A Drop Around the World by Barbara Shaw McKinney and Michael S. Maydak, California: Dawn Publications, 1998.

• Excellent book on the magic of nature’s water cycle
• Poetic presentation integrates Language Arts and Science in a creative way
• Interactive dramatizations by pairing actions with a sound effect
• With each water property students reenact drops
• Recommended for ages four to eight year-olds

Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky by Faith Ringgold and J. Davis,  Dragonfly Books, 1995.

• Characters fly in a fantastical sky train run by Harriet Tubman
• Traces a route on the Underground Railroad

Bullies Are a Pain in the Brain by Trevor Romain
Bullies are mean. Bullies are scary. Bullies are a pain in the brain—and every child needs to know what to do when confronted by one. This book blends humor with serious, practical suggestions for coping with bullies. Trevor Romain reassures kids that they're not alone and it's not their fault if a bully decides to pick on them. He explains that some people are bullies and describes realistic ways to become "Bully-Proof," stop bullies from hurting others, and to get help in dangerous situations. If kids who bully others happen to read this book, they'll find ideas they can use to get along with others and feel good about themselves—without harming others. Most appropriate for ages 8-13.

Dinner at Aunt Connie's House by Faith Ringgold, Hyperion, 1996.
For Melody the best thing about summertime was going to family dinners at Aunt Connie and Uncle Bate's big house on the beach. This summer, Aunt Connie, an artist, has several surprises for the family. One is that she and Uncle Bates have adopted a son, Lonnie, whose green eyes and red hair instantly captivated Melody. While Melody and Lonnie are playing hide-and-seek, they hear strange voices coming from the attic, and there they find Aunt Connie's other surprise. She has painted twelve beautiful portraits of famous African-American women--and the paintings can speak! Melody and Lonnie are at first amazed but are soon profoundly inspired as the women talk to them about their courageous lives. Faith Ringgold's powerful story and vibrant art underscore the magic of this special moment in Melody's and Lonnie's life as they discover in a new way how proud they are to be African Americans. Ages 4-8

Feathers and Fools by Mem Fox, Voyager Books, 2000.

• Illustrates the destruction caused by lack of respect for differences

For Every Child: The Rights of the Child in Word and Pictures Forward by Desmond Tutu

• Adapted version of Convention on the Rights of the Child

I Dream of Peace: Images of War by Children of Former Yugoslavia by James P. Grant and Maurice Sendak, Harpercollins, 1994.

• Drawings, poems and other writing of children traumatized by war
• Gives real accounts of tragedies of Bosnians, Serbs, Croats, and other former Yugoslavians
• Recommended for ages four to eight year-olds

Imagine by John Lennon,  Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, 1988.

• Illustrates children’s book of song lyrics
• Recommended for all ages

The Kid’s Guide to Social Action: How to Solve the Social Problems You Choose—and Turn Creative Thinking into Positive Action by Barbara A. Lewis
First published in 1991, The Kid’s Guide to Social Action has helped thousands of young people get involved, get noticed, and get results. It has won awards from Parenting Magazine (“Outstanding Children’s Book, Reading-Magic Awards”) and the American Library Association (“Best of the Best for Children”). And now it’s even better. Exciting, empowering, and packed with information, this is the ultimate guide for kids who want to make a difference in the world. Step-by-step instructions show how to write letters, conduct interviews, make speeches, take surveys, raise funds, get media coverage, and more. Reproducible forms make it easy to circulate petitions, initiate proclamations, and prepare news releases. Real stories about real kids who are doing great things let readers know that they’re not too young to solve problems in their neighborhood, community, and nation. Resources point the way toward government offices, groups, organizations, websites, and books. Designed for kids to use on their own, this inspiring book is also ideal for schools, clubs, groups, troops, and youth organizations. Ages 10 and up.

My Secret Bully by Trudy Ludwig, illustrated by Abigail Marble  
When Monica is bullied by her friend Kate, it’s not with fists or weapons. Instead, Kate uses name-calling, humiliation, and exclusion—emotional bullying, or relational aggression. Often dismissed as a normal rite of passage, it’s as harmful as physical aggression, with devastating long-term effects. With the help of a supportive adult (her mother), Monica learns to reclaim her power. Includes tips, discussion questions, and resources. For students ages 5–11, parents, and caregivers.

Our Journey from Tibet: Based on a True Story by Laurie Dolphin, Penguin USA, 1997.
A nine year-old girl was interviewed about her illegal escape from her homeland. Read this to learn more about Tibetan life and history. Ages 4-8.

The People Shall Continue by Simon Ortíz, illustrated by Sharol Graves
An epic story of Native American peoples extending from the creation to modern times. A “teaching story” of destruction, resistance, and survival.

Rose Blanche by Roberto Innocenti,  Creative Company, 2003.
The powerful story of a girl’s personal experience during WWII, as she watched people being rounded up and would sneak food into the camps. It is a forceful argument for peace. Ages 4-8. 

Smoky Night by Eve Bunting and David Diaz, Voyager Books, 1999.
Winner of 1995 Caldecott Medal

• A story about cats and people who could not get along until a smoky and fearful night brings them together
• Deals thoughfully with diffucult issues such as the Los Angeles riots and what they meant to the children who lived through them

Talking Walls by Margy Burns Knight
The story explores walls the world over as both symbols and vehicles for cultural connection. It is a celebration of similarities and differences among the people of the world. Ages 5-13. 

Talking Walls: The Stories Continue by Margy B. Knight and Anne S. O’Brien
Illustrations and text tell the stories of walls, and the people they divide, throughout the world. Includes the stories of Chinese detainees who wrote poetry on the walls of Angel Island, children who wrote poetry on the fence around the home of Pablo Neruda in Chile, children who created a garden in Philadelphia from an abandoned lot and painted a mural on the surrounding wall, children in Belfast who are divided by a wall constructed by the army in the 1970s, and more.

UDHR Adapted by Ruth Rocha and Otavio Roth

• Beautiful watercolor illustrations
• Kid friendly text of the UDHR

The United Nations: Come Along with Me by Nane Annan, American Forum for Global Education, 2000.
This beautiful book uses examples from people Annan has met to provide a kid friendly explanation of what the United Nations does.

Why? By Nikolai Popov, Michael Neugebauer Book, 1998.

• Told with no text
• Illustrates the ramifications of lack of respect
• Questions the purpose of war
• Incandescent artwork

For Intermediate Readers

Children of the River by Linda Crew
The story of Sundara, who at 13 fled Cambodia to escape the Khmer Rouge army and left behind her parents, siblings, and childhood sweetheart.  Four years after settling in the U.S., she finds it difficult to fit in at high school and balance Cambodian traditions with American culture.

Shadow of the Dragon by Sherry Garland
Vietnamese boy faces a hate gang.

Taking Sides by Gary Soto
A realistic story exploring the divided loyalties of a Hispanic basketball player who has recently moved from a poor neighborhood to a more affluent one.

Teens on Trial : Young People Who Challenged the Law—and Changed Your Life by Thomas A. Jacobs, J.D.
Can teens go all the way to the Supreme Court—and win? The best-selling author of What Are My Rights? describes precedent-setting cases that reveal the power of social action and prove that even teens can change the law. For example, because 15-year-old Gerry Gault fought for his rights, every teenager in the U.S. has specific rights when arrested and charged with a crime. Because 14-year-old Deborah Weisman challenged her school’s policy regarding prayer at graduation ceremonies, teens know they can take a stand on issues that matter to them. In this fascinating book, Arizona judge Tom Jacobs familiarizes readers with our legal system, dispels myths and mysteries, and shows that the law is by and for the people—including young people. He explores cases about privacy, visitation and divorce, search and seizure, dress code, drug testing, free speech in school newspapers and yearbooks, sexual harassment at work, transfer to adult court, and the death penalty, among others. Readers are encouraged to do their own “legal research” in books, articles, and on the Web. Recommended for all young people, teachers (especially social studies and sociology), and youth workers in the legal system.

That Was Then, This is Now by S.E. Hinton
Novel of two brothers caught in the gang warfare of their slum neighborhood.

Advanced Level Readers

The Bean Trees by Barabara Kingsolver, HarperCollins Publisher, 1998.
"Clear-eyed and spirited, Taylor Greer grew up poor in rural Kentucky with the goals of avoiding pregnancy and getting away. But when she heads west with high hopes and a barely functional car, she meets the human condition head-on. By the time Taylor arrives in Tucson, Arizona, she has acquired a completely unexpected child, a three-year-old American Indian girl named Turtle, and must somehow come to terms with both motherhood and the necessity for putting down roots. Hers is a story about love and friendship, abandonment and belonging, and the discovery of surprising resources in apparently empty places." (Publisher).

The Farming of Bones by Edwidge Danticat
Haitian writer describes the events in the Dominican Republic of 1937, when a nationalist uprising on the part of Haitian workers resulted in a little-known massacre.

I Dream of Peace: Images of War by Children of Former Yugoslavia
'When I close my eyes, I dream of peace,' said 14 year old Aleksandar, just after enduring a dressing change of the terrible burn wounds he suffered from a Molotov cocktail explosion. His words became the title of this book, which presents the thoughts and paintings of children in the former Yugoslavia, as they deal with war-related psychological trauma. The material was gathered by UNICEF during its work in the former Yugoslavia.

The Other Side of Truth by Beverley Naido.
Set in Lagos, Nigeria, after the execution of environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa. Twelve-year-old Sade must flee with her younger brother. Her mother is murdered by the military dicatorship and her journalist father is being persecuted. Sade and her fifth grade brother arrive in London and face the double difficulties of being refugees and dealing with their father’s imprisonment. Grade 6+.

Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools by Jonathan Kozol
"A searing, eye-opening exposé of the inequality built into America's public education system, written by Jonathan Kozol, the National Book Award-winning author of Death at an Early Age. Traveling the most blighted neighborhoods of our country, Kozol discovers a separate and unequal school system for America's less fortunate." (Publisher).

There Are No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz, Knopf Publishing Group, 1992.
"The devastating story of brothers Lafayette and Pharoah Rivers, children of the Chicago ghetto, is powerfully told here by Kotlowitz, a Wall Street Journal reporter who first met the boys in 1985 when they were 10 and seven, respectively. Their family includes a mother, a frequently absent father, an older brother and younger triplets. We witness the horrors of growing up in an ill-maintained housing project tyrannized by drug gangs and where murders and shootings frequently occur. Lafayette tries to cope by stifling his emotions and turning himself into an automaton, while Pharoah first attempts to regress into early childhood and then finds a way out by excelling at school. Kotlowitz's affecting report does not have a "neat and tidy ending". . . . It is, instead, about a beginning, the dawning of two lives.'' These are lives at a crossroads, not totally without hope of triumphing over their origin." (Publisher Weekly).