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The Bull Horn Articles, interviews, and reviews about children’s books that put social justice values into pract

OUR MISSION is to empower kids and the adults who love them to care about others, stand in solidarity, and take action for equity and justice. We do this by publishing articles, interviews, and reviews about children’s books that put social justice values into practice. Children’s literature—both fiction and nonfiction—is full of inspiration and examples of children and adults who stand up for the

mselves and others. Whether it’s ducks organizing animals to oppose unfair farm rules, a student listening to her classmates’ concerns when running for student council, or a boy joining his first march, young people’s literature can demonstrate how individuals and communities have the power to act as agents for social change. Reading these stories can connect children to what they care about and build their confidence and skills to act on their beliefs in positive ways. And this power of children’s books to inspire, educate, and engage readers in the world around them nurtures activists of all ages. The contributors to The Bull Horn come from and stand with marginalized communities living at intersections of identity, experience, race, class, gender, religion, sexuality, and ability. We are children’s writers, illustrators, and book creators who are also long-time advocates and activists. We all share an interest in exploring how children’s literature can fuel positive social change. We hope this blog can be a connection point for other authors and illustrators with an interest in exploring these themes and values in their work. We recognize that activism takes many forms, including interpersonal interactions, grassroots organizing, public policy advocacy, political participation, and protest. Through this blog we aim to highlight children’s books that include a wide range of engagement tactics, as well as the history of movements and the stories of remarkable individuals who lead and participate in social justice initiatives. It is our hope that combined, these original posts will create an archive of children’s book reviews and analysis that broadens and deepens readers’ awareness of intersectionality, places marginalized voices at the center, and supports action and engagement for years to come.

04/02/2021
Meena Jain interviews Simran Jeet Singh about his upcoming book, Fauja Singh Keeps Going: "I have young kids at home, an...
13/04/2020

Meena Jain interviews Simran Jeet Singh about his upcoming book, Fauja Singh Keeps Going: "I have young kids at home, and one thing I’ve learned as a father is that they’re a lot smarter than we often give them credit for. ... We have to trust that they will figure things out—and that even if they don’t, that’s okay too! I’ve learned to be comfortable with that ambiguity in my classrooms and now at home..."

https://thebullhornblog.org/2020/04/13/simran-jeet-singh-fauja-singh-keeps-going/

Dr. Simran Jeet Singh is an educator, writer, activist, and scholar who speaks regularly on diversity, inclusion and equity. Simran is currently based at Union Seminary, and he’s the host of Spirit…

NEW: Looking back a few months to the days when people could gather... The 3rd Annual Social Justice Children's Book Fai...
02/04/2020

NEW: Looking back a few months to the days when people could gather... The 3rd Annual Social Justice Children's Book Fair in Oakland, CA. Click here for bright shining faces of young readers, vibrant community, activists, and bookmakers.

https://thebullhornblog.org/2020/03/29/3rd-annual-social-justice-childrens-book-holiday-fair-oakland-ca/

Nearly two weeks ago, a “shelter in place” order went into effect here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Days later, a shelter in place order went into effect for the State of California, and a number…

NEW post- author Robert Alexander reviews Hermanito & Hermanita by Khalid White and Isela Garcia-White https://thebullho...
18/03/2020

NEW post- author Robert Alexander reviews Hermanito & Hermanita by Khalid White and Isela Garcia-White https://thebullhornblog.org/2020/03/17/hermanitohermanita-book-review/

10 years ago while studying at UC Davis I met Dr. Khalid White and his wife Isela Garcia White. I later learned that Khalid and I both worked in the South Bay Area as educators at community college…

NEW: Kenneth Braswell of Fathers Incorporated on making kids books and who inspired him to write them. Just did an inter...
20/11/2019

NEW: Kenneth Braswell of Fathers Incorporated on making kids books and who inspired him to write them. Just did an interview with Kenneth Braswell of Fathers Inc out in ATL! Peep https://thebullhornblog.org/2019/11/19/interview-w-kenneth-braswell/

I came across “Daddy There’s a Noise Outside” in 2017 while reading the Multicultural Children’s Book Day blog and was immediately inspired by the story. After following Kenneth’s work I learn abou…

Susan Tan: "Remember – we don’t just live in culture, it lives inside us. This means that sometimes, we have to confront...
08/11/2019

Susan Tan: "Remember – we don’t just live in culture, it lives inside us. This means that sometimes, we have to confront that we’ve internalized certain messages from larger society. It’s so important to reflect and self-educate when these moments arise, and to consider how we as individuals can act within our communities to change old patterns and messages. And then – act!"

https://thebullhornblog.org/2019/11/07/interview-with-susan-tan/

I really enjoyed reading the Cilla Lee-Jenkins series! These books have so much heart and humor, and I loved following Cilla’s journey into questions about race, culture, family, and identity. At…

Carole Lindstrom, author of The Water Protectors, and The Bull Horn's newest editorial board member!https://thebullhornb...
18/10/2019

Carole Lindstrom, author of The Water Protectors, and The Bull Horn's newest editorial board member!
https://thebullhornblog.org/2019/10/17/interview-with-carole-lindstrom/

  Hi Carole! Can you talk a bit about your journey in activism and children’s literature. Why did you decide to write children’s books? I’ve always loved to write and I always thought I would …

Laura Gonzalez: "This is the power of children’s literature which focuses on real, societal issues. These stories are no...
18/10/2019

Laura Gonzalez: "This is the power of children’s literature which focuses on real, societal issues. These stories are not only adult stories. They are the lived experience of countless children and their families. We often assume that by putting people in close proximity, understanding will naturally occur. "

https://thebullhornblog.org/2019/10/18/librarian-perspective-laura-gonzalez/

“Do you have the new Dogman yet?,” Julio earnestly asks as he rushes into our K-8 Spanish bilingual library. His face visibly deflates as I tell him that I do not. Edward, another second-grader sta…

M is for Movement, our magazine site covering social justice children's books, creators, and those who engage with them,...
18/10/2019

M is for Movement, our magazine site covering social justice children's books, creators, and those who engage with them, is now retooled and renamed as The Bull Horn! We'd love your input on how to make it relevant to you!
https://thebullhornblog.org/2019/10/18/help-us-shape-the-future-of-this-blog/

Hey MIFM readers and followers, We have an announcement to make. We have changed our name. Yes, we are now called “The Bull Horn” representing a loud and direct way to speak up about kid lit; espec…

Better late than never! 2018 Shout Outs from our some of our favorite children's literature folks!https://misformovement...
18/10/2019

Better late than never! 2018 Shout Outs from our some of our favorite children's literature folks!
https://misformovement.org/2019/01/15/2018-shout-outs/

Yes, it’s 2019, and you’re supposed to get something like this out before the holiday shopping season of the year in the title. And 2018 was a bumper crop year for social justice-themed…

Check out Supriya Kelkar's interview with Pat Cummings: "I do feel that receiving comfort and reassurance are essential ...
18/10/2019

Check out Supriya Kelkar's interview with Pat Cummings: "I do feel that receiving comfort and reassurance are essential to make children feel secure. But knowing that they have support behind them would hopefully help them feel strong enough to speak up when they need to be heard. "
https://misformovement.org/…/19/interview-with-pat-cummings/

I had the honor of speaking to another one of the contributors to the stirring anthology WE RISE, WE RESIST, WE RAISE OUR VOICES. Pat Cummings is the award winning author and illustrator of dozens …

NEW too!! Interview with Traci Sorell https://misformovement.org/…/05/interview-with-traci-sorell/
18/10/2019

NEW too!! Interview with Traci Sorell https://misformovement.org/…/05/interview-with-traci-sorell/

  I first met Traci two years ago at the Kweli conference in NYC. And boy, am I glad I did. She has become a dear friend and a real inspiration. Her picture book, WE ARE GRATEFUL: OTSALIHELIGA…

"Ultimately, my objective in both mediums is to help people reshape the way they see themselves by understanding that ou...
18/10/2019

"Ultimately, my objective in both mediums is to help people reshape the way they see themselves by understanding that our self-perception is created unconsciously by the stories we’re told and tell ourselves." Sean Qualls
https://thebullhornblog/2018/06/13/sean-qualls-interview/

Sean Qualls is an award-winning, Brooklyn-based, children’s book illustrator, author and artist. In addition to his fine art painting, he has illustrated number of highly acclaimed books for childr…

Carole Lindstrom interviews Cynthia Leitich Smith:"Authentic, compelling stories of three-dimensional Native characters ...
18/10/2019

Carole Lindstrom interviews Cynthia Leitich Smith:
"Authentic, compelling stories of three-dimensional Native characters are necessary to every young reader, especially those whose heritage is highlighted in a given book.
Enough with the stereotypes and manifest-destiny nonsense. Enough erasure.
We are not—and have never been—savage marauders or mystical creatures, caricatures meant to sell butter or sports teams.
We are living peoples of living Nations, living cultures.
We’re strong, we’re flawed, we’re joyful, we’re discouraged, we’re determined, we’re every quality that fuels irresistible fictional casts."
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fthebullhornblog.org%2F2018%2F06%2F01%2Finterview-with-cynthia-leitich-smith%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3lRF-jJXapviPh-ZvcSODp9nX9Ku91SJmLoSVM_KWA3z-S4A7vpv00YAk&h=AT1ap65RknydkYArnGwzA8ur-A08jWFPN6iRarcw-CXFppKiPfHGBkn1d_C-s13Nmd1c6IuS4BBu72TOwgRdnxdgpEpFiLs9mEg4ta3glMo5FVSqVIouyjEhcfdRB6QSVz_0ztE_wueQno90fbNjOwOxJOD_6XUnvOLB60Rkw8zKMag4LjDLl1fed9lf5e_E_ahDzoQPHS_4poPq0xinMgMTeGHBdfn36QSAajaGzmku9oOEeiEnV4XkktG5vv1GSfQxy9LNziDP6ayv4F0uS171CIh8FkDFE7B4z6dxq5CeKK5dAohCKiiUr3Mtp6F322plpkUE67ry4gI-ENL0WEgaDTNgwpuuBz_4ikVDwcvC1gO1vxyw-NWPEMjpEfDy2DzAt2yjo4rlABuPIRaZwb9XOpl8uNdNcvi3Tbqpn-SnBs66_JUilpwSYeR9tqFSXwxFS182elYoWhFblFiot09q2PTbSuAc_sSyvnf_qzrNqHyOwIDoO9IsYtemQpvhXpFYn7C1nF8eGOc1ybIXKIf4ElEw0Jr_Z5rlgmYwB-UUxwKdYS9MaQ6_jRTVy2HKCF457XjIkIAKH0T7k8iqYawyJ6r9-jX7gzdSFgQOZAGqTEX0WmyJwnugBKYts_2KHbX3VlbM

Cynthia, or Cyn, as most of us know her, has been a dear friend and mentor of mine for several years. She is an amazing New York Times best-selling author of fiction for young readers. Her publishe…

A new blog post from author Emma Otheguy : "On Book Drives" https://thebullhornblog/2018/05/22/on-book-drives/
18/10/2019

A new blog post from author Emma Otheguy : "On Book Drives" https://thebullhornblog/2018/05/22/on-book-drives/

Lately I’ve been thinking of a challenge that has come along with the many wonderful things that surrounded the publication of Martí’s Song for Freedom. It’s the day-in and day-out confrontation wi…

Maya Christina Gonzalez "Self love opens up the pathways, sets the tone, allows the self to see through the falsehoods a...
18/10/2019

Maya Christina Gonzalez "Self love opens up the pathways, sets the tone, allows the self to see through the falsehoods and inspires unity. This is exactly what Western culture fights and tries to dominate out of us: our empowered, creative unified SELVES connecting with nature and each other..."
https://misformovement.org/20…/…/26/maya-christina-gonzalez/

Maya and I first crossed paths in the early 2000s. I was fresh out of publishing studies, working at Children’s Book Press* with dreams of starting a publishing house for underrepresented stories t…

Janine Macbeth reflects on the Social Justice Children's Book Holiday Fair held in Oakland two weekends ago. "No mytholo...
18/10/2019

Janine Macbeth reflects on the Social Justice Children's Book Holiday Fair held in Oakland two weekends ago. "No mythologies here; we’re still marginalized and on the fringes. But we’re together, and on the rise."
https://thebullhornblog.org/2017/12/18/building-power-on-the-margins-social-justice-holiday-childrens-book-fair-2017/?fbclid=IwAR2j2ykNtYn5E9Jt5yzBx6SnQ__46GwwGLjOvtvOH-7iIsvvGk1xUwfJtwU

Most any significant endeavor calls for accomplices. – Phillipe Petit If you flock to high-profile exclusive events with VIPs and groupies, flashy swag bags and passed hors d’oeuvres (I…

2017 has been a busy year for those creating social justice themed children's books. We asked a bunch of folks to share ...
18/10/2019

2017 has been a busy year for those creating social justice themed children's books. We asked a bunch of folks to share a couple of their faves, and here's what they said!
https://thebullhornblog.org/2017/12/12/2017-activist-kids-books-shout-outs/

This has been a busy year for social justice children’s book creators. Undoubtedly the Trump campaign, election, and the racism, sexism, xenophobia and hate it has unleashed has highlighted the nee…

"There have been other artists who have said “tone this or that down” if you want to get a job or impress this or that p...
18/10/2019

"There have been other artists who have said “tone this or that down” if you want to get a job or impress this or that person. But I do not care, if they ask me I’m going to tell them what I think. Sometimes that makes art less cuddly, but so be it." -- Robert Liu-Trujillo
https://thebullhornblog.org/2017/10/31/robert-liu-trujillo-a-lifelong-artist-who-began-as-a-kid-obsessed-with-graffiti-writers/

I first met Robert on 17th street in downtown Oakland (CA) as I was walking to lunch with my coworkers. He was working on a giant mural with a bunch of young people hanging on various levels of sca…

18/10/2019

Cynthia Levinson on the story of Audrey Faye Hendricks: "The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute has conducted many dozens of interviews not only with community leaders but also with “foot soldiers,” the everyday but very brave people who contributed their time and sometimes their bodies to the cause of civil rights. When I read the transcript of Audrey’s interview, in which she described carrying her board game on a protest march and then to jail, I knew I needed to talk with her."

https://thebullhornblog.org/2017/10/10/cynthia-levinson-the-youngest-marcher/

Daniel Camacho discusses his journey, and his process in illustrating Joelito's Big Decision: "At first I just thought I...
18/10/2019

Daniel Camacho discusses his journey, and his process in illustrating Joelito's Big Decision:
"At first I just thought I’d draw pictures for a story, but getting in the classrooms and reading the stories (as Ann developed the storyline) I realized that the students could offer a lot more, and that’s where my ideas grew from. I was actually combining my own ideas with those of the students. They really gave me good ideas for the pictures."
https://misformovement.org/2017/10/09/daniel_camacho/

I was first introduced to Daniel Camacho’s art through the children’s book he illustrated, Joelito’s Big Decision/La Gran Decisison de Joelito. Ann Berlack, the author, had contacted me with some q…

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