A Fair Deal

July 15, 2017
"Fair trade is not about spending more money or buying more stuff. It's about bringing justice to people around the world." Fair enough.And as readers take Jones' tour through the lands of fair trade and its role in social justice, they learn where things come from and go to. The story of fair trade is quite buoyant, because it is not just a pipe dream. As Jones notes in one of the numerous, captivating factoids that pepper the margins of the book, "fair trade products are now sold in more than 120 countries." Numerous stock photographs bring a snappy immediacy to the story, as do Jones' anecdotes of her own experiences with fair trade. Jones does a particularly good job bringing individuals to the fore so that readers can both identify with them and learn how these people can band together with other small producers into cooperatives to become a market force. "Ninety percent of the world's cocoa is grown on small family farms by about six million farmers," so it doesn't take a math genius to appreciate that buying fair trade chocolate benefits a lot of people. Jones also presents a handful of ways that kids can encourage fair trade awareness. Jones catches the beauty of fair trade in the way it strengthens morale and human dignity for all those engaged, and she provides a grounded (and painless) introduction to world geography. (Nonfiction. 8-12)

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September 1, 2017

Gr 4-7-A compelling case for fair trade aimed at upper elementary and middle school students. The author explores trade throughout human history and connects the need for products with the necessity of fair treatment for workers throughout the supply chain. Jones integrates these stories of real workers within the larger narrative of consumerism and the role of the consumer. Personal anecdotes from individuals and communities whose lives have been improved with their participation in fair trade are also told. At the end of the book, steps toward action are outlined for schools and community groups wanting to get involved in the movement as both consumers and activists. The author effectively uses vignettes from her own travels as well as a wide variety of visuals and fact boxes to engage readers in the cause. Jones has taken the mantra "think globally, act locally" and provided a strong case. VERDICT Useful for school research as well as service-learning, this title is suitable for most collections and is a broader look at fair trade than Crabtree's "Well Made, Fair Trade"series.-John Scott, Friends School of Baltimore

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2017
Grades 5-8 This book explains a term that shoppers often see on labels but may not fully understand. The idea of fair trade encompasses myriad economic issues such as the cost of labor, supply chains, and trade deficits. An introduction provides a history of human trade from its earliest beginnings through the Industrial Revolution. Infographics and charts provide important visual aids to help with understanding complex economic concepts, while full-color photographs of people at work all around the world serve as a reminder of the interconnectedness of modern markets. Jones explains why shoppers should be more thoughtful about what they buy and how their consumption affects people all around the globe. Moreover, by offering practical ideas for simple changes in the grocery store aisle, along with strategies for more organized activism, she asserts that fair trade is more than just a buzz wordit is a concept that is actually achievable.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)