edited by Lindsay Metcalf, Keila Dawson, and Jeanette Bradley
These books introduce kids to activism and diversity, and they are great for families and teachers who are just starting out.
And to be clear: these aren't the "best" picture books for social justice or even our personal favorites - that list would be impossible to create because there are so many good ones! But, this is a great place to start if you want to dip your toe into this work.
Start this journey with one very simple step: get one new book on your bookshelf. Head over to your local library, bookstore, or grab a copy online.