My name is Jennifer Miller and I started Raise Them Righteous in July 2018 after giving a presentation about LGBTQ+ children’s picture books at the Children’s Literature Association’s annual conference. I wanted to connected with a larger audience and help educators, librarians, and caregivers find inclusive children’s picture books that represented racial, ethnic, religious, physical, mental, gender, and sexual diversity. As the mother of a now four-year-old child, I understand the importance of sharing diverse identities and ideas with young people. As an academic trained in literary and cultural studies, I understand the politics of culture, particularly children’s culture, as well as the important role it plays in early socialization.
Feel free to email recommendations, comments, and questions to raisethemrighteous@gmail.com.
For Publishers and Authors: I review inclusive social justice-themed children’s picture books, early chapter books, middle-grade books, and young adult books. I prefer hard copies (especially for children’s picture books and graphic novels). But, I understand the cost can be prohibitive and accept E-books. *It is currently taking me 6+ weeks to review picture books and 6+ months to review chapter books. Email me with requests at raisethemrighteous@gmail.com.
How to use the blog: Scroll down, discover great books, buy the books, read the books!
I’ve been blogging for a couple of years now and I get “book mail” often. In fact, my four-year-old always asks if the package I’m opening contains something we can read together, and it usually does. When I received Sumo Joe, Mia Wenjen’s debut picture book, the two of us did what we usually do – we cuddled up on the couch and read the book. Then we read it again, and again, and again. You get the idea.
A Puggle in Paris (2018), written by Dena Fitzpatrick and illustrated by Amelia Gossman, takes readers on a charming romp through Paris, France. Pretty pastel colors, dominated by pink, set the scene with feminine flair as Lucy, a beret wearing puggle, journeys alone to France. Lucy enjoys lunch at the Eiffel Tower, shopping along the Champs-Élysées, and viewing the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. Less well-known attractions like Sacré-Cœur, the Catacombs, and Napoleon’s Tomb are also on Lucy’s itinerary. 
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Cynthia L. Copeland’s new middle-grade graphic memoir, Cub, is an intimate and atmospheric coming-of-age story that follows 12-year-old Cindy as she navigators the hormonal halls of middle-school and an informal internship at a local paper. This snapshot of author Cynthia L. Copeland’s middle-school years takes place during 1972 and 1973 and is packed with recognizable cultural references. Adult readers will likely find themselves chuckling at references to sea monkeys and trolls that younger audiences may not be able to fully appreciate. However, there is plenty of charm and relatability to keep the intended audience of eight to twelve-year-old readers engaged. 
The Piñata Story (2018), written by Lisa and Michel Zajur and illustrated by Samira Mobayed Murray, explores the cultural history of piñatas while introducing young readers to Spanish vocabulary.
This fall my 4-year-old son began a French-track dual-language Pre-K program at a public school in North Texas. In addition to a rigorous language component, the school focuses on cultural diversity! My interest in children’s literature has always been shaped by my personal journey as a mom and I’ve been adding more books about cultural diversity to our library over the last few months.