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Book Lists

Human Rights Month

Books about human rights and kindness to celebrate Human Rights Month

J 323.44 DRE
Worldwide champions of human rights, from Harriet Tubman and Anne Frank to Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi, share their dreams of freedom in words illustrated by artists from across the globe.

Corey, Shana, author.
J BIO KENNEDY
""The time has come for this Nation to fulfill its promise." John F. Kennedy was born one hundred years ago. As America's thirty-fifth president, he often took bold actions: establishing a peace corps and challenging Americans to land on the moon. But on civil rights, it took the urging and the example of other courageous people--leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Jackie Robinson, and even students and children--to help him realize that the time to act was NOW. On June 11, 1963, Kennedy's "big speech"--His civil rights address--was a game changer, and his efforts laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Act of 1964; but our country's work is not finished. Acclaimed author Shana Corey and New York Times Best Illustrated artist R. Gregory Christie deliver a fresh and deeply human look at one of our country's most inspiring presidents, underscoring the greatness and fallibility of our leaders and how each one of us, no matter who we are, have the power to make a difference. With quotes from JFK's speeches, detailed back matter, and a thought-provoking author's note, this biography offers a sensitive look at a tumultuous time in history and compelling questions about effecting positive change today"-- Provided by publisher.

Williams, Karen Lynn.
J PIC+ WIL
Two young Afghani girls living in a refugee camp in Pakistan share a precious pair of sandals brought by relief workers. Includes author's note about refugees.

Cavallo, Francesca, author.
J 920.72 CAV
While still inspiring rebel girls of the world to dream bigger, aim higher, and fight harder, this sequel is bigger than each of us, bigger than our individual hopes, and certainly bigger than our fears.

Doerrfeld, Cori.
JAUDIO DISC JEASY DOERRFELD
A universal, deeply moving exploration of grief and empathy. With its spare, poignant text and irresistibly sweet illustrations, The Rabbit Listened is a tender meditation on loss. When something terrible happens, Taylor doesn't know where to turn. All the animals are sure they have the answer. The chicken wants to talk it out, but Taylor doesn't feel like chatting. The bear thinks Taylor should get angry, but that's not quite right either. One by one, the animals try to tell Taylor how to process this loss, and one by one they fail. Then the rabbit arrives. All the rabbit does is listen, which is just what Taylor needs. Whether read in the wake of tragedy or as a primer for comforting others, this is a deeply moving and unforgettable story sure to soothe heartache of all sizes.

Kerascoët, author, illustrator.
JEASY KER
An elementary school girl witnesses the bullying of another girl, but she is not sure how to help.

Khechog, Nawang.
177.7 KHE
Drawing on his experience of studying philosophy and meditation with the Dalai Lama, the author reveals how to live a fulfilling life by practicing kindness and performing simple daily meditations.

Pettiford, Rebecca, author.
J 177.7 PET
In Showing Kindness, beginning readers will learn about all the ways they can be kind and considerate in their daily lives.

Patterson, James, 1947-
JEASY PAT
An illustrated exploration of the phrase "thank you" and the many scenarios of kindness and gratitude in which it can be used.

Shetterly, Margot Lee, author.
J 510.92 SHE
Explores the previously uncelebrated but pivotal contributions of NASA's African American women mathematicians to America's space program, describing how Jim Crow laws segregated them despite their groundbreaking successes.

Shetterly, Margot Lee, author.
J 510.92 SHE
Before John Glenn orbited the Earth or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of professionals worked as "Human Computers," calculating the flight paths that would enable these historic achievements. Among these were a coterie of bright, talented African-American women. Segregated from their white counterparts by Jim Crow laws, these "colored computers," as they were known, used slide rules, adding machines, and pencil and paper to support America's fledgling aeronautics industry, and helped write the equations that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space. Drawing on the oral histories of scores of these "computers," personal recollections, interviews with NASA executives and engineers, archival documents, correspondence, and reporting from the era, Hidden Figures recalls America's greatest adventure and NASA's groundbreaking successes through the experiences of five spunky, courageous, intelligent, determined, and patriotic women: Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, Christine Darden, and Gloria Champine. Moving from World War II through NASA's golden age, touching on the civil rights era, the Space Race, the Cold War, and the women's rights movement, Hidden Figures interweaves a history of scientific achievement and technological innovation with the intimate stories of five women whose work forever changed the world -- and whose lives show how out of one of America's most painful histories came one of its proudest moments.

Serres, Alain, 1956-
J SP 323.352 SER
"Todos los niños del mundo tienen derechos, y también tienen el derecho de conocerlos, explicarlos, compartirlos..." Texto poético demuestra los derechos de los niños: una dieta saludable, un hogar y educación gratuita.

Serres, Alain, 1956-
J 323.352 SER
Describes what it means to be a child with rights, emphasizing that these rights belong to every child on the planet, and makes evident that knowing and talking about these rights are the first steps toward making sure that they are respected.

Roberts, Jillian, 1971- author.
J 362 ROB
Using illustrations, full-color photographs and straightforward text, this nonfiction picture book introduces the topics of homelessness and poverty to young readers.

Roberts, Ceri, author.
J 305.9 ROB
Children can begin to understand who refugees and migrants are, why they've left their homes, where they live and what readers can do to help those in need.

Nagara, Innosanto, author, illustrator.
JEASY NAG
"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. 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"-- Provided by publisher.

Woodson, Jacqueline.
JEASY WOO
When Ms. Albert teaches a lesson on kindness, Chloe realizes that she and her friends have been wrong in making fun of new student Maya's shabby clothes and refusing to play with her.

ʻIbādī, Shīrīn, author.
YA BIO IBADI
"For several years the Iranian government tried everything to silence Shirin Ebadi: They arrested her, bugged her phones, attacked her home, shadowed her everywhere she went, seized her office, and nailed a death threat to her front door. But nothing could stop Ebadi from her work as a human rights lawyer defending women, children, and the persecuted in Iran. After several years of harassment and intimidation, the Iranian spy services turned their sights onto Ebadi's only weakness: those she loved the most, her family. First the authorities detained her daughter, then they laid a trap for her husband straight out of a spy novel. The Iranian government took everything from Shirin Ebadi--her marriage, her home, her property, her bank accounts, they even seized her Nobel Prize--but the one thing they could not take was her spirit and her desire for a better future for her country. Shirin Ebadi is one of the most revered leaders on the global stage. For the first time she's telling the full story of how the government of Iran tried to destroy her, and almost succeeded"-- Provided by publisher.

Guojing, 1983- author, illustrator.
JEASY GUO
"In this heartwarming, wordless picture book that's perfect for dog lovers, a woman visits a park and discovers a pup hiding under a bench--scruffy, scared, and alone. With gentle coaxing, the woman tries to befriend the animal, but the dog is too scared to let her near. Day after day, the woman tries--and day after day, the dog runs away. With perseverance and patience--and help from an enticing tennis ball--a tentative friendship begins. But it's not until a raging storm forces the two together that a joyous and satisfying friendship takes hold. Guojing poignantly explores how trust doesn't always come easily, but how, over time, and with kindness and determination, forever love can grow."--Amazon.

Underwood, Deborah, author.
JEASY UND
Illustrations and rhyming text describe acts of kindness and community.

Reid, Aimee, author.
J BIO ROGERS
"Mister Rogers is one of the most beloved television personalities ever, but before he was the man who brought us "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood", he was just little Freddie Rogers. You Are My Friend tells how Fred was a sickly and lonely child. At school, he was bullied and had trouble making friends and expressing his feelings. His parents and grandparents encouraged Fred to ask for help and explore his world. When Fred grew up he became a champion of compassion, equality, and kindness, and he realized that he could spread his message through television. His simple message still resonates with us today: 'There's no person in the world like you and I like you just the way you are.' Outside of recent news, You Are My Friend will endure because of its smart writing, focus, and gentle homage to a very popular, kind, understated, good soul and role model"-- Provided by publisher.

Medina, Nico, 1982- author.
J 306.7609 MED
"In the early-morning hours of June 28, 1969, police arrived at the Stonewall Inn's doors and yelled, "Police! We're taking the place!" But the people in this New York City neighborhood bar, members of the LGBTQ community, were tired of being harassed. They rebelled in the streets, turning one moment into a civil rights movement and launching the fight for equality among LGBTQ people in the United States." -- Amazon.com.

Houtman, Jacqueline, author.
YA BIO RUSTIN
Bayard Rustin believed that every human being deserves respect and dignity. As a child he was taught that we all have a duty to stand up to prejudice and discrimination, and that conflict must be resolved through peaceful, nonviolent means. And so, Bayard began to peacefully resist--in high school he was arrested for sitting in the "whites only" section of his hometown movie theater--no matter the consequences. Bayard Rustin grew up to become one of the key figures of the American Civil Rights Movement. He was a mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., teaching him the philosophy and techniques of nonviolent direct action. In 1963, he organized the March on Washington, one of America's most historic protest marches. And yet, he is absent from most history books, in large part because he was openly gay. This biography traces Bayard's lifetime of activism and highlights his fearless commitment to justice and equality for all. -- Publisher's description.

Dunbar-Ortiz, Roxanne, 1938- author.
970.0049 DUN
"Today in the United States, there are more than five hundred federally-recognized Indigenous nations comprising nearly three million people, descendants of the fifteen million Native people who once inhabited this land. The centuries-long genocidal program of the US settler-colonial regimen has largely been omitted from history. Now historian and activist Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz offers a history of the United States told from the perspective of Indigenous peoples and reveals how Native Americans, for centuries, actively resisted expansion of the US empire. In An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States, Dunbar-Ortiz challenges the founding myth of the United States and shows how policy against the Indigenous peoples was colonialist and designed to seize the territories of the original inhabitants, displacing or eliminating them. And as Dunbar-Ortiz reveals, this policy was praised in popular culture, through writers like James Fenimore Cooper and Walt Whitman, and in the highest offices of government and the military. As the genocidal policy reached its zenith under President Andrew Jackson, its ruthlessness was best articulated by US Army general Thomas S. Jesup, who, in 1836, wrote of the Seminoles: "The country can be rid of them only by exterminating them." Spanning more than four hundred years, this classic bottom-up peoples' history radically reframes US history and explodes the silences that have haunted our national narrative."--Publisher's description.

Goodrich, Carter, author, illustrator.
JEASY GOO
Hank, a cactus who is as prickly on the inside as he is on the outside, decides he wants a hug.

Rippon, Jo, author.
J 322.44 RIP
"RISE UP! encourages young people to engage in peaceful protest and stand up for freedom. Photographs of protest posters from the last one hundred years celebrate the ongoing fight for gender equality, civil rights, LGBT rights, refugee and immigrant rights, peace, and the environment. Includes a chapter on youth protest. Developed in collaboration with Amnesty International"-- Provided by publisher.

J SP 362.8709 HEA
Este libro, una historia de niños contada por niños, no fue fácil de contar o escuchar. Pero no es solo una historia sobre la crueldad y la negligencia de los adultos, sino que a fin de cuentas, es también la historia de la fuerza, valentía y esperancza de los niños.

J 323.0922 WE
Presents quotes on civil rights from important and influential figures, including Queen Lili'uokalani, John Lewis, Nina Simone, and Barack Obama.

Verde, Susan, author.
JEASY VER
A child recognizes his own humanity, his capacity for doing harm and being harmed, his ability to feel joy and sadness, and his belief in hope and promise to keep learning.

Latham, Irene, author.
J 170.44 LAT
"Organized as a dictionary, entries in this book for middle-grade readers present words related to creating a better, more inclusive world. Each word is explored via a poem, a quote from an inspiring person, and a short personal anecdote from one of the co-authors, a prompt for how to translate the word into action, and an illustration"-- Provided by publisher.

Gravel, Elise, author, illustrator.
J 305.9069 GRA
"An accessible picture book that oh-so-simply and graphically introduces the term 'refugee' to curious young children to help them better understand the world in which they live. Who are refugees? Why are they called that word? Why do they need to leave their country? Why are they sometimes not welcome in their new country? In this relevant picture book for the youngest children, author-illustrator Elise Gravel explores what it means to be a refugee in bold, graphic illustrations and spare text. This is the perfect tool to introduce an important and timely topic."--Amazon.com

Karson, Damon, author.
YA 306.76 KAR
Human rights advocates contend that the LGBT community has yet to achieve full equality and acceptance in the United States and elsewhere. In recent years in the United States, state legislators have introduced more than 250 bills that limit LGBT rights and twenty of these have become law. In other parts of the world, it remains shameful to identify as LGBT; in some countries, it is even punishable by death. These and other human rights concerns are examined.

J 341.48 WE
A commemorative edition of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as adopted in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly offers insight into the world's shared views about the rights of all people, with illustrations by artists from around the world.