Books on Democracy & Citizenship
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present Illustration from What’s the Big Deal About Freedom by Ruby Shamir and Matt Faulkner. ©2017 by Matt Faulkner. Philomel. Books on Democracy & Citizenship THE FOLLOWING LIST OF TITLES, produced in partnership with Facing History and Ourselves, a non- profit international educational organization dedicated to engaging “students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice, and antisemitism in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry,” focuses on topics related to democracy and citizenship, including free speech, religious freedom and tolerance, civil disobedience, and the role of the press. ByFACING SLJ HISTORY Re vi| Schoole wsLibrary JournalEd itor 2017 s 1 Foundations for Future Voters | Books on democracy and citizenship Elementary law back to her girlhood years, emphasizing the importance of dissent in the face of an unequal A Is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara. illus. by au- society. This dynamic offering is an essential thor. Seven Stories. 2013. ISBN 9781609805395. purchase that will be useful for completing as- NONFICTION. signments as well as for pleasure reading. Gr 4 Up–Not your typical alphabet board book, this one packs a powerful mes- I Pledge Allegiance by Pat Mora sage both visually and verbally. and Libby Martinez. illus. by Each spread presents a letter Patrice Barton. Knopf. 2014. and a bit of social commentary ISBN 9780307931818. FICTION. urging children to take a stand Gr 1-4–Libby and her great- against war and violence, aunt Lobo are learning the develop an awareness of our Pledge of Allegiance at the environment, and promote ac- same time—but for different ceptance and equality for all reasons. Lobo is practicing it cultures, races, religions, gen- in order to become a citizen ders, and walks of life. An un- of the United States. In school, usual offering that may plant Libby has been chosen to lead the seeds for activism and spark discussions. her class in saying the pledge. Lobo and Libby practice together and talk about what it means We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the to both of them. Sprinkled with Spanish words, United States by David Catrow. illus. by author. this gentle book explores what it means to be an Dial. 2002. ISBN 9780803725539. NONFICTION. American from the perspective of both a child K-Gr 5–The dry, difficult words from the pream- and new citizen. ble to the constitution are made easy to under- stand through wild, wacky, full-color art. After a Elizabeth Started All the Trouble by Doreen Rap- foreword and a page of definitions, Catrow uses paport. illus. by Matt Faulkner. Disney-Hyper- his witty style to encourage kids to giggle and ion. 2016. ISBN 9780786851423. NONFICTION. then claim ownership of the famous words and Gr 1-4–A brief account of how the women’s suf- the basic concepts they ensure. frage movement in the United States began and developed momentum over the years. Elizabeth The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial Cady Stanton was involved in abolitionism and by Susan E. Goodman. illus. by E.B. Lewis. the women’s rights movement, becoming an out- Bloomsbury. 2016. ISBN 9780802737397. spoken advocate in both realms and leading the NONFICTION. way for many other women to Gr 2-4–More than a cen- take up the banner of equality. tury before Brown v. Board of Education, there was Rob- When We Were Alone by David A. erts v. City of Boston. Benjamin Robertson. illus. by Julie Flett. and Adeline Roberts enrolled 24p. HighWater. 2016. ISBN their four-year-old in the clos- 9781553796732. FICTION. est neighborhood school. Sarah K-Gr 3–A gentle picture attended until officials noticed book about the legacy of Native and sent a police escort. In 1855, American boarding schools Massachusetts banned segrega- told from the perspective of tion. An important exploration a young girl gardening with of the struggle for equality and her grandmother. The grand- education in this country. mother recounts the injustices she and the other children faced but also how I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark they would steal moments in order to recapture by Debbie Levy. illus. by Elizabeth Baddeley. the identities they were forced to leave behind. 2016. S. & S. ISBN 9781481465595. NONFICTION. The child-centered text makes the boarding Gr 3-5–This picture book biography of Justice school experience accessible to a young audi- Ginsburg traces her achievements in the field of ence without glossing over its harsh reality. FACING HISTORY | School Library Journal 2017 2 Foundations for Future Voters | Books on democracy and citizenship What’s the Big Deal About Freedom by Ruby Shamir. period vividly to life, while time lines and de- Philomel. illus. by Matt Faulkner. 2017. scriptions of contemporary struggles for equality ISBN 9780399547287. NONFICTION. by Chinese, Mexican, and African Americans, Gr 2-5–Americans describe our country as among others, offer meaningful context. the “land of the free” every time we sing our national anthem, but how often do we take a A Time To Act: John F. Kennedy’s Big Speech by Shana step back and really consider what that phrase Corey. illus. by R. Gregory Christie. NorthSouth. means? Starting with the Declaration of Inde- 2017. ISBN 9780735842755. NONFICTION. pendence and the Constitu- Gr 3-5–Corey begins with tion, this book considers how biographical information on freedom has been expanded John F. Kennedy, including and restricted by governmen- his wealthy upbringing in tal, racial, religious, and eco- an influential family, his ill- nomic factors. Demonstrating nesses as a child, his run for that freedom in practice can Congress, and his eventual be the framework that pro- election to the presidency. vides citizens with rights and The book then segues into protections, the author ex- the struggle of African Ameri- plains the significance of the cans to achieve civil rights, Bill of Rights, then goes into detailing the arduous work of more detail about slavery, sit-ins, marches, and the Free- labor laws, immigration poli- dom Riders. Finally, the story cies, and voting expansion. returns to Kennedy’s 1963 speech to Congress. Christie’s impressionistic Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her illustrations are poignant and bring the narra- Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan tive to life. Tonatiuh. illus. by author. Abrams. 2014. ISBN 9781419710544. NONFICTION. Freedom of Religion. ISBN 9781482461848; Gr 2-5–When eight-year-old Sylvia, an Ameri- Freedom of the Press. ISBN 9781482461886; can citizen of Latin American heritage, was Freedom of Speech. ISBN 9781482461862; denied enrollment in her neighborhood The Right To Petition. ISBN 9781482461923; school and sent to a much inferior “Mexican Freedom of Assembly. ISBN 9781482461824; school,” her family initiated a lawsuit that The Right To Bear Arms. ISBN 9781482461909. ended segregation in California and paved (Our Basic Freedoms). Gareth Stevens. the way for progress nationwide. An impor- 2017. NONFICTION. tant story told with lucid text; expressive, Mix- Gr 4-7–In this timely and visually appealing set, tec-inspired folk art; and in-depth end matter. clear writing delves into the political and histori- cal context of the Bill of Rights and the amend- ments, clarifying their origins and significance. Upper Elementary The inner workings of the U.S. government, and Middle School especially the judicial system and Supreme Court, are also discussed. The impact of our in- Fred Korematsu Speaks Up by Laura Atkins & Stan creasingly digital world and the controversy sur- Yogi. illus. by Yutaka Houlette. Heyday. 2017. rounding certain rights are looked at critically, ISBN 9781597143684. NONFICTION. representing multiple perspectives. Gr 4–8–Following Pearl Harbor, Fred Kore- matsu refused to enter the internment camps. Fannie Never Flinched: One Woman’s Courage in His eventual discovery resulted in imprison- the Struggle for American Labor Union Rights ment. Nearly 40 years later, Korematsu’s case by Mary Cronk Farrell. Abrams. 2016. would be reopened, paving the way for the Civil ISBN. 9781419718847. NONFICTION. Liberties Act of 1988. This inspirational work Gr 4-6–Beginning with the murder of Fannie hooks readers through a variety of formats, in- Sellins by deputies in Natrona, PA, in 1919, Far- cluding dramatic illustrations and direct ques- rell goes back 20 years to Sellins’s early days as tions. Primary source documents bring the a garment factory worker and rising labor rights FACING HISTORY | School Library Journal 2017 3 Foundations for Future Voters | Books on democracy and citizenship activist. The text is matter-of-fact in tone, with trait of a committed leader provides a unique captioned black-and-white photos and news- perspective on Lakota and U.S. history. print ads. A top choice for those interested in workers’ rights and social justice. Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Pinkney. illus. by Brian Pinkney. Little, Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan. S. & S./Salaam Brown. 2010. ISBN 9780316070164. NONFICTION. Reads. 2017. ISBN 9781481492065. FICTION. Gr 3-6–Through effectively chosen words, Gr 4-6–In a quiet Milwaukee suburb, Amina Pinkney brings understanding and meaning to and her best friend Soojin grapple with their what four black college students accomplished own ethnic identities and the on February 1, 1960, by sitting pressure to “Americanize.” Soojin down at a Woolworth lunch is Korean American and on the counter in Greensboro, NC. pathway to citizenship. She’s con- Her repeated phrase, “Their or- templating changing her name der was simple. A doughnut and to solidify her American identity, coffee with cream on the side,” while Amina, who’s Pakistani along with other food metaphors, American, must reconcile her emphasizes the men’s determi- love of singing Motown with her nation to undo the injustices of Muslim faith.