Teaching for Change is hosting the third annual conversation with contemporary Central American authors at Busboys and Poets (14th and V) on September 23, featuring Anna Lapera, John Manuel Arias, Ana Patricia Rodríguez, and Jared Lemus. The event is free and open to the public.
Posted: August 20, 2026 by Aileen Tapia
Contemporary Central American Voices
Teaching for Change is hosting the third annual conversation with contemporary Central American authors at Busboys and Poets (14th and V) on September 23, featuring Anna Lapera, John Manuel Arias, Ana Patricia Rodríguez, and Jared Lemus. The event is free and open to the public.
Posted: August 8, 2026 by Allison Acosta
In an Age of Censorship: Social Justice Books Site Expands
I rely on Social Justice Books to make sure that I am utilizing texts in my classroom that broaden the minds and hearts of my students. — Samantha Gutierrez-Rice, pre-service elementary teacher Teaching for Change’s Social Justice Books has moved to a new, user-friendly platform, with new features for the thousands of teachers, librarians, and …
Posted: June 25, 2026 by Mykella
Impact of Social Justice Books
Impact of Social Justice Books Here are selected reflections about the work of Social Justice Books. This has been one of the best resources for my classroom. I reference your booklists all the time to build my classroom library. I used your banned books and national heritage month lists to feature books in my classroom. …
Posted: May 6, 2026 by Mykella
Juneteenth in Picture Books
Juneteenth in Picture Books With Juneteenth a national holiday, we share our Reconstruction booklist to introduce young people to the emancipation era. When reading picture books on Juneteenth, we were disappointed to find that many reinforce Eurocentric narratives. The most common problem with the books is that they strip African Americans of any agency in their own liberation, crediting …
Posted: May 3, 2026 by Allison Acosta
Linking Literacy and Liberation
On May 3, we celebrated Black Radical Educator Day honoring Septima Clark’s birthday. This new picture book on Clark’s life of activism introduces young people to someone who fought for the voting rights that the Supreme Court is gutting today. Clark was fired from her job as a school teacher because of her NAACP membership. …
Posted: May 6, 2025 by Mykella
FREADOM Town Hall Rally
FREADOM Town Hall Rally Children’s book author Kwame Alexander hosted a FREADOM Town Hall Rally on May 31 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C. as part of his Read Strong America initiative. The event was included in the Teach Truth Day of Action map of events. Speakers included Kwame Alexander, Amanda …
Posted: May 6, 2025 by Mykella
Engaging Students in Writing Book Reviews
Engaging Students in Writing Book Reviews By Zapoura Newton-Calvert As a professor at Portland State University teaching a Capstone course focused on social justice education, I have been using the resources at Social Justice Books for many years. When I became a fellow with Teaching for Change, I was delighted to expand my work and …
Posted: May 6, 2025 by Mykella
Department of Defense Education Activity Book Bans
Department of Defense Education Activity Book Bans By Sarah Goodman Duffy I have lived next to military bases my whole life. I grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, near the United States Naval Academy on the Chesapeake Bay. I went to school with the kids of Navy personnel. We would have classes together for two years …
Posted: May 6, 2025 by Mykella
Save Our Stories
Save Our Stories On the first day of Banned Books Week 2025, Penguin Random House hosted a Save Our Stories Supper on the rooftop of Washington, D.C.’s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Because of our work on the Teach Truth campaign, our executive director was invited to attend. The speakers included Trevor Baldwin of the James …
Posted: May 6, 2025 by Mykella
Free Book for Your Story
Free Book for Your Story We’d love to hear how you use Social Justice Books. Share a story or testimonial that we can share online and we’ll send you one of the books featured below in appreciation. The books were donated by Groundwood Books. Share a story today! For example, why you use the site, …