Modern
Children’s
Are
Books
“Little
Radicals”?
Training
By Annie Holmquist
R
ECENTLY, a friend placed a new children’s book in my
hands, which had been given to her granddaughter. It
was a nicely bound, hardcover book with colorful pictures
entitled A Little Radical: The ABCs of Activism. 1
I knew books like these were becoming popular, particu-
larly in public school classrooms, yet I never had the oppor-
tunity to get up close and personal with one. So I picked up
the book and began to read.
I encountered the first surprising thing in the inside
cover, which was filled with images of colorful buttons
sporting slogans such as, “Toddlers Against Time-Outs,”
“Little Sisters Against Hand Me Downs,” and “My Potty, My
Choice.” The book signals a strong message that kids are in
charge and shouldn’t be afraid to assert their will.
Similar messages continue into the first pages of the book,
designed around the alphabet. Letter A encourages children
to take action. Letter B encourages them to boycott. One
then moves along through D for Defend, I for Impact, and J
for Justice. The section about justice states:
36
J is for justice,
Which means:
What is right.
Though, good vs. evil
Is not black and white.
It shouldn’t come down
To where you were born,
People are equals,
But the world is still torn.
If something’s not fair,
Or does not seem deserved,
Speak up. Tip the scales.
See that justice is served.
Finally, one reaches the letter R for Radical, after which
the book is named. The book suggests that being radical is
a desirable thing to do and it involves breaking the rules,
starting revolutions, and pursuing what is true.
The alphabet for little radicals is interesting because many
of these instructions sound quite good. It sounds exempla-
ry to fight for justice, to encourage equality, and to pursue
truth. However, young children do not have the wherewithal
to understand what justice, equality, and truth really mean.
Do we do them a disservice if they learn about these qual-
ities at a young age only through the lens of social justice,