With Martin Luther King Day coming up, you might be thinking about how to inspire the future changemakers in your life. Perhaps you want to help your kiddo understand the protests they’re seeing? Or help guide them towards making a difference? Right this way!
The links below are to Bookshop, and I may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Bookshop supports local bookstores, so you can feel good about spending dollars there. But as always, check your local library first!
These books are generally great for 3-6 year olds, and are listed in alphabetical order. My favorite happens to be at the end!
Picture Book Gifts for Little Changemakers:
No Voice Too Small: Fourteen Young Americans Making History is 14 poems about change making kids. Some are familiar names like Mari Copeny (aka Little Miss Flint), and some were completely new to me! I loved the diversity of topics here. This book is a little more text heavy than we usually read, so we read a couple of pages a night until we met all the activists. Edited by Lindsay H. Metcalf, Keila V Dawson and Jeanette Bradley, illustrated by Jeanette Bradley.
Sometimes People March is a must have picture book by Tessa Allen about many of the reasons we take to the streets – equal rights, clean water, and more. I love the diversity depicted here, from differing abilities to different types of protest. After recent events, my family will read now this book with a healthy discussion about how some people march for reasons we don’t agree with.
Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev and illustrated by Taeeun Yoo is a household favorite. A boy and his elephant are told they are not welcome at a neighborhood pet party, and they team up with a Black girl and her not stinky skunk to create an inclusive party for the all pets and all people. We talk about how the characters have different skin colors, different choices of pets, and that we’d like to go to the party that includes everyone.
The Three Questions by Jon J. Muth is a gorgeous retelling of a Tolstoy story. When you have a child asking (or needing to ask), “What is the right thing to do?” this is your book. Did I mention it is gorgeous? Gorgeous. By the author/illustrator of Stone Soup, which was a delightful surprise hit with our kiddo.
V is for Voting is the ultimate ABC book for little activists. This book is SO good. If you’re looking for just one, this is my recommendation. My favorite page is J for Judge, we miss you RBG! Written by Kate Farrell and illustrated by Caitlin Kuhwald.
Looking for more? See if you can check off all 100 Children’s Books to Read in 2021!
Photo by Lewis Parsons on Unsplash