The Cultural Competence Program (CCP) is an online training course aimed at building capability around cultural diversity in the workplace. It features engaging multimedia learning modules and a wealth of resources.

Language is one of those things that most of us take for granted, and like most things that we take for granted it’s actually a lot cooler than we could imag...

The arrival of Muslim Macassan fisherman on the Northern Australia coast in the early 1700s marked the beginning of a long-lasting trade relationship between the Macassans and First Nations people. Over time, these communities developed a mutual respect for one another, and shared cultural and...

This week on We Hear You, Rhonda Livingstone, ACECQA’s National Education Leader, writes about cultural competence.  Cultural competence is about our will and actions to build understanding between people, to be respectful and open to different cultural perspectives, strengthen cultural security and work towards equality in opportunity. Relationship building is fundamental to cultural competence and…

by: Monisha Bajaj

“An education capable of saving humanity is no small undertaking; it
involves … the preparation of young people to understand the times in
which they live.

”

— Maria Montessori, Education and Peace

Young people have an innate sense of right and wrong, fair and unfair.
 Explaining the basics of human rights in age appropriate ways with stories
and examples can set the foundation for a lifelong commitment to social
responsibility and global citizenship. 

As a parent to a preschooler and a professor of peace and human rights
education, here are my top picks for children's books that discuss
important issues—and that are visually beautiful. Some of the books listed
offer an overview of rights; the majority show individuals and
organizations past and present who have struggled to overcome injustices.
All offer different levels of child-friendly images, concepts and text. 

With my son who is 3, sometimes we will skip certain passages or pages, but
introducing him to books like the ones listed below that include characters
of different races, religions, genders, abilities, sexual orientations, and
other backgrounds at an early age will hopefully lay the foundation for
deeper engagement with these texts and issues later on. Lately, he has been
making tea in his play kitchen for Martin Luther King Jr. and the other day
asked about Nelson Mandela’s grandchildren.

Some of these books are on our shelf at home, others we have found at the
library or at friends’ houses.

What’s on your list of go-to books for talking about human rights and
social justice issues with your children? Let’s keep the list growing in
the comments section below!

**These books should be easily searchable, and I’ve created a book list on
Amazon.com at this link with all the books mentioned in this post.

The Right to Equality & Peace

 1. We are all Born Free by Amnesty International

About the basics of human dignity as elaborated in the United Nations
Universal Declaration of Human Rights

2. Whoever you Are by Mem Fox

About the common humanity we all share regardless of race, color, religion,
nationality, gender, ability or sexual orientation

3. Can you Say Peace?  By Karen Katz

A book about how peace looks in different countries around the world and a
celebration of September 21 – the date the United Nations has declared the
International Day of Peace

4. A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara

A colorful board book with an introduction to speaking up and acting for
social change whether related to LGBTQ rights, racial justice, or
sustainability.

The Right to Education

 5. Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for
Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh

About the landmark 1947 case fought by a Latino family to desegregate
whites-only schools in California that served as a precursor to the Brown
vs. Board decision in 1954.

6. Malala, a Brave Girl from Pakistan/Iqbal, a Brave Boy from Pakistan: Two
Stories of Bravery by Jeanette Winter

About two young advocates for educational rights who were both attacked in
Pakistan—Malala Yousafzai and the lesser-known Iqbal Masih. While Iqbal
didn’t survive the attack on him, Malala went on to advocate for the right
to education for girls worldwide and win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.

7. The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles

About a young woman at the forefront of school desegregation in 1960 after
the Brown vs. Board. The book shows her fortitude in enduring harassment
from angry mobs to get a quality education.

8. Waiting for BiblioBurro by Monica Brown (author) and John Parra
(illustrator)

Inspired by the real-life story of Luis Soriano, who started a mobile
library with donkeys carrying hundreds of books over long distances for
children in rural areas of Colombia.

The Right to Migrate and Seek Asylum

9. Mama’s Nightingale by Edwidge Danticat (author) and Leslie Staub
(illustrator)

Written by award-winning Haitian-American novelist, Edwidge Danticat, this
book is about a family separated by the U.S. immigration system and how
love transcends borders and orders of deportation.

10. Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant's Tale by Duncan Tonatiuh

Young Pancho the Rabbit misses his father who has gone north and sets out
to find him, but encounters a coyote whose help comes at a high cost. This
book introduces the hardships that thousands of migrant families face.

11. Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed
(authors)

About two girls who share a pair of sandals in a refugee camp for Afghans
on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, offering a humanizing glimpse into life
in a refugee camp.

12. Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan by Mary Williams
(author) and R. Gregory Christie (illustrator)

About the lost boys of Sudan who walked long distances for freedom, and
were resettled as refugees in the U.S.

The Right to Equal Treatment based on Race, Caste or Ethnicity

13. Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson

A beautifully-illustrated book about the life of South African human rights
activist, Nobel Peace Prize Winner and first President of post-Apartheid
South Africa, Nelson Mandela.

14.  Ambedkar: The Fight for Justice by Durgabhai Vyam

About the life of by Bhim Rao Ambedkar, a human rights activist who came
from a Dalit family (formerly called “untouchable”) and became the first
Law Minister of India after independence. He drafted India’s Constitution
and was a leading voice against caste discrimination.

 15. Grandfather Gandhi by Arun Gandhi and Bethany Hegedus (Authors),
andEvan Turk (Illustrator)  

A book about Mohandas Gandhi, leader of India’s freedom struggle against
the British, told through the voice of his grandson. His nonviolent
resistance to oppression inspired movements across the world, such as the
U.S. civil rights movement.

16. If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks by Faith Ringold

A book about Rosa Parks, an activist who led the boycott of the Montgomery
bus system, in order to advance civil rights in the U.S.

17. Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen
Rappaport (Author), Bryan Collier (Illustrator)

 & I Have a Dream (book & CD) by Bernice King (author) & Kadir Nelson
(illustrator)

 & for children 12+, March, a trilogy of graphic novels by John Lewis

Books about Martin Luther King, Jr., a leader of the U.S. civil rights
movement, whose vision for racial and economic justice continues to inspire
social action today.

Women’s Rights & Inspiring Activists

18. Rad American Women A-Z: Rebels, Trailblazers, and Visionaries who
Shaped our History… and Our Future by Kate Schatz and Miriam Klein Stahl

19. Rad Women Worldwide: Artists and Athletes, Pirates and Punks, and Other
Revolutionaries who Shaped History  by Kate Schatz and Miriam Klein Stahl

These two beautiful books offer information on a wide range of amazing
women—from athletes to activists to artists to politicians—that we all
should know. The U.S. book focuses on women past and present (A is for
Angela Davis, Y is for Yuri Kochiyama), who have radically transformed
society. The global book introduces us to many women, and also offers a
long list at the end of women to explore further – great for future book
reports and projects.

20. Grace for President by Kelly S. DiPucchio (Author), LeUyen Pham
(Illustrator)

After learning that a woman has never been President (written in 2012),
Grace deicdes to launch her political career in a school election.

21. My Name is Gabriela/Me llamo Gabriela: The Life of Gabriela Mistral/la
vida de Gabriela Mistral by Monica Brown (Author) and John Parra
(Illustrator)

This book is about Gabriela Mistral, a Chilean poet and educator who was
the first Latin American to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. She worked
with the League of Nations and advocated for education for all children.

LGBTQ Rights

22. I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings (Authors), Shelagh
McNicholas (Illustrator)

This book tells the real life story of Jazz Jennings’ experience as a
transgender child. An important read about trans children and how to
support them.

23. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell (Authors),
Henry Cole (Illustrator)

A story about two penguins, Roy and Silo, who with the help of a friendly
zookeeper, welcome a baby of their own.

24. This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman (Author), Kristyna Litten
(Illustrator)

A colorful book celebrating LGBTQ history with a glimpse into the struggles
for greater equality. The handy note to parents and caregivers offers
additional ways of addressing issues of sexual orientation with young
children.

The Right to Fair Working Conditions

25. Joelito’s Big Decision by Ann Berlak

This book presents the dilemma faced by 9-year old Joelito: whether to eat
at his favorite restaurant when the workers are being mistreated and
protesting outside.

26. ¡Si, Se Puede! / Yes, We Can!: Janitor Strike in L.A. by Diana Cohn
(Author), Francisco Delgado (Illustrator)

This book tells the story of the successful janitor strike in LA through
the voice of Carlitos whose mom works at night cleaning office buildings.

27. Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull and Yuyi
Morales

& Side by Side/Lado a Lado: The Story of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez
by Monica Brown (author) and Joe Cepeda (illustrator)

These two books about the United Farm Workers movement led by Cesar Chavez
and Dolores Huerta introduce young people to the rights of agricultural
workers, and the immigrants who often toil in harsh conditions to produce
the food we eat.  

Disability Rights

28. Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann
Thompson (Author) and Sean Qualls (Illustrator)

The real-life story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, a young man from Ghana, born
with a disability and, with the support of his family, attended school,
became a cyclist and earned international fame for his achievements.

29. My Friend Suhana: A Story of Friendship and Cerebral Palsy by Shaila
Abdullah and Aanyah Abdullah (Authors)

A book about finding friendship and unconditional love, co-written by the
author’s then 10-year old daughter.

30. Helen’s Big World: The Life of Helen Keller by Doreen Rappaport
(Author), Matt Tavares (Illustrator)

A biography about Helen Keller, a deaf and blind U.S. author and political
activist who was a co-founded of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

31. Ed Roberts: Father of Disability Rights by Diana Pastora Carson
(Author)

This book offers a glimpse the work and contributions of Ed Roberts, who
became a quadriplegic at the age of 14 due to polio and later an effective
advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.

Environmental Rights

32. Mama Miti by Donna Jo Napoli and Kadir Nelson

A book about environmental activist and Nobel Peace Prize Winner from
Kenya, Wangari Maathai.

33. The Earth Book by Todd Parr

A simple board book about how we can take care of our planet and be
responsible citizens of the earth.

34. Call Me Tree / Llamame Arbol & I Know the River Loves Me by Maya
Christina Gonzalez (Author, Illustrator)

Two bilingual (Spanish/English) book about connecting with nature—trees and
rivers—and becoming your true self.

35. One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia
by Miranda Paul and Elizabeth Zunon

A true story about one woman’s actions to address the waste and
environmental harm caused by plastic bags.

Living Amidst Conflict/Violence: Past or Present

36. Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from Underground Railroad by Ellen
Levine (Author) and Kadir Nelson (Illustrator)

A story about a young enslaved boy who doesn’t know his birthday and goes
on a quest for freedom.

37. Fish for Jimmy: Inspired by One Family's Experience in a Japanese
American Internment Camp by Katie Yamasaki

About two Japanese-American boys living in an internment camp after the
U.S. went to war with Japan.

38. The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco  

About the friendship of two girls that forms as one’s family is hiding in
the other’s house from the Nazis during World War II in France.

39. Chachaji's Cup by Uma Krishnaswami (Author) and Soumya Sitaraman
(Illustrator)

A story about a boy’s relationship with his great uncle who has lived
through the violent partition of India and Pakistan. There is also a note
at the end with information about the partition.

40.  The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq by Jeanette Winter
(Author)

A true story about a woman’s fight to save her community’s thousands of
books from violence and war.