A new book by the author of A is for Activist is a rhyming, boldly illustrated vision of a better world.
When you go to a march
And raise your sign high
You’ll make people smile
who thought you were shy
And you’ll make people wonder, does that kid really know why?
You DO know of course
That’s why you are there
You’re there to say STOP!
What’s happening’s not fair
Then they say,
we know what you’re against
End poverty stop war…
But okay
then what are you for?
Oh! What are we for!
That’s my favorite question
And I’m sure it’s yours too
Because you pay attention
You have so many answers
And so many options
And so many solutions that you want to impart
The only hard question is where does one start?
Oh, The Things We’re For!
is a celebration of the better world that is not only possible, but is
here today if we choose it. Today’s kids are well aware of the many
challenges that they face in a world they are inheriting, from climate
change to police violence, crowded classrooms to healthcare. Poetically
written and beautifully illustrated in Innosanto Nagara’s (A is for Activist) signature style, this book offers a vision of where we could go—and a future worth fighting for. Oh, the Things We’re For! is a book for kids, and for the young at heart of all ages.
“With Seussian rhyme, Nagara crafts a progressive
call-to-arms about social justice topics, including universal health
care, climate change, free public education, and prison abolition.
Utilizing a framing device—a child questioned by skeptics—Nagara walks
readers through a rhythmic summation of contemporary issues. Busily
colorful digital art combines textures, gradients, and typography,
reinforcing the energy with which Nagara conveys the necessity of
standing up for various rights. Though the book meanders across a wide
range of topics, and the rhyme prizes levity over clarity (“Look up! you
exclaim./ What do you see?/ A HUGE ball of plasma!/ Clean energy for
free!”), this primer offers a useful starting point for readers seeking
to begin conversations about social justice.” —Publishers Weekly
Large, 11.5" X 7.5". Full color art throughout. By the author of A is For Activist.
