Children's Books

CATEGORIES: Character Education/Citizen Activism - Environmental Preservation - Animal Protection - Food and Diet - Media, Culture & Consumerism - Human Rights

Please note: Many of these titles could go in multiple categories, so we've added keywords to each title to help you find the books that will work best for your needs.

Have a suggestion for a good title for us to consider adding? Email Marsha with the details.

Look for these titles at your local library, or purchase them at your local bookstore.

Character Education/Citizen Activism:

City Green by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan. 1994 (32 pgs) Gr. K-4.
When a lot becomes vacant near their building, Marcy and her neighbor decide to create a community garden.
Citizen activism. Community. Cooperativeness. Gardens.

Stone Soup by Heather Forest. 1998. (32 pgs) Gr. K-3.
A modernized retelling of the classic tale about travelers who declare they can make soup from a stone.
Generosity. Sharing.

When Stories Fell Like Shooting Stars by Valiska Gregory. 1996. (40 pgs) Gr. 1-3.
Two fables about resolving conflict, one focusing on the consequences of greed, the other exemplifying the benefits of generosity.
Conflict Resolution. Cooperativeness. Generosity. Greed.

Nico & Lola: Kindness Shared Between a Boy and a Dog by Meggan Hill. 2009. (32 pgs) Gr. K-3.
When Nico takes care of his aunt's dog, he must find ways to be kind to her, and Lola shows kindness in return.
Animals. Dogs. Kindness.

Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud. 2007. (32 pgs) Gr. Pre-K-3.
Through the analogy of all of us having a bucket, this book encourages positive behavior, showing kindness, generosity and love to others.
Character. Conduct of life. Generosity. Happiness. Kindness.

The Three Questions by Jon J. Muth. 2002. (32 pgs) Gr. 1-5.
When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do? Leo wants to be the best person he can and seeks someone wise to teach him the answer to his three questions.
Conduct of life.

Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth. 1998. (32 pgs) Gr. K-4.
When a young girl reflects on all the trash and graffiti in her neighborhood, she goes looking for something beautiful and discovers beauty in many forms, including in her ability to take positive action.
Beauty. Citizen activism. Community.

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Environmental Preservation:

Aani and the Tree Huggers by Jeannine Atkins. 1995. (32 pgs) Gr. 1-4.
Aani and her community rely on the trees in their forest for their survival. When men come and start cutting down the trees, Aani takes drastic action to save the trees…and her village.
Citizen activism. Conservation. Courage. India. Trees.

Gus is a Tree by Claire Babin. 2008. (32 pgs) Gr. Pre-K – 2
Gus falls asleep under a tree and dreams of becoming one of them, experiencing life through the lens of a tree. Great for building reverence.
Empathy. Forests. Reverence. Trees.

Common Ground: The Water, Earth, and Air We Share by Molly Bang. 1997. Gr. 2-5
How do our individual actions affect the world? The author uses a parable about sheep to explore “a disturbing paradox about our relationship with the environment that sustains us.”
Consumerism. Parables. Sharing.

Uno’s Garden by Graeme Base. 2006. (40 pgs) Gr. 2-5.
Uno loves the forest and plants a garden and builds a home amongst all the plants animals. But things aren’t so great when others start to move in.
Conservation.  Habitats. Mathematics. Nature. Pollution. Responsibility. Urban sprawl. Wildlife.

Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel. 2008. (28 pgs) Gr. K-3.
A rhyming story about Michael Recycle, who descends upon a town and inspires them to clean up their trash and go green.
Consumerism. Environmental protection. Recycling.

The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry. 2000. (40 pgs) Gr. PreK-3.
A man who walks into the Amazon rainforest, planning to cut down a tree, is visited by animals who plead with him to save their home.
Conservation. Ecology. Habitats. Nature. Rainforests. Wildlife.

Jack’s Garden by Henry Cole. 1997. (32 pgs). Gr. Pre-K-3.
A cumulative tale that traces Jack’s garden from tilling the soil to enjoying the flowers, while also showing the interconnectedness of nature.
Gardening. Nature.

Where Once There Was a Wood by Denise Fleming. 1996. (32 pgs) Gr. Pre-K-3.
Shows the plants and animals who lived in the woods before they were displaced by a housing development.
Conservation. Consumerism. Habitats. Nature. Wildlife.

The Dancing Deer and the Foolish Hunter by Elisa Kleven. 2002. (32 pgs) Gr. K-3.
When a hunter kidnaps a dancing deer to sell her to the circus for money, he comes to discover just how interconnected everything is and learns the joy of dancing himself.
Dancing. Ecology. Forest. Hunters. Interconnectedness.

The Tree by Dana Lyons. 2002. (32 pgs). Gr. Pre-K-3.
This song turned into a rhyming story tells of an 800 year old tree that reflects on its life as bulldozers come to cut it down. What will happen?
Citizen activism. Conservation. Trees.

A Drop of Water by Gordon Morrison. 2006. (32 pgs) Gr. K-4.
Follows the journey of how water from rain flows through various bodies of water, feeding the different animals and habitats that depend on it, until it ends as a drop of water on the tip of a boy’s finger.
Ecology. Habitats. Sense of wonder. Water.

Winston of Churchill: One Bear’s Battle Against Global Warming by Jean Davies Okimoto. 2007 (32 pgs) Gr. 2-5.
Winston the polar bear has realized that the bears’ habitat is being destroyed by human-generated global warming, so he organizes the bears for a protest to encourage people (and bears) to make better choices.
Citizen activism. Global warming. Polar bears.


My Mom Hugs Trees by Robyn Ringold. 2006. (20 pgs) Gr. K-3.
A girl learns that her mom's "silly ways" are because she has such love and respect for the natural world.
Compassion. Nature. Respect. Reverence. Sense of wonder.

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. 1971. (72 pgs) Gr. Pre-K – 3.
As the Once-lers happily chop down Truffula Trees to make into items, the Lorax, who speaks for the trees, warns the people what will happen if they don’t stop. Will it be too late?
Citizen activism. Forests. Morality plays. Nature. Trees.

The World That We Want by Kim Michelle Toft. 2005. (32 pgs) Gr. Pre-K-3.
A cumulative story about the interconnectedness of Earth’s air, forests, rivers, mangroves, beaches and so on to the ocean.
Conservation. Environmental protection. Habitats. Sense of wonder.

Just a Dream by Chris Van Allsburg. 1990. (48 pgs) Gr. 2-5.
When he has a dream about a future Earth devastated by pollution, Walter begins to understand the importance of taking care of the environment.
Environmental protection. Pollution.

Green Boy by Susan Cooper. 2002. (208 pgs) Gr. 4-7.
A magical window between two worlds leaves Trey with a difficult decision: stay and fight for his island as it's threatened with overdevelopment or take his chances in the dark otherworld he's stumbled upon.
Environmental protection. Fantasy.

Operation Redwood by S. Terrell French. 2009 (368 pgs) Gr. 4-7.
When Julian intercepts an angry email meant for his uncle, it sets him on a journey to try to stop the destruction of a redwood forest.
Environmental protection. Trees.

Flush by Carl Hiaasen. 2005. (263 pgs) Gr. 4-8. 
No one believes that the boat their dad sank was dumping sewage. Noah & Abby vow to get proof.
Environmental protection. Waterways.

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen. 2002. (292 pgs) Gr. 4-8.
Roy Eberhardt, the new kid at school, joins an unlikely alliance of kids committed to saving owls in danger from a proposed development.
Environmental protection. Owls. Wildlife.

Scat by Carl Hiaasen. 2009 (384 pgs) Gr. 5-9.
Nick and his friend Marta decide to investigate when a mysterious fire starts near a Florida wildlife preserve and a teacher goes missing.
Conservation. Environmental protection. Wildlife.

Non-fiction - Picture Books:

A River Ran Wild by Lynne Cherry. 1992. (40 pgs) Gr. 1-4.
An environmental history of the Nashua River, from its discovery by Indians through the polluting years of the Industrial Revolution to the ambitious clean-up that revitalized it.
Citizen activism. Nature. Rivers. Water pollution.

Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai by Claire A. Nivola. 2008. (32pgs) Gr. K-6.
Tells the story of Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, and her creation of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya to help the health and well-being of her fellow citizens (especially women).
Changemakers. Conservation. Trees. Politics. Women’s issues.


One Well: The Story of Water on Earth by Rochelle Strauss. 2007 (32pgs) Gr. 4-6.
Using the lens of all water on earth as “one well,” the author explores how we use – and abuse – our precious resource.
Conservation. Water.

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Animal Protection:

Turkey Surprise by Peggy Archer. 2007. (32 pgs) Gr. Pre-K-2.
A turkey being hunted for Thanksgiving dinner tries to hide from two brothers. When one of the brothers decides he’d rather not eat a turkey, he convinces the other that pumpkin pie would be so much tastier.
Compassion. Thanksgiving. Turkeys.


Souperchicken by Mary Jane Auch. 2004. (32 pgs) Gr. K-3.
Because Henrietta can read, she discovers that her aunts are destined to become chicken soup, so she sets off to save them.
Chickens, Farmed animals. Reading.

Buddy Unchained by Daisy Bix. 2006. (24 pgs) Gr. Pre-K-2.
Buddy tells the story of how he was mistreated by his previous guardian and how it feels to be adopted by a caring family.
Adoption. Companion animals. Dogs. Pets

Before You Were Mine by Maribeth Boelts. 2007. (32 pgs) Gr. Pre-K-2.
A boy who has just adopted a dog from a shelter wonders what his life was like “before you were mine.”
Adoption. Companion animals. Dogs. Pets.

The Great Pig Escape by Eileen Christelow. 1996. (40 pgs) Gr. K-3.
Two farmers decide to raise pigs. When they take them to market, the pigs escape, swipe human clothes and manage to board a bus to Florida, leaving the farmers baffled.
Farmed animals. Pigs.

 Lucky the Lorikeet by Monica Engebretson. 2004. (32 pgs) Gr. 2-5.
Lucky is captured for the pet trade and sold as a pet to a little boy. But the Kersen realizes how much Lucky wants freedom and helps him achieve it.
Compassion. Exotic animal trade. Pets. Wildlife trade.

A Home for Dakota by Jan Grover and Nancy Lane. 2008. (24 pgs) Gr. 2-5.
Dog #241 lives in a dark crate on a puppy mill, until she is rescued and learns to trust humans again.  When the puppy (now named Dakota) meets a young girl who has been as traumatized as she, healing begins for both of them.
Companion animals. Dogs. Pets. Puppy mills.

Hey, Little Ant by Phillip M. and Hannah Hoose. 2004. (32 pgs) Gr. Pre-K-2.
A rhyming story in which boy about to step on an ant listens as the ant pleads his case for why he (and all creatures) should be allowed to live.
Ants. Bullying. Compassion. Empathy.

Jubela by Cristina Kessler. 2001. (32 pgs) Gr. K-2.
When a baby rhino’s mother is killed by a poacher, little Jubela struggles to survive on his own.
Endangered species. Poaching. Rhinoceroses.

The Gnats of Knotty Pine by Bill Peet. 1984. (48 pgs) Gr. K-3.
The gnats of the wood save the animals by terrifying the hunters.
Compassion. Hunting. Wildlife.

‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey.
School children visit a turkey farm and befriend the turkeys. When they learn what's planned for their new friends, they must try to save the turkeys from certain doom.
Compassion. Thanksgiving. Turkeys. Youth activism.

It’s Raining Cats and Cats by Jean Prevost. 2008. (32 pgs) Gr. 2-5.
When Jim asks his mom “Why did we keep Molly from having kittens?” she takes Jim on an imaginary journey of what would have happened if Molly had kittens and her kittens had kittens.
Cats. Companion animals. Neutering. Responsibility.

When the Chickens Went on Strike: A Rosh Hashanah Tale by Erica Silverman. 2003. (32 pgs) Gr. 1-5.
When chickens decide they're tired of being used for a Jewish New Year's ceremony, a boy who first tries to change their minds, so that his father can be proud of him, learns from the chickens that people don't need chickens to help them make good choices.
Chickens. Holidays. Jewish traditions. Kapores. Rosh Hashanah.

Hunter and His Dog by Brian Wildsmith. 2008 (reissue). (32 pgs) Gr. K-2.
A hunting dog can’t bear to retrieve the wounded ducks his guardian shoots, so he brings the hunter sticks and takes the ducks to an island to heal.
Compassion. Dogs. Hunting. Kindness. Wildlife.

Are You Ready for Me? By Claire Buchwald. 2007. (24 pgs) Gr. Pre-K-2.
Dogs waiting to be adopted ask questions that show what it means to adopt a dog and care for her well.
Adoption. Companion animals. Dogs. Pets.

The Wolves Are Back by Jean Craighead George. 2008. (32 pgs) Gr. 2-5.
Details the return of wolves to Yellowstone and how their presence has helped rebalance and restore its ecosystems.
Conservation. Endangered species. Wildlife reintroduction. Wolves.

Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival by Kirby Larson & Mary Nethery. 2008. (32 pgs) Gr. K-3.
A dog and a blind cat abandoned during the Hurricane Katrina evacuations manage to find each other and stick together until they realize a happy ending.
Cats. Companion animals. Disasters. Dogs. Friendship.

That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals: A Book About Vegans, Vegetarians and All Living Things by Ruby Roth. 2009. (48 pgs) Gr. 2-5.
The author contrasts animal behavior in the wild with that on those factory farms to illustrate why some people choose to respect animals and not eat them.
Animal sentience. Empathy. Factory farming. Farmed animals. Vegetarianism. Animals. Compassion. Empathy. Needs. Veganism. Vegetarianism.

Don’t Lick the Dog: Making Friends with Dogs by Wendy Wahman. 2009. (32 pgs) Gr. Pre-K – 2.
A colorful and entertaining guide for younger kids to help them learn how to properly meet and interact with dogs.
Companion animals. Dog bites (avoiding). Dogs. Respect.

Wolf Shadows by Mary Casanova. 1997. (127 pgs) Gr. 4-8.
Seth's affinity for wolves puts him at odds with many of the ranchers nearby. When Seth's friend Matt illegally shoots a wolf, Seth must choose how to act.
Cattle ranching. Friendship. Hunting. Poaching. Wolves.

The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl. 1996. (64 pgs) Gr. 4-8.
The Greggs love to hunt. The girl next door tries to talk them out of it, but when they refuse, she uses her magic finger to help them see the world from a duck's perspective.
Compassion. Empathy. Hunting.

The Last Wild Place by Rosa Jordan. 2008. (256 pgs) Gr. 4-6.
When Chip discovers a family of Florida panthers near a farm scheduled for development, he puts aside his own problems to find them a safe home.
Endangered species. Panthers. Pumas. Youth activism.

Saving Lilly by Peg Kehret. 2001. (160 pgs) Gr. 3-6.
For a school assignment, Erin learns about how animals in circuses are treated. Then a circus comes to town and Erin discovered the elephant will be sold to a hunting ranch. Can one sixth grader make a difference?
Animal protection. Circuses. Elephants. Youth activism.

The Story of Lilly and Lou by Doriane Lucia. 2008. (56 pgs) Gr. 3-8.
When Alicia discovers two stray dogs in the park, her determination to rescue them will forever change her life & the lives of those around her.
Compassion. Courage. Dogs. Youth activism.

The Nine Lives of Travis Keating by Jill McLean. 2008. (192 pgs) Gr. 4-8.
After moving to Newfoundland to start a new life after his mom’s death, Travis discovers a colony of feral cats in desperate need of help.
Bullying. Cats. Compassion. Feral cats. Youth activism.

Saving Emily by Nicholas Read. 2001. (150 pgs) Gr. 4-6.
When Emily the cow finds herself about to suffer the same fate as her brothers and sisters before her, it’s up to the humans Chris and Gina to try to save her. But will they be too late?
Cows. Farmed animals. Youth activism.

Wringer by Jerry Spinelli. 1997 (240 pgs) Gr. 4-7.
When Palmer turns 10, he has to decide whether he’ll become a wringer, like all the other boys do, or stand up for what he believes in.
Bullying. Courage. Hunting. Pigeons. Violence.

Claude and Medea: The Hellburn Dogs by Zoe Weil. 2007. (103 pgs) Gr. 4-7.
A strange substitute teacher with interesting ideas sparks Medea and Claude to think about the world and the choices they make, which leads them on a mysterious hunt to rescue kidnapped dogs.
Compassion. Conduct of life. Dogs. Mysteries. Schools. Teachers. Youth activism.

Other Sources for Kids' Books about Animal Protection Issues:

United Animal Nations Suggested Reading List for Children

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Food and Diet:

Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon by Jules Bass. 1999. (32 pgs) Gr. 2-5.
Herb is the lone vegetarian in a land of human-eating dragons. When he is captured and about to be executed for crimes he didn’t commit, a young damsel steps in (his mouth) to save him, and dragons and humans come to a positive resolution.
Diversity. Identity. Tolerance. Vegetarianism.


Hubert the Pudge by Henrik Drescher. 2006. (40 pgs) Gr. 1-3.
Hubert escapes the meat factory, discovers his true self in the jungle, and returns to rescue his fellow pudges and to convince the farmer to change careers.
Food habits.  Vegetarianism.

Oliver’s Fruit Salad by Vivian French. 1998. (32 pgs) Gr. Pre-K-2.
Oliver’s a picky eater who’s happy to help his grandfather grow and pick fruit, but refuses to eat any…until he helps make a big fruit salad.
Food habits. Fruits. Gardening.


Oliver’s Vegetables by Vivian French. 1998. (32 pgs) Gr. Pre-K-2.
On a visit to his grandparents, Oliver declares that he’ll only eat French fries. His grandfather tells him he may look in the garden for potatoes, but he has to eat whatever he finds.
Food habits. Gardening. Vegetables.

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Media, Culture & Consumerism:

The Quiltmakers Gift by Jeff Brumbeau. 2000. (48 pgs) Gr. 1-5.
A seamstress makes beautiful quilts and gives them to the poor and needy. When the greedy king demands one of her quilts, she agrees to make him one – once he has given away all that he has.
Consumerism. Generosity. Greed. Poverty. Wealth.


Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn. 1995. (32 pgs) Gr. 1-4.
It’s Chinese New Year and Sam is excited to spend his money in any way he wants. There are so many things to tempt him, but when he encounters a homeless man, Sam starts to gain a new insight about his “lucky” money.
Chinese New Year. Consumerism. Generosity. Holidays. Homelessness.


Oliver Button is a Sissy by Tomie dePaola. 1979. (48 pgs) Gr. Pre-K-3.
Oliver has to deal with classmates who harass him because he prefers activities like painting, reading and dancing, instead of playing sports.
Bullying. Gender roles. Self-concept.

The Sissy Duckling by Harvey Fierstein. 2002. (40 pgs) Gr. K-3.
Because Elmer has different interests than the other male ducks, they taunt him and call him a sissy. When Elmer saves his Papa, the other ducks come to realize that Elmer’s specialness is something to celebrate.
Diversity. Gender roles. Self-concept.

The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke. 2001 (32 pgs) Gr. Pre-K-3.
King Wilfred teachers his daughter the same knightly skills he taught his sons. But when she turns 16, the King insists on a joust, the winner of which will win Violetta’s hand in marriage. Violetta has other plans.
Gender roles. Persistence. Self-concept.

The Color of Home by Mary Hoffman. 2002. (32 pgs) Gr. K-4.
Newly arrived to the U.S. from Somalia, Hassan finds it difficult to adjust to school, until he is able to tell his story.
Immigrants. Persecution. Refugees. Somalia.

Princess Grace by Mary Hoffman. 2007 (32 pgs) Gr. K-3.
When Grace learns that two students from her class will be chosen as princesses for the parade, she dreams of being a fairy tale princess. But her teacher introduces the class to other kinds of princesses.
Gender roles. Identity. Stereotypes.

Skin Again by bell hooks. 2004. (32 pgs) Gr. Pre-K-4.
“The skin I’m in is just a covering…” If you want to really know someone, you need to get to know them from the inside. A brief book that celebrates diversity and identity.
Diversity. Identity. Self-concept.

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell. 2001. (32 pgs) Gr. Pre-K-3.
Molly’s grandmother taught her to accept and celebrate herself. When a bully at a new school makes fun of her, Molly continues to take her grandma’s advice.
Acceptance. Bullying. Confidence. Identity. Joy. Self-concept.

Different Just Like Me by Lori Mitchell. 1999. (32 pgs). Gr. Pre-K-3.
As a girl spends the week waiting to visit her grandmother, she encounters all sorts of people who are different, but also quite similar.
Acceptance. Diversity. Identity. Self-concept.

Why? By Nikolai Popov. 1996 (40 pgs) Gr. K-5.
In this wordless book, a disagreement between mouse and frog (when mouse first steal’s frog’s flower) escalates into a war zone, destroying all the beauty around them that they were previously admiring.
Conflict. Violence. War.

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. 2005. (32 pgs) K – 2.
Two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo become mates and work to hatch and raise their own baby penguin. (Based on a true story.)
Families. Homosexuality. Penguins. Zoos.

Don’t Laugh at Me by Steve Seskin. 2004. (32 pgs) Gr. 2-4.
An adaptation of a song about tolerance and differences.
Bullying. Diversity. Empathy. Identity.

Too Many Toys by David Shannon. 2008. (32 pgs) Gr. Pre-K-3.
Spencer’s house is a minefield of toys that his parents are always tripping over. When his mom decides it’s time to give some away, Spencer has to make some tough decisions.
Consumerism.

William’s Doll by Charlotte Zolotow. 1985. (32 pgs) Gr. Pre-K-3.
William doesn’t want the train or basketball his dad gives him. He deeply wants a doll. No one understands – some even call him a sissy – until his grandmother steps in.
Gender roles. Self-concept. Toys.

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes. 1944. (96 pgs) Gr. 3-6.
Polish immigrant Wanda wears the same blue dress to school every day. When she tells her classmates that she has 100 dresses at home, the subsequent harassment forces Wanda from school and teaches her classmates a lesson.
Choices. Compassion. Diversity. Friendship. Prejudice.


Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins. 2008. (96 pgs) Gr. 2-5.
Naimi, a young Bangladeshi girl, challenges the traditional role of women in her village when she seeks to help her family, who is struggling during hard times.
Asia. Gender roles.

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick. 1993. (169 pgs) Gr. 5-9.
Two eighth-grade “misfits” – one with a physical impairment, the other with a learning disability – team together to become a powerful force.
Disabilities. Friendship.

Non-fiction - Picture Books:

If the World Were a Village: A Book About the World’s People by David Smith. 2002. (32 pgs) Gr. 3-7.
Condensing the world’s population into 100 people, this book explores consciousness-raising facts about religion, nationalities, privilege, water and more.
Cultures. Human geography. Mathematics. Population. Privilege.

Let’s Talk About Race by Julius Lester. 2005. (32 pgs) Gr. 1-4.
Lester uses his own story to emphasize that we all have stories, and that race is only one small part of our stories.
Diversity. Prejudice. Privilege. Racism.

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Human Rights:

My Pal Victor/Mi Amigo, Victor by Diane Gonzales Bertrand. 2004 (32 pgs) Gr. K-3.
Why is Victor such a great friend? Dominic explains just how special he is, from his terrific stories to his fabulous floating frog stroke.
Bilingual. Friendship. People with disabilities.

Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting. 1991. (32 pgs) Gr. K-3.
A young boy talks about his and his father’s lives living in an airport and has hope for himself when he sees a trapped bird find freedom.
Birds. Homeless.

Shin-chi’s Canoe by Nicola Campbell. 2008. (40 pgs) Gr. 1-5.
Shi-shi-etko and her brother Shin-chi are forced to leave their family and attend a boarding school far away, where they are taught the White ways of living and learning. Shin-chi finds solace in the little canoe his father carved for him, until he and his sister can return to their family for the summer.
Canada. Discrimination. Family. Indians. Native Americans. Racism.


!Si, Se Puede! By Diana Cohn. 2005. (32 pgs.) gr. PreS-3. (Bilingual)
A chronicle of the April 2000 Janitor Strike in Los Angeles, told through the eyes of a young boy whose mom is one of those striking workers.
Citizen activism. Labor unions.

King and King by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland. 2004 (32 pgs) Gr. 2-5.
A prince reluctantly agrees to marry, but none of the eligible princesses strikes his fancy...and then he meets Prince Lee.
Homosexuality. Love. Same-sex couples.

Bella’s Chocolate Surprise by Adam Guillain. 2008 (32 pgs) Gr. K-3.
When Bella wonders where the chocolate from her birthday cake comes from, she’s lead on a journey to learn about fair trade chocolate in Ghana.
Child labor. Chocolate. Fair trade.

A Shelter in Our Car by Monica Gunning. 2004. (32 pgs) Gr. 1-5.
Since moving to America from Jamaica after her father died, Zettie and her mom live in their car while they both go to school and plan for a real home.
Homelessness. Perseverance.

My Name Was Hussein by Hristo Kyuchukov. 2004. (32 pgs) Gr. 1-4.
Hussein, a Muslim Roma who lives in Bulgaria, has a happy life until soldiers come and the government tells his family they all must become Christians and change their names.
Discrimination. Islam. Persecution. Religion.

Dad and Me in the Morning by Patricia Lakin. 1994 (32 pgs) Gr. K-3.
Jacob, who’s deaf, enjoys a beautiful, special sunrise at the beach with his father.
Deafness. Nature. Parents. People with disabilities. Sense of wonder.

Selavi: That is Life: A Haitian Story of Hope by Youme Landowne. 2005. (40 pgs.) gr. 1-4.
Haitian street children band together and work to create a life for themselves.
Cooperation. Determination. Haiti. Homelessness. Street children.

The Lady in the Box by Ann McGovern. 1997 (40 pgs) Gr. 2-5.
When two siblings discover a homeless woman living in their neighborhood, they discover how easy it can be to make a difference in someone’s life.
Generosity. Helpfulness. Homeless. Volunteering.

The Peace Book by Todd Parr. 2005 (32 pages) Gr. P-K.
Describes peace as making new friends, sharing a meal, feeling good about yourself, and more.
Peace.

The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss. 1984. (56 pgs) Gr. K-5.
An allegorical tale chronicling the war between the Zooks and the Yooks over a very serious difference (how they butter their bread).
Conflict. Intolerance. War.

The Composition by Antonio Skarmeta. 2003 (32 pgs) Gr. 2-6.
Children living under a military dictatorship are pressured to reveal “What My Family Does at Night” through writing a composition. What can Pedro do?
Freedom. Military Dictatorships. Oppression.

Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan by Mary Williams. 2005. (40 pgs) Gr. 2-5.
Garang is 8 when his parents are killed and his village is destroyed. He bands together with other “lost boys” to try to find their way to a new home. (Based on a true story.)
Leadership. Orphans. Refugees. Sudan. War.

Susan Laughs by Jeanne Willis. 2000. (36 pgs) Gr. K-2.
Despite her wheelchair, Sustain is no different from any other child, from getting angry and laughing, to painting, singing and playing with friends.
Emotions. People with disabilities.

The Heart of a Chief by Joseph Bruchac. 1998. (160 pgs) Gr. 5-8.
Chris has grown up on a reservation and now will be attending 6th grade in the “white world.” In addition to dealing with school, Chris finds himself caught in two struggles: to campaign for the removal of his school’s Indian mascot, and to deal with a proposed casino on pristine tribal lands.
Indigenous cultures. Native Americans. Racism.

Samir and Yonatan by Daniella Carmi. 2002. (160 pgs) Gr. 4-8.
What happens when an injured Palestinian boy ends up in a Jewish hospital surrounded by Jewish children? Can they find common bonds?
Arab/Palestinian Conflict. Family. Friendship. Peace. War.

A Life Like Mine: How Children Live Around the World by Dorling Kindersley Books. 2005. (128 pgs) Gr. 3-7.
Formatted around basic human needs, the book explores the lives, joys and challenges of children around the world.
Children. Human rights.

Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai by Claire A. Nivola. 2008. (32pgs.) K-6.
Tells the story of Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, and her creation of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya to help the health and well-being of her fellow citizens (especially women).
something here for topics


Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by x.  2003. (48 pgs.) Gr. 2-5.
An accounting of Chavez’s growth into a farm worker activist, focusing on his 340 mile march to protest the living conditions of migrant farm workers in California.
Food and Diet. Human Rights. Labor leaders. Latinos. Migrants.


Ryan and Jimmy and the Well in Africa That Brought Them Together by Herb Shoveller. 2008 (56pgs.) gr. 3-6
A story of one little boy's dream to provide clean drinking water to the people of Africa.

The Skin I’m In: A First Look at Racism by Pat Thomas. 2003. (32 pgs) Gr. K-3.
A brief look at racism and its effects.
Acceptance. Discrimination. Prejudice. Racism.

Every Human Has Rights by National Geographic. 2008 (48 pgs) Gr. 3-9.
Photography illustrating each of the 30 human rights set down by the United Nations in 1948 is accompanied by a list of each right, as well as powerful words from children around the world.

After Gandhi: One Hundred Years of Nonviolent Resistance by Anne Sibley O’Brien. 2009  (181 pgs) Gr. 5-10.
Traces the history of non-violent resistance, using several examples around the world, from Nelson Mandela to Cesar Chavez to Aung San Suu Kyi to Vaclav Havel.

PeaceJam: A Billion Simple Acts of Peace by Dawn Gifford Engle. 2008 (197 pgs) Gr. 6 & up
Profiles Nobel Peace Prize laureates and the work they’ve done with teens to help create a better world. The book also shares tales of the lives and work of the youth involved and gives suggestions on how readers can become involved.

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