The holidays are coming, and it's a perfect time to buy books for the children in our lives. Simultaneously, the world we face can be hard to talk about with littles. Is it possible to find books for kids that honestly reflect the complexities of our world while also giving joy? Why, yes! Yes, it is.

I'm blessed to be part of a community of people who have been creating the children's books we need. Most of these folks either self-publish or put their books out with small publishers. This gives them the ability to tell the stories that THEY want to tell for themselves and their communities.

So, here are ten wonderful books that both reflect the world as it is and help to envision the kind of world we want to inhabit. If you are in the Bay Area, many of these creators will be selling their books on December 9^th  at the 2023 Social Justice Children's Book Holiday Fair in Oakland, California. Come join us!

1. Chicken Wonders Why

(Photo : Zetta Elliott)
Chicken Wonders…Why? by Zetta Elliott

Farmers Dick and Jane tell the animals stories every night. But when they go on vacation, the animals are left to try to figure out what stories to tell. When Goat says there are right ways to tell stories, intrepid Chicken keeps asking: "Why?" And together, they tell new and creative tales. Zetta wrote this book as a response to attempted book banners, inviting kids to push back and ask WHY. Her Caldecott award-winning book, A Place Inside of Me, has had attempted bans in two districts. This is just one of Zetta's amazing books, both self-published and traditionally published. Check out her website for more.

Buy from Amazon

2. The Gender and Infinity Book for Kids

(Photo : Reflection Press)
The Gender and Infinity Book for Kids by Maya Gonzalez, Reflection Press

This gorgeously illustrated book shows a range of kids immersed in nature, comfortably being themselves in relationship to the concept of infinity. This builds to a stark white spread revealing the boxes we are taught to put ourselves into: boy and girl. The cast of kids break free from these boxes, flowing and growing in their own unique ways. With plenty of helpful backmatter for caregivers, this book offers a world where everyone is accepted for being their unique self. Maya and her partner Matthew run Reflection Press which offers an inspiring range of books and materials exploring gender for kids. You won't find better!

Buy from Bookshop

3. Oh, Oh Baby Boy by Janine Macbeth

(Photo : Blood Orange Press)
Oh, Oh Baby Boy by Janine Macbeth, Blood Orange Press

This is a lush gift from the heart. Written in short poetic phrases, the book follows a boy through childhood to adulthood, with a focus on the father-child bond. We watch the boy become a man, who with his partner brings another child into the world. (The birth spread is amazing). Bold colors and sweeping lines bring movement and joy into this celebration of family, and in particular the central role a father can play in raising a child. Back matter focuses on the importance of "fatherhood" as an equal part of the parenting relationship. Janine founded her own publisher, Blood Orange Press. Check out One of a Kind Like Me/único como you, another one of this press' gorgeous offerings.

Buy from AK Press

4. Fresh Juice

(Photo : Rob Trujillo, Lee & Low Books)
Fresh Juice by Rob Trujillo, Lee & Low Books

Rob hit the scene with his beautiful self-published book, Fresh Juice. His latest addition joyfully follows the journey of Art and his father as they search for ingredients to make a sick-fighting juice. From the farmer's market to the co-op, and with help from friends including Art's stepfather who happens to have a bike juice blender, this community-loving story shows how we are stronger (and healthier) together. Hint: ginger is the special ingredient. With a recipe at the back, this book offers its own recipe for community togetherness. Rob is a community guy himself, illustrating so many social justice books they are hard to count. Check out his website to see them!

Buy from Bookshop

5. My Night in the Planetarium

(Photo : Innosanto Nagara, Triangle Square)
My Night in the Planetarium by Innosanto Nagara, Triangle Square

You may have heard of Inno's most famous book, A Is for Activist. But you might not know that he self-published that book before publisher Triangle Square picked it up. In My Night in the Planetarium, Inno tells a very personal story of hiding as a child in a planetarium while his actor father escaped political persecution, alongside educating readers about the history of Indonesia. This may sound heavy, but there's excitement in this nighttime experience. All of Inno's books ask readers to look at their world critically, considering how they might take action or be part of larger movements to make things better. I love how this title combines personal experience with broader historical context.

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6. For All/Para Todos

(Photo : Alejandra Domenzain, Hard Ball Press )
For All/Para Todos by Alejandra Domenzain, Hard Ball Press

Flor and her father come to the land called For All, escaping poverty and hoping to find an accepting new home. But because they don't have the right papers, the father has to work hard for little money, and Flor gets turned away from college even though she's excelled academically. A teacher's gift of a green pen helps Flor find her voice, and she tells her and other immigrants' stories, helping to inspire a larger movement. Written in rhyming verse, the book invites readers to consider the systems in place, their fairness, and the importance of voting and taking action to make our world better For All. Bilingual in English and Spanish.

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7. If You Look Up to the Sky

(Photo : Angela Dalton, Beaver’s Pond Press)
If You Look Up to the Sky by Angela Dalton, Beaver’s Pond Press

A grandmother invites her granddaughter: "If you look up to the sky when you're feeling lost, and you see the moon peeking ever so slightly through the clouds, know you are in the place you are meant to be." During the storms and cloudy times, and when there are rainbows, the girl connects to nature and her grandmother's words. Expressive illustrations and luxurious poetic language will help children feel their own connection to nature, family, and themselves. Angela has launched a big children's book career, including titles like Ruby's Reunion Day Dinner and To Boldly Go. But she started here, with this book that she wrote and published herself through a hybrid publisher. Find out more at her website.

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8. We Are Little Feminists: Families

(Photo : Archaa Shrivastav, Little Feminist)
We Are Little Feminists: Families by Archaa Shrivastav, Little Feminist

What is family? This lovely board book provides many answers to this question. Family is "All our love piled in a heap. A comfy place for me to sleep." Or "sticky treats dripping down chins. Goofy show-all-my-teeth grins." Photos show the widest range of family structures I've seen in a children's book, including LGBQT+ and intergenerational families. It's the only books where I've seen an image of a pregnant trans man. There's a reason this won a Stonewall award. Other books in this adorable series include Hair and On-the-Go, also beautifully inclusive and celebratory. Check them out at the author's website.

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9. When I Breathe Deeply/Cuando respiro profundo 

(Photo : Jill Guerra Berger)
When I Breathe Deeply/Cuando respiro profundo by Jill Guerra Berger

Author Jill Guerra is a mindfulness teacher in the Oakland, California schools. She asked students what happens when they breathe deeply, and got got an array of responses, including: "I feel brave," "I get to know myself," and "I feel completely free." Accompanied by colorful photographs of diverse Oakland youth, the book includes instructions for breathing deeply at the end. Self-published in 2020, Jill notes, "At a time in the world where people are literally being denied their breath, the power of these students' declarations resonates most deeply." Her follow up We are Yoga/somos yoga continues her mindfulness and yoga book series. Bilingual in English and Spanish.

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10. Joelito's Big Decision/La gran decisión de Joelito

(Photo : Ann Berlak)
Joelito’s Big Decision/La gran decisión de Joelito by Ann Berlak

Joelito and his family have a Friday tradition of buying burgers from the MacMann's chain. But today there's a strike, including Joelito's friend and family, who explain that workers receive low wages while Mr. MacMann keeps billions. Joelito struggles between filling his growling stomach with that tasty burger and crossing the picket line. Of course, he stays and feels empowered as he joins a larger movement of people fighting for their rights. Educator Ann Berlak includes extensive notes and prompts for caregivers to share this book with children. Daniel Camacho's illustrations add gravitas and heart. Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Buy from Bookshop

Laura Atkins is an award-winning children's book author, editor, and founder of the "Create Your Children's Book" cohort, launching in January 2024. She has thirty years of experience in the children's book world and is a passionate supporter of community-based grassroots children's book publishing. Learn more about her, and the cohort, on her website: https://lauraatkins.com.