I teach literature, writing, gender studies, and interdisciplinary studies in Arlington, TX. My current research explores LGBTQ+ children's picture books. I blog about children's literature at https://raisethemrighteous.wordpress.com.
Making Their Voices Heard: The Inspiring Friendship of Etta Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe does a wonderful job bringing two women and their friendship to life while exploring the ways race and gender privilege and oppression influence their access to opportunities. Written by Vivian Kirkfield and illustrated by Alleanna Harris, this […]
All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything is the book that has been missing from my collection. That makes it an important addition to nonfiction children’s picture books, but it doesn’t guarantee it will be any good. Luckily, it is very […]
Karin Littlewood’s Immi’s Gift and Farhana Zia’s Lali’s Feather are two Peachtree publications featuring creative characters who embrace nature imaginatively. In an author’s note, Littlewood explains that she had written Immi’s story and drawn her many times before giving her a name. Immi is an Inuit name short for Immiayuk, […]
Christina Francine’s Mr. Inker Finds a Home is a young boy named Rafiq who receives a talking pen named Mr. Inker for his birthday. This Level 3 reader is, at its core, a story about friends old and new. Rafiq has recently moved to the US from Pakistan and misses […]
Written by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, The Undefeated, is a visual and textual ode to the strength and determination of Black Americans. Word and image stand in perfect balance, working together to create a beautiful picture book that celebrates Black cultural and political leaders, reflects on Black […]
Origami Orchestra (2018) is a beautiful children’s picture book sure to encourage sweet dreams. The gorgeous bedtime story is thoughtfully written by Ammie Elliott. The story, told in the first-person, follows a young child into their artful dream, which is sumptuously depicted by Travis McCoy who uses a variety of […]
Written by Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by Kristy Caldwell, Thanks to Frances Perkins: Fighter for Workers Rights (2020) brings the social and political landscape that inspired Perkins’ labor activism to life. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, in the year 1880, Perkins was raised to respect intellect and kindness. She eventually earned […]
Adiba Jaigirdar’s The Henna Wars may be my favorite young adult love story of all time. Jaigirdar has created a smart, awkward, completely believable tale of two teen girls falling in love. Her protagonist, Nashat, is a Bangladeshi Irish teenager with a crush on Flávia, a Brazilian Irish teen new […]
Written by Karamo Brown and illustrated by Anoosha Said, I am Perfectly Designed (2020) is a beautiful exploration of a father-son relationship. Said’s use of color sets the tone and the diverse characters she scatters across the page emphasizes the story’s moral of acceptance. The phrase “perfectly designed” repeats throughout […]
Sugar Free Books‘ inaugural publication, Gabe Faces Ignorance, is the first children’s picture book I’ve read that tackles Islamophobia. Written by L.I. Forsete and illustrated by Gemma Gould, the story focuses on the friendship of Gabe, a white Christian boy, and Sophie, a tan-skinned rosy-cheeked Muslim girl. The two classmates […]
