A is for Activist

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Memorable, often humorous poems that teach the alphabet through activist political examples. Never too early to expose your children to justice.” — Viet Thanh Nguyen in Vulture.com As publisher of several books cited as problematic or inappropriate — such as the gender-inclusive sex education books by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth and social justice-oriented picture books by Innosanto Nagara — we strongly condemn these attempts to censor school libraries. Rona Renner(RN, Parent Educator, Host Childhood Matters RadioShow): Innosanto Nagara’s book “A is for Activist” is beautiful, inspiring, and offers an opportunity for parents to explore their values with their children. At this time in history we need books for children that use words like, justice, ally, freedom, and advocate. Our children are the activists who will help to heal the world. Inno’s first book, A is for Activist, started a movement in social justice book publishing for children. After it came Counting on Community, then My Night in the Planetarium and The Wedding Portrait. M is for Movement is the fifth title written and illustrated by Innosanto Nagara. People want to publish books about Arab girls who are dealing with hijab, things like that,” Darraj said. “I want to show my characters living normal everyday life.”

A is for Activist is an ABC board book written and illustrated for the next generation of progressives: families who want their kids to grow up in a space that is unapologetic about activism, environmental justice, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, and everything else that activists believe in and fight for.

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Although the book is meant for ages 0-3, Rethinking Schools has suggested that it can even be used with older kids: “It could also be used as a prompt for older students to create their own alphabet books with a conscience.” This unique alphabet book encourages young readers to stand up for what they believe in, engage with their community, and become aware of the social movements going on around them, at any age.

The alliteration, rhyming, and vibrant illustrations make the book exciting for children, while the issues it brings up resonate with their parents’ values of community, equality, and justice. This engaging little book carries huge messages as it inspires hope for the future, and calls children to action while teaching them a love for books. I love the different topics that are touched upon: co-ops, grassroots, equal rights, LGBTQ, and peace marches. I feel like it could be a great way to introduce a child to these topics which could then lead into a deeper discussion if it piques their curiosity. My son is still too young to understand any of it, but he sees that I enjoy reading it to him and that makes him excited. It truly is a refreshing read! It's fun to read words that resonate and can be spoken passionately. The alliteration and rhymes have the rhythm and fun of standard ABC books, burrowing into little ears and prompting memorization and spontaneous recitation.” — YES! Magazine Such histories help illuminate the ongoing tensions in the movement, chief among them the literary world’s dual mandates to encourage creative expansion beyond the confines of one’s own lived experience, and to stop the appropriation of narratives belonging to the underprivileged. NCAC is joined by over 400 signatories, including nearly 80 organizations, over 50 bookstores and 17 publishers and over 250 individual stakeholders, comprising authors, teachers and librarians.Such numbers are particularly problematic in the realm of children’s books, where artistic expression lives alongside educational imperative. Like Darraj and others, Nagara, was inspired to write his first children’s book upon realizing the book he wanted for his kid didn’t exist. In his case it was an introduction to the activist community and what it means to be an activist, in words a child can understand. Tomas Moniz(writer/editor rad dad zine, a zine on radical parenting): A is for Activist is a welcome addition to the family of kids books that speak to the possibilities of change, of proactive parenting, of creating community, of celebrating the powerful everyday people we have in our lives and in our collective histories. This book is rad!