Books for a Beautiful World: 2018 Year in Review
About a year ago, I started Books for a Beautiful World. The purpose of this blog was to review books that promote a better, kinder, more just world. I examined books that promoted courage and standing up for human rights and each other. I also looked at books with diverse characters, both so students can see themselves in texts and so that they can better understand others. I blogged about how to use texts to teach about various issues, such as refugees, climate change, or LGBTQ pride at school.
As a year in review, I have assembled a list of the main themes in the blog, along with the texts that fall under those categories. Links to various blog entries are below.
I have enjoyed this project throughout the year and aim to continue in 2019. If you have any requests for book recommendations on particular themes or you'd like to suggest a book, let me know in the comments or via my twitter handle @abeja_el.
Identity - Books where a character questions or explores their identity
- He Who Dreams
- George
- All's Faire in Middle School
- Amina's Voice
- Freak the Mighty
- Restart
- Posted
- Lily and Dunkin
- One for the Murphys
- Pashmina
Human Rights - Books that feature human rights issues, like discrimination, and the struggle against these issues
- Prisoner B-3087
- If You Come Softly
- Love, Hate & Other Filters
- Amal Unbound
- Number the Stars
- Sadia
- Fatty Legs
- Iqbal
- I am a Taxi
- Long Walk to Water
- Thunder over Kandahar
- Heaven Shop
- War Brothers
- Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind
- Child of Dandelions
- The Hate U Give
- All American Boys
- March
- Ban this Book
- Malala's Magic Pencil
- Letters to a Prisoner
- Refugee
Courage - Books that feature characters who must demonstrate courage to make the world a better place
- Hello, Universe
- Touching Spirit Bear
- Devil's Pass
- Peak
- Nimona
- First Test
- Hoot
- He Who Dreams
- Caught in the Blizzard
- Number the Stars
Indigenous Characters - Books that prominently include Indigenous characters or perspectives
- The Reckoner Series
- A Girl Called Echo
- The Marrow Thieves
- He Who Dreams
- Touching Spirit Bear
- Caught in the Blizzard
- Fatty Legs
- When We Were Alone
- Stolen Words
- Shi-Shi-etko
- Shin-Chi's Canoe
- When I Was Eight
- Not My Girl
- Stranger At Home
- I Am Not a Number
- As Long as the Rivers Flow
- Sugar Falls
LGBTQ Characters - Books that feature LGBTQ characters
- Two Boys Kissing
- George
- Princess Princess Ever After
- Love, Penelope
- The Prince and the Dressmaker
- Lumberjanes
- The Other Boy
- See You at Harry's
- Posted
- Lily and Dunkin
- The 57 Bus
- The Lotterys Plus One
- Simon versus the Homo Sapiens Agenda
- Leah on the Offbeat
- Spinning
- The Marrow Thieves
- A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo
- Prince & Knight
- Worm Loves Worm
Environment - Books that encourage students to protect the natural world
- World Without Fish
- Heroes of the Environment
- Human Footprint
- Get Real: What Kind of World Are YOU Buying?
- Story of Stuff
- The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming
- Our Choice: How We Can Solve the Climate Crisis
- We Are the Weather Makers: The History of Climate Change
- Hoot
Mental Health - Books with topics relating to mental health and mental illness