Oh, the Things We're For!

August 15, 2020
Rhyming Seuss-esque verse paired with striking posterlike illustrations calls readers to action. Nagara's direct, pragmatic approach to activism for a child audience reaches new levels of specificity and real-world application in this book: "Let's also be clear that harm has been done. / Futures were stolen by sword and by gun. / We can't flip a switch / and say that we're there. / A history of injustice / takes more to repair." Vibrant colors infuse Nagara's expressive, textured illustrations, which feature a diverse range of humans, protest signs, and symbolic as well as literal depictions of societal issues and potential solutions. A double-page spread composed entirely of overlapping words and phrases such as "DISABILITY ACCESS," "WILDERNESS PRESERVES," "CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE EDUCATION," and "INDIGENOUS SOVEREIGNTY!" invites further research and discussion. The cover features a child with chin-length curly black hair, black eyes, and brown skin posed like the iconic Rosie the Riveter, and, although the visual narrative does not center or even name any characters, this child and several other figures do reappear throughout. Observant readers may connect textual examples to current events. The book concludes with a blank page for readers to list their own solutions to further the causes they support; no resources for further reading or discussion are included. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11.3-by-16.8-inch double-page spreads viewed at 68% of actual size.) An accessible, all-too-timely manifesto for young activists (and everyone else). (Picture book. 4-10)

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August 24, 2020
With Seussian rhyme, Nagara crafts a progressive call-to-arms about social justice topics, including universal health care, climate change, free public education, and prison abolition. Utilizing a framing device—a child questioned by skeptics—Nagara walks readers through a rhythmic summation of contemporary issues. Busily colorful digital art combines textures, gradients, and typography, reinforcing the energy with which Nagara conveys the necessity of standing up for various rights. Though the book meanders across a wide range of topics, and the rhyme prizes levity over clarity (“Look up! you exclaim./ What do you see?/ A HUGE ball of plasma!/ Clean energy for free!”), this primer offers a useful starting point for readers seeking to begin conversations about social justice. Ages 4–8.