Book Reviews Archives

Our picks for books, videos, websites, and other social justice resources 37.2

Check out these valuable resources, reviewed by Rethinking Schools editors and Teaching for Change colleagues.

Watson and Giovanni Write and Teach About the “Humanity of Black Folks”

In a dialogue in New York City for HarperCollins, Renée Watson and Nikki Giovanni talked about their new picture books, the joy of a writing life, growing up Black, activist librarians and teachers, and they remembered Maya Angelou.

Our picks for books, videos, websites, and other social justice resources 37.1

Check out these valuable resources, reviewed by Rethinking Schools editors and Teaching for Change colleagues.

The Tragedy of New Orleans Is Not Unique

A Review of Public Schools, Private Governance by J. Celeste Lay

The Disempowering Impact of the Little People, BIG DREAMS Series

Libraries and bookstores should discontinue their active promotion of this series that appears to dedicate more resources to marketing than to researching and writing effective stories about social change for young people.

Coming Home to Ourselves

In her new book, The Spirit of Our Work: Black Women Teachers (Re)member, Cynthia Dillard (now dean of the College of Education at Seattle University) provides language for what occurs when Black women teachers discover their spiritual wisdom and identities that are part of a long historical continuum of Black women’s resistance, creativity, and ultimately, their healing.

Helping Young People Imagine a Future of Climate Solidarity

We need more books that celebrate young people who find themselves as they come to consciousness and commitment.

Remembering Bob Moses

Rethinking Schools editors and staff mourn the loss of Bob Moses (1935–2021), the extraordinary Civil Rights Movement activist and educator. Moses was a central organizer in Mississippi for the Student […]

“We Will Remain Standing on This Land and Teach”

Book Review: Determined to Stay, by Jody Sokolower. Reviewed by Nina Shoman-Dajani

A Rhythm of Gratitude

We Are Grateful: OtsaliheligaBy Traci SorellIllustrated by Frané LessacCharlesbridge Publishing, 2018 My preschool-age children collect treasures from the ground that end up on our table. Bits of moss, Douglas fir […]

Reading Louise Erdrich to My Son

A teacher-librarian and parent writes about Louise Erdrich’s Birchbark series and how its stories of Indigenous life compare with the colonialism and racism of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books.

“But You Guys Wanted Us Here”

A film tackles the U.S. occupation of Japan.

Reviews 21.4

Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and RhymesWritten and Directed by Byron HurtMedia Education Foundation, 200660 mins, DVD The Hip-Hop Education Guidebook Volume 1: A Sourcebook of Inspiration and Practical ApplicationEdited by Marcella […]

Kids in the Middle

The Case for Make Believe: Saving Play in Our Commercialized WorldBy Susan Linn(The New Press, 2008) Fires in the Middle School Bathroom: Advice for Teachers from Middle SchoolersBy Kathleen Cushman and Laura […]

Do You Get the Point?

Consider the following sentences: A woman, without her man, is nothing. A woman: without her, man is nothing. It’s all in the points—the periods, commas, semi-colons, and other punctuation marks. […]

Film: More Than Just Dance Lessons

Mad Hot Ballroom Director/Producer: Marilyn AgreloWriter/Producer: Amy Sewellwww.paramountclassic.com/madhot/ Mad Hot Ballroom, a documentary about a fifth-grade ballroom dance program in New York City schools, is more than a feel-good summertime film. […]

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