We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices

by Wade Hudson (Editor), Cheryl Willis Hudson (Editor), Ashley Bryan (Foreword)

Fifty of the foremost diverse children's authors and illustrators--including Jason Reynolds, Jacqueline Woodson, and Kwame Alexander--share answers to the question, "In this divisive world, what shall we tell our children?" in this beautiful, full-color keepsake collection, published in partnership with Just Us Books.

What do we tell our children when the world seems bleak, and prejudice and racism run rampant? With 96 lavishly designed pages of original art and prose, fifty diverse creators lend voice to young activists.

Featuring poems, letters, personal essays, art, and other works from such industry leaders as Jacqueline Woodson (Brown Girl Dreaming), Jason Reynolds (All American Boys), Kwame Alexander (The Crossover), Andrea Pippins (I Love My Hair), Sharon Draper (Out of My Mind), Rita Williams-Garcia (One Crazy Summer), Ellen Oh (cofounder of We Need Diverse Books), and artists Ekua Holmes, Rafael Lopez, James Ransome, Javaka Steptoe, and more, this anthology empowers the nation's youth to listen, learn, and build a better tomorrow.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Middle Grade, Social Justice, Short Stories, Childrens, Race

88 pages, Hardcover

First published September 4, 2018

About the author

Wade Hudson is the author of nearly 30 books for children and Young adults. He and his wife Cheryl are the founders of Just Us Books, Inc., a leading publisher of multicultural books for children.

Reviews

[Donalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding #ownvoices collection of poems, essays, and illustrations.

[Mary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't finished reading every word of every page, but it seems prophetic to open this book (library copy--will be buying multiples for my classroom) right after finishing TROUBLEMAKERS, which gives us a new lens and new ways to define the students who

RISE
RESIST
and
RAISE THEIR VOICES.

I can't wait to begin shining a spotlight on the ways voices have historically been raised in response to the wrongs of the world. Thank you to the authors and illustrators of this collection for giving us just what our young people (and their teachers) need.

[Kristina Mathioudakis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection, it was a very quick read that I picked up while waiting to board my flight home from NYC. There were a lot of writers and creators I hadn't seen or read from before, so I am interested in checking out some more works from a few of them! What I enjoyed the most about this anthology was its diversity in theme and presentation, each entry was unique and I loved getting more exposure into some of the poetry and artwork styles that were included.

Overall, I really enjoyed this anthology and would recommend it to readers of any age! It is short which makes it a very quick read, and bright and colourful in a way that makes you want to keep turning the page. If you are looking for a fun but important coffee table book, I would recommend this one!

http://theprincessgummybearreviews.bl...

[Scottsdale Public Library]

50 stories to inspire, to motivate, to offer love and hope in our current tumultuous environment and, most importantly, to encourage young activists to find ways of making a difference (it could just start in the home, offering to help clear the dinner table for example). The stories are a variety of poetry and prose, and the illustrations are so fantastic. My hope is for young readers to come across books such as this, and at least become aware of the world at large. And perhaps, if I haven’t yet run out of wishes, start to think about advocating for human rights and just societies. -Sara Z

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Above all, this collection leave me with the feeling that there are caring adults who truly see children, who know how difficult these times can be, and who admire all the ways that our children walk in this world. Authors ask questions, share wisdom and provide support. By doing so, they open the window to talking about these difficult times. In the opening poem, Wade Hudson asks:

"What shall we tell you when our world sometimes seems dark and uninviting?
What shall we tell you when hateful words that wound and bully are thrown like bricks against a wall, shattering into debris?"

I especially appreciate the variety in this collection. These are heavy topics, and yet readers turn the pages and find so many different approaches. Jacqueline Woodson writes a letter to her children, reminding them to be safe and be kind as they walk in the world. Joseph Bruchac gives advice about choosing a friend who "sees how beautiful you are, even on days when you're sad." Zetta Elliott reminds children that "You Too Can Fly." The illustrations move from painting with deep hues, to drawings with soft warm touch, to photographs showing children of different races and ethnicities.

I definitely recommend this collection for every elementary and middle school library. I'll be bringing it to my new high school library to see what our students think of it.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt advice and inspiration for young readers feeling discouraged by the current atrocious political climate and/or dealing with bullying based on their heritage and/or skin color. There are a variety of authors, formats, and illustrations/photographs that bring encouragement and motivation for kids to lift their voices and get involved, but to also know at the end of the day that you're loved and not alone.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful insightful collection of poems. Despite being a short collection it is heavy and thought provoking, and left me feeling both hopeful and sad. The message is simply a reminder of strength and call of courage...two ideas that are anything but simple. Highly recommend for anyone and everyone.

[Joy Kirr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I asked my students to think of a time they were made fun of, and for what reason. Then I read Ellen Oh's letter (two pages from this great book) to my students. They sat there - listening! We need to read and share these stories full of great advice.

[Book Princess (Anastasia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Надихаюча книжечка 🥰

[Lệ Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

⁣“The storm is coming.⠀
There is always a storm⠀
But we’ve got you.⠀
We’ve weathered the fury⠀
you’re heading into.⠀
And we know how to shelter.⠀
How to gather force.⠀
We’ve seen where the storm ⠀
is weak.
We’ve got you.⠀
⠀
⠀
So tuck in,⠀
stay close,⠀
grow strong.⠀
We’re here. Your wind.⠀
⠀
And you?⠀
You’re our coming storm.”⠀
— Pat Cummings⠀

[Lex’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. This was written in response to the 2016 U.S. presidential election, but I firmly believe it still has relevance today. Definitely a book I can read again and again and always get something new out of it.

[REVIEW]

*Trigger/content warnings in this book for bullying, deportation, racism, and violence*

I still don’t have all of the words to do this book justice. I am just so glad this was written. The authors of this anthology do not shy away from talking about the problems of the country, but they also make sure to give readers hope and motivation that they can make a difference. It is super important to balance both so that children both understand what’s going on, while also suggesting positive ways to use their anger and frustration to make the world a better place.

This a book EVERYONE needs to read. Children and adults alike can learn something out of this, and then get something totally new the next time around. Children will read it and find adults who both care and empathize with them feeling scared or hopeless. Adults can read this and learn how to have conversations about racism, deportation, etc. with their children, as well as stress the importance of kindness and being activists to make the world a better place. Once again, recommend this to EVERYONE (especially the audiobook!).

[Julie Overpeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a country so divided, children naturally notice the tension and fear the future. Editors Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson wanted to combat this hopelessness, so they asked many diverse artists to create works that would address the future. The result is a magnificent collection of creative works--poems, letters, essays, illustrations--that give hope and impart wisdom to today's children, especially children of color. It is a tender embrace of encouragement and hope from today's artists to our young people.

[Kevin Hodgson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful poems, stories and letters to remind us and our children that a path is still ahead, as difficult as it sometimes seems during these current years of political turmoil.

[Kris Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful content.
I wish the text size was larger.

[Emma Brewer]

An upper-elementary age book tackling racism and discrimination but kind of just felt like inspiration porn

[Anna Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A children's book talking about social struggles and how nothing really changed even as some societal rules have changed from overt to covert, like going from segregation to gentrification.

[Kari Yergin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an anthology with some absolutely incredible pieces and some that didn’t hit home as much for me. Then again, it wasn’t written for me.

“A day of small things.” Tanya Bolden!!!

https://app.seesaw.me/activities/36w2...

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps to describe this book, I will use words from the forward by Ashley Bryan: "I'm sure just to touch this book, We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices, will lift your spirits." Editors Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson tell in their introduction that they were inspired by their seven-year-old granddaughter who was so upset by the result of the 2016 presidential election. They write that she was frightened and confused, worried that her world would change. They asked themselves what could they tell her, what words of comfort could they offer?
They have gathered thirty authors and nearly that many illustrators for each double-page piece to give those words of inspiration and love and hope. There is a poem by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Jeffery B. Weatherford that speaks of The Golden Rule. Kwame Alexander writes his story, illustrated by Ekua Holmes, about a night while getting ice cream with his daughter and the worry she has on the way. The editors each share a piece, Wade questions "What Shall We Tell You? with a poignant portrait of mother and child by Floyd Cooper accompanying it. Cheryl shares a quilt she created to illustrate the song, 'The Gospel Train': "The fare is cheap and all can go./The rich and poor are there./No second-class on board the train,/no difference in the fare." Ellen Oh, Margarita Engle, Hena Khan. . . I could continue on. Each piece is stunning in its message, beautiful in its art.
There are brief biographies of each contributor, photo credits, and an index at the back. There is also a table of contents. I imagine how wonderful it would be to read and discuss one of these pieces each morning with a class. I have read parts to my granddaughters (seven and nine) and it's a pleasure to enjoy with them, too.

[Laura Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 for WE RISE, WE RESIST, WE RAISE OUR VOICES
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〰️
〰️
WE RISE is a gorgeous collection of poetry, art and essays on the topic of social justice. This inspiring and affirming anthology encourages students to believe in themselves, be kind, stand up and speak out. A love letter to young people struggling in a season of hate and exclusivity, this book is sure to have something for everyone who is struggling -- immigrant children who fear their parents will be deported, young black children who have been taught to hate the color of their skin, Muslim children who have been told to "go home" and more.
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Essays like "You Can Change the World" by Bernette G. Ford explain the fight for Civil Rights in the 1960s and effectively put the current struggle in context. Jacqueline Woodson's (@jacqueline_woodson) highly personal letter to her two children to exhort them to be kind even "when the world feels like it has lost its mind, when leaders don't feel like leaders, when adults lie and bully..."
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Authors and artists are from a range of backgrounds including Black, Native American, Asian American, Latinx; their extensive biographies in the end of the book will likely inspire new fans of their work. Luminaries and award winners such as Sharon G. Flake, Jason Reynolds (@jasonreynolds83), Joseph Bruchac, Margarita Engle and Carole Boston Weatherford are included. This is a must-purchase for every library and will make an excellent read aloud and mentor text.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Rise We Resist We Raise our Voices edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson, forward by Ashley Bryan. PICTURE BOOK. Crown Books for Young Readers, 2018. $19. 9780525580423

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This book is offered, per the forward, as a safe place to unpack what it means to be a young person of color. The introduction makes reference the 2016 elections and how it was confusing to young listeners to hear speeches about “taking our country back” and how this book can offer hope in that confusion. The book then contains over twenty short pieces by a variety of authors, each accompanied by a piece of art by different artists. Some of the pieces are essays, some poetry, some lists and instructions, and some music.

I want to clarify that the buying advisory may shift if you have a large population of students of color - it will appeal to those readers and offer community. It is a book that is politically charged, which is neither good or bad, but is something to be aware of. The art is appealing to younger readers with most of the illustration depicting elementary aged children, but a majority of the writing, especially the poetry, is a for a slightly older reader.


Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

“This book is for you! To inspire you, motivate you, offer you love and hope, and encourage you to help make a difference.”

The introduction tells you everything you need to know, this book is like a cozy blanket on a chilly day. It wraps inspiring and loving words around you, creating a warm safe place of hope.

I choose this book to fit the anthology prompt for the 2020 pop sugar reading challenge, as who doesn’t need a little more light in their life. I’m so glad I did too. Every story was beautifully written, and the illustrations were magnificent.

As the target audience is children (don’t let this deter you, I would have happily read this one on my own) decided to use it for bedtime stories. The uplifting words were perfect to carry my little one off into dreamland.

The book itself is a powerful anthology of voices ready to counter today's often-unsettling political climate for children of varying ethnicities, faiths, identities, and abilities. If you’re child is experiencing pain through events taking place in today’s society directly or indirectly they will find peace in these hopeful words.

[Jennifer Ingle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short stories, poems, and songs about fighting for social justice. The works are intended for children and young adults, but adults can get a lot out of it, too. A giant glass of hope for all readers, I recommend it to anyone who needs some of that right now. One of my favorite lines from the collection is from Kwame Alexander’s poem “A Thousand Winters”: “if we can’t survive this storm, how can our children?”

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wait??! Hold up! I'm talking about collections again? Yes, yes I am. These collections are superb, this one focused on a middle grade voice, but absolutely relevant for all ages. Poems, verse, short stories, design and illustration to compliment the words. Actions and voices raised. Moments of resistance and topics to speak up about? All boxes checked. Fabulous and timely authors, check. Vibrant front cover, check. Did I already hand it off to others? Check.

It's got some of my favorite people in there and they work their magic to do everything in this collection that Hudson wanted to and that the collective should be proud of. Heartfelt and powerful examples on raising our voices and being heard.

[A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of messages ranging from comforting to inspirational, with carefully paired artwork for each entry. The range of written work means there's something in here for everyone, and the single-spread format makes the collection approachable for upper-elementary students while not off-putting for high-schoolers. The line-up of creators is a who's-who of contemporary diverse creativity for children.

A lot of modern resistance 'manuals' are hitting the shelves; this one will truly resonate with readers.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to give this more stars, I really did. I loved the concept of this collection. I loved the layout and the artwork. I enjoyed most of the poems and stories. However, some of them fell flat to me. And given the audience, I think the short stories, for the most part, told more than the poems--I think perhaps the intended readers would feel a disconnect trying to pull deeper meaning or even basic understanding from many of the poems. Overall, I liked what the contributors were trying to do collectively. It felt hopeful, and there's a great power in hope.

[The Rudie Librarian (Brian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written in response to the question of African American parents who were struggling with what to tell their kids in light of some of the racism making its way more readily into American political rhetoric. It is short stories, poems, and art designed to restore hope to children who might be frightened. A beautiful keepsake.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Lots of voices and so beautiful! Excellent collection.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook. It’s very quick but really good. I loved it.

[Earl · Rating 3 out of 5]

An inspiring anthology for upper elementary and middle school grades that tackles current issues that have happened in the past. It's a good reminder that things can be overcome but it takes time and teamwork.

[JoEllen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Words & Images of Hope is a must-have, must-share powerful collection. Incredible #heartprintbook with essays, advice and inspiration from incredible voices. Need to get the audio version too! Advice from Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich should be made into posters for every classroom wall.