Parents' Guide to We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices

This encouraging treasury of pieces by diverse writers and illustrators offers concrete advice to kids living in difficult times. Some of the pieces in We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices focus on very specific issues. Eleanora E. Tate talks about having dark brown skin, and how to rise above people who belittle you. Hena Khan discusses what to do if you're Muslim and people call you a terrorist. One story's narrated by a kid whose father is seized and deported by ICE. Some writers tie events today to historical ones, like slavery or Jim Crow laws, making the point that troubling times have long existed, and others have found ways to resist and usher in positive change.

Some of the most effective pieces address kids directly, as if writer and reader are in cozy conversation. Sharon G. Flake writes a letter to kids and signs it, "Your fan and cheerleader." Tonya Bolden urges kids to make small, manageable changes, like "compliment someone on an outfit or hairdo, congratulate a friend on a victory," acts that are easily within a kid's grasp. The message to readers is that they're not alone; the book connects them to larger communities, to elders with experience and good counsel. And it offers hope. As poet Marilyn Nelson tells kids, "Today's acts of good will change tomorrow ... good is in control, and good will win."