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IntersectionAllies: We Make Room for All
IntersectionAllies isn’t just a book. It’s a mirror in which kids of all genders, races, sexualities, abilities, cultures, and origins can see their whole selves reflected, respected, and celebrated. In a world increasingly fractured by xenophobia, racism, ableism, homophobia and transphobia, and other forms of injustice, IntersectionAllies teaches the meaning of “community” to kids and parents alike, along with rhyming strategies to support and celebrate each other’s differences.
In poetic stanzas, IntersectionAllies introduces the stories of nine kids from diverse backgrounds. Authors Carolyn Choi, LaToya Council, and Chelsea Johnson use each character’s story to explain how children’s safety concerns are shaped by their intersecting identities, such as class, sexuality, dis/ability, race, religion, and citizenship—what is known in academic and activist circles as “intersectionality.”
IntersectionAllies features introductions by law professor Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw, who coined the term intersectionality, and Dr. Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro, author of Intersectionality: An Intellectual History, and artwork by illustrator Ashley Seil Smith.
In poetic stanzas, IntersectionAllies introduces the stories of nine kids from diverse backgrounds. Authors Carolyn Choi, LaToya Council, and Chelsea Johnson use each character’s story to explain how children’s safety concerns are shaped by their intersecting identities, such as class, sexuality, dis/ability, race, religion, and citizenship—what is known in academic and activist circles as “intersectionality.”
IntersectionAllies features introductions by law professor Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw, who coined the term intersectionality, and Dr. Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro, author of Intersectionality: An Intellectual History, and artwork by illustrator Ashley Seil Smith.
56 pages, Hardcover
First published July 23, 2019
5 people are currently reading
1102 people want to read
About the author
Chelsea Johnson
2 booksChelsea Johnson is a native Midwesterner, but calls California home. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Southern California, where she studied the relationships between style, race and politics. She believes that research is key to social justice and uses her background in intersectional feminism to inspire relatable media, reflexive scholarship, and responsible design. Her work has been featured in Quartz, Teen Vogue, Allure, CRWN Magazine, The Conversation, and more. As part of the CLC Collective, her books include IntersectionAllies: We Make Room for All, Intersecciónalianza: hacemos espacio para todxs, and the IntersectionAllies Teaching Guide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
January 21, 2020
Great book for teaching children about intersectionality and community and difference as a strength. I really enjoyed the ideas and approach here. Great illustrations. The rhyming was not at all necessary and too much but it's all good. This is a wonderful lil book.
October 1, 2019
I really like the concept here, but this book is struggling to figure out its audience. It's rhyming text feels juvenile and forced. I think this would have been so much better as a picture book that doesn't try to force big ideas into a rhyme scheme. That being said, the notes are fantastic, and the illustrations are great. This defines terms that could be unfamiliar in an understandable way, and really, it would be a good intro for adults who would like an easy way to become familiar with new ideas.
July 13, 2019
A great book to start conversations about a big idea topic to kids- and very helpful for adults, too! Follows a group of kids and showcases how their lives are different based on race, religion, and many other factors but also how they're there for one another. Extensive back matter includes prompts to get conversations going. Would make a great addition to any library.
August 30, 2019
I really would love to give this a positive review. I would love to believe this was effective and wonderful and I love what the point behind this is. I just think most of it is totally inaccessible for kids.
February 15, 2020
I really hope this book inspires others to tackle this subject (how children can better "make room" for those who might seem different) because it's a great subject — but, for me anyway, the book failed. It's one of those books you buy for the parent, not the child. No child is going to want to read this, certainly not more than once. And it's only for liberal/progressive parents — those with outlooks leaning right seem to be intentionally excluded. There's been such an uptick in bullying in recent years based on race, gender, and religion that we need more books that can bring kids together, but I don't see this one doing that.
For a book on inclusion and making room for all, it's strange that no straight white American male is represented. And this is my biggest problem with the book — not the lack of that group being represented but the expectation that every type of child except straight white cis-gendered able-bodied American males are expected to understand intersectionality. Why must the burden of explaining how "making room for everybody" is a social good fall to a white trans-kid named Kate or a brown-skinned, hijab-wearing girl named Adilah. It's good for Billy and Chandler, too.
Then there's the rhyming. It's awkward. Often the lines don't flow and they try to force-feed fun — they're like an academic committee's report on fun. Try this passage of A-A, B-B rhyming:
My name is Heejung, and I was born in Seoul.
I moved here when I was five years old.
I’m part of what's called the "1.5 generation."
My parents and I span two different nations.
Like Gloria, I am a help to my mother
By translating for her one word to another.
When the landlord tells mom, "You can pay me next Friday,"
I repeat in Korean: "Omma renteu daeum ju geumyoire naedo doendae!"
We navigate life in our new home together,
'Cause kids have the skills to make every day better.
The artwork is simple and collage-like, similar to "The Snowy Day." It's solid.
But here's another thing: About half the book is filled of explanations for adults to read. There's an introduction from Kimberle Crenshaw, who coined the word "intersectionality," about how it's great to see kids being taught about it. Then there's a letter to "grown-ups" explaining the message of the book. Then there's the heart of the book, which isn't a story but a profile of individual kids — without an actual story, the book is kind of boring because it goes nowhere. Then there's a two-page explanation "What Is Intersectionality?", followed by a page-by-page "discussion guide," a definition of "feminist," an explanation of some of the girls' names used in the book, two pages of bios of the women behind the book, acknowledgments, and — my favorite part — a recommended reading list, not for kids though, for adults: two each by Audre Lorde and bell hooks, plus Angela Davis, Melissa Harris-Perry, and Patricia Hill Collins. It was the books by authors I was unfamiliar with that I was happy to learn about, such as Saba Mahmood, Ange-Marie Hancock, and Chandra Talpade Mohanty.
Anyway, this is a book to get if you support the concept but not to enjoy.
For a book on inclusion and making room for all, it's strange that no straight white American male is represented. And this is my biggest problem with the book — not the lack of that group being represented but the expectation that every type of child except straight white cis-gendered able-bodied American males are expected to understand intersectionality. Why must the burden of explaining how "making room for everybody" is a social good fall to a white trans-kid named Kate or a brown-skinned, hijab-wearing girl named Adilah. It's good for Billy and Chandler, too.
Then there's the rhyming. It's awkward. Often the lines don't flow and they try to force-feed fun — they're like an academic committee's report on fun. Try this passage of A-A, B-B rhyming:
My name is Heejung, and I was born in Seoul.
I moved here when I was five years old.
I’m part of what's called the "1.5 generation."
My parents and I span two different nations.
Like Gloria, I am a help to my mother
By translating for her one word to another.
When the landlord tells mom, "You can pay me next Friday,"
I repeat in Korean: "Omma renteu daeum ju geumyoire naedo doendae!"
We navigate life in our new home together,
'Cause kids have the skills to make every day better.
The artwork is simple and collage-like, similar to "The Snowy Day." It's solid.
But here's another thing: About half the book is filled of explanations for adults to read. There's an introduction from Kimberle Crenshaw, who coined the word "intersectionality," about how it's great to see kids being taught about it. Then there's a letter to "grown-ups" explaining the message of the book. Then there's the heart of the book, which isn't a story but a profile of individual kids — without an actual story, the book is kind of boring because it goes nowhere. Then there's a two-page explanation "What Is Intersectionality?", followed by a page-by-page "discussion guide," a definition of "feminist," an explanation of some of the girls' names used in the book, two pages of bios of the women behind the book, acknowledgments, and — my favorite part — a recommended reading list, not for kids though, for adults: two each by Audre Lorde and bell hooks, plus Angela Davis, Melissa Harris-Perry, and Patricia Hill Collins. It was the books by authors I was unfamiliar with that I was happy to learn about, such as Saba Mahmood, Ange-Marie Hancock, and Chandra Talpade Mohanty.
Anyway, this is a book to get if you support the concept but not to enjoy.
September 28, 2021
The best thing about this book is that it exists as an option for readers to explore. The worst thing about this book, I really am sorry to say, is the delivery. Kids KNOW when they are being lecured to. The tone of this book is (of extremely good intention) unfortunately very clunky.
"Skirts and frills are cute, I suppose,
But my superhero cape is more "Kate" than those bows."
Again, I'm 100% supportive of diverse identities, but if this phrasing is confusing to an adult, that will be conveyed when it is being read to a child, let alone how clear it will be to a child reading it alone.
My opinion on what children can understand and when and how they take in certain information is uneducated and purely instictual. That said, I get the feeling that words like 'sacred','entrepreneur', 'intrusion', 'inclusion', and 'origin' are maybe aiming a little too high for an intended audience of elementry school kids. I applaud the the effort to do so, but the tactic came across as sloppy and lacking. I was really disappointed because I want subjects like this to rise and to shine. This feels more like an OK starting place.
There is a great deal about this book that I do like; the foreward by Dr. Kemberlé Crenshaw is spot on, the use of two different languages w/translation, the color palette, the endpages, the use of transparency and layering, and the diagram of intersectionality at the end.
The best phrase in the book:
"Life's ups and downs can take many forms,
But standing together, we'll rewrite the norms."
"Skirts and frills are cute, I suppose,
But my superhero cape is more "Kate" than those bows."
Again, I'm 100% supportive of diverse identities, but if this phrasing is confusing to an adult, that will be conveyed when it is being read to a child, let alone how clear it will be to a child reading it alone.
My opinion on what children can understand and when and how they take in certain information is uneducated and purely instictual. That said, I get the feeling that words like 'sacred','entrepreneur', 'intrusion', 'inclusion', and 'origin' are maybe aiming a little too high for an intended audience of elementry school kids. I applaud the the effort to do so, but the tactic came across as sloppy and lacking. I was really disappointed because I want subjects like this to rise and to shine. This feels more like an OK starting place.
There is a great deal about this book that I do like; the foreward by Dr. Kemberlé Crenshaw is spot on, the use of two different languages w/translation, the color palette, the endpages, the use of transparency and layering, and the diagram of intersectionality at the end.
The best phrase in the book:
"Life's ups and downs can take many forms,
But standing together, we'll rewrite the norms."
August 28, 2019
The concept of intersectionality perfectly explains what makes every single person unique; the concept of how different parts of a person's background and history affect their life experiences and identity. There's a great graphic in the back of the book that explains it better than I ever could.
The discussion guide in the back of the book proves to be an excellent resource for educators, parents, and readers looking to apply the very basic (but important!) truths in this picture book.
The text challenges readers to make room for others and consider a worldview outside of their own.
The discussion guide in the back of the book proves to be an excellent resource for educators, parents, and readers looking to apply the very basic (but important!) truths in this picture book.
The text challenges readers to make room for others and consider a worldview outside of their own.
August 17, 2019
"Where there's room FOR SOME we make room FOR ALL friends can be ALLIES no matter how small!"
The perfect picture book for teaching young children about growing up to be socially conscience adults. I love the way the words flow in this book and the illustrations are beautiful as well. The resources in the back of the book (including a page by page book discussion guide) go into greater detail so that adults can have a more meaningful conversation with their child. Make sure to check out the inspired by section for more great adult reads on intersectionality and other topics.
The perfect picture book for teaching young children about growing up to be socially conscience adults. I love the way the words flow in this book and the illustrations are beautiful as well. The resources in the back of the book (including a page by page book discussion guide) go into greater detail so that adults can have a more meaningful conversation with their child. Make sure to check out the inspired by section for more great adult reads on intersectionality and other topics.
January 13, 2021
I really want to love this but it is so heavy-handed and didactic. A better plot, for me, would have been the group of friends just living their lives and standing together. Kids deserve better than this.
October 17, 2019
I wonder what age this is intended for and who the audience is exactly? There is SO MUCH going on here and packed into this book.
August 19, 2019
Much like the book about white identity by Anastasia Higginbotham, this book provides the right balance of concrete-ness and abstraction for very big ideas that are worthy of further discussion. I LOVED the illustrations and capture of contemporary political movements that will keep caregivers on their toes, holding them accountable to difficult but necessary conversations.
August 14, 2019
Someone will probably try to attack and/or fight me if I give my honest review of this book so the 2 stars is all you gonna get.
February 13, 2020
I really want to love this book, but it fell flat for me. The rhyming text trivialized the importance of the message.
April 19, 2025
A gift of a book about how everyone has strengths!
February 23, 2021
I love the idea of the book. The book is supposedly for ages 6-12. I think this book would be better for the higher end of this age range, if not higher. I was evaluating this book to be a read aloud book. There are too many terms and ideas that would have to be explained to make it a good read aloud. The 1.5 generation? I would have to look this term up for me to explain it. I think by the time you explained all the words you would have lost the meaning of the book. It might work as a 1:1 read aloud because you could read it several times so the message might sink in once all the terms are understood. I just don't see it working in a group setting.
October 22, 2019
“Where there’s room for some we make room for all. Friends can be allies no matter how small.”
I read this at dinner to my elementary-age kids, and now we are following the book discussion guide and having fantastic discussions. This is such a great guide to talk about the parts of who we are that make us, us, which of those parts have privilege, and how we can use our privilege to be an ally and friend.
I read this at dinner to my elementary-age kids, and now we are following the book discussion guide and having fantastic discussions. This is such a great guide to talk about the parts of who we are that make us, us, which of those parts have privilege, and how we can use our privilege to be an ally and friend.
July 1, 2020
There is so much to dissect in this book. There is great and fantastic intention. But what we need right now is books that are unquestionably accessible for children. This one had such advanced vocabulary and concepts that it is virtually inaccessible for children. If I try to use this with grade school children, I will get rolled eyes, big sighs and lots of complaining. This book, as well-intentioned as it is, misses the mark.
August 6, 2020
This is a fantastic resource to teach children about intersectionality and allyship. The book features beautiful illustrations of characters across varying abilities, gender expressions, religions, races, cultures, family dynamics and more. In addition to helping shape a more inclusive world, the book is all written in rhyme form and very engaging. Highly recommend !
August 27, 2019
Really good overview for children. Felt the text was too complex for the choice to rhyme, which instead suggests it for a younger audience. Great opportunity to chant, tho. Amazing illustrations, great breadth of coverage.
October 26, 2019
"Making room" is stronger than ideas like "respect" and "tolerance" because it asks for positive action from us rather than a minimal response." I love this. There's a discussion guide which is awesome. Absolutely beautiful and necessary book.
July 23, 2020
I liked this! It covered a ton of identities (immigrants, disabilities, non-binary people, refugees...) students might connect with and emphasized standing up for and helping out other people. There is a good discussion guide in the back, too. Rhyming wasn’t always tight.
August 9, 2019
I really enjoyed this book about inclusion, race, cultural customs, and acceptance.
December 17, 2019
While I love the message behind this book, it was just a bear to read aloud. This isn’t written for children. So many important ideas represented but just not an enjoyable book unfortunately.
January 7, 2020
It's a rhyming book.
October 15, 2020
Have you been struggling with how to discuss race, gender, and other essential issues with kiddos? I really liked how accessible “Intersectional Allies” is. It is a great primer and makes it easy for kids to understand/relate.
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August 17, 2020Intersectionality is such an important topic to know as the we learn about the world's diversity. Furthermore, the teaching was very inspiring and very encouraging to learn about intersectionality and differences in a positive light.
April 1, 2021
Highly recommended.
Companion read: "Oh, the Things We're For" by Innosanto Nagara.
Companion read: "Oh, the Things We're For" by Innosanto Nagara.
August 14, 2020
It covers people from different backgrounds (wheel chair girl in basketball, transgender in the bathroom, hijab in dance class, blacks protesting with the sign 'everyone deserves to breath', native Americans protecting their land, hispanics speaking spanish, Seoul translating for her mother, refuges from war zone countries.
August 1, 2020
This picture book is not for storytime, but would be perfect to spark a school-age discussion about what individual challenges and joys we all face, and how we can all use our strengths and advantages to "make room" for everybody to thrive.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews