Recommended Books: Activism

Here is a selection of books from our collection about activism, including civil rights, environmentalism, and other movements, as well as local and personal actions initiated by children. We strive to include as much varied racial/cultural representation as possible, but these lists also reflect what is available on the market. 

These titles are only a sample of what you can find in our full collection. To see more, go to Search the Collection and use the “Content” filter on the left-hand menu for “Activism/Social Justice Movements.”

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Enough!

2018

by Emily Easton and Ziyue Chen

From Samuel Adams to the students from Parkland, march through history with the heroic revolutionary protesters who changed America. These heroic protesters were not afraid to stand up for what they believed in. They are among the twenty change-makers in this book who used peaceful protests and brave actions to rewrite American history.–Jacket

Biography/Autobiography Incidental

Magic trash

2015

by J. H. Shapiro and Vanessa Brantley-Newton

This picture book biography of Tyree Guyton, an urban environmental artist, shows how he transformed his decaying, crime-ridden neighborhood into the Heidelberg Project, an interactive sculpture park. The story spans from Tyree’s childhood in 1950s Detroit to his early efforts to heal his community through art in the 1980s. Tyree’s awards include Michigan Artist of the Year and International Artist.–publisher

Biography/Autobiography

Seeds of freedom

2015

by Hester Bass and Earl B. Lewis

Mention the Civil Rights era in Alabama, and most people recall images of terrible violence. But something different was happening in Huntsville. For the citizens of that city, creativity, courage, and cooperation were the keys to working together to integrate their city and schools in peace. In an engaging celebration of this lesser-known chapter in American and African-American history, author Hester Bass and illustrator E. B. Lewis show children how racial discrimination, bullying, and unfairness can be faced successfully with perseverance and ingenuity

Oppression & Resilience

We are Water Protectors

2020

by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade

Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption — a bold and lyrical picture book written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade. Water is the first medicine. It affects and connects us all. When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison her people’s water, one young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth’s most sacred resource. – Publisher

Centering Culture & Identity Oppression & Resilience





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