Social Justice Without Being Preachy - Honoring Gayle Pitman by Mira Reisberg

As you know I'm a big fan of making a better world through kid's books. I also love helping to get the word out about wonderful books by former students. So today I want to honor friend and former student Gayle Pitman. But first I want to share a little about why I think Gayle has been so successful. Gayle is an academic who is used to writing, and writing a lot, but writing for kids and writing for academia are two very different beasts. Gayle has mastered the art of writing for both with two very different sets of language. For kids, she uses lots of poetic devices like rhythm and repetition and employs nifty page turns. Her books are bouncy and fun to read while she combines fiction with nonfiction information to tell heartfull, meaningful, and important stories that read effortlessly. Read as a body of work, the key message is justice and empowerment. While most of the younger books use simple language to convey complex ideas, her teen book, Feminism from A-Z packs a stronger age-appropriate punch. I was expecting it to start with A for Activism but instead I had to smile when it started with Anger! Way to go Gayle! 

Anyway, I want to start with a video I made a while ago of Gayle's first book, This Day In June, which went on to win a prestigious ALA Stonewall award among other awards. It's a delightful book about  LGBTQI rights, diversity and community. Gayle does a wonderful job of creating a fun and welcoming environment for kids and parents. Gayle is also a professor of psychology and in the back of this book she gives a sweet guide for parents on how to approach their children about these issues. The illustrator, Kristyna Litten, really brings a bright and sunny aura to the book with quirky, simple, and absolutely adorable illustrations. The rhyme and rhythm of this book is also just really wonderful. After reading this book you'll think to yourself, "How could anyone not support this community?" It's just a really cool book.

Since then Gayle has published these fabulous books

And rather than reinvent the wheel, and because I am crazy busy, I took the following descriptions from Gayle's website here:
When You Look Out the Window tells the story of Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, one of San Francisco's most well-known and politically active lesbian couples. Describing the view from Phyllis and Del's window, this book shows how one couple's activism transformed their community - and had ripple effects throughout the world. Includes a Reading Guide that provides helpful historical context, and a Note to Parents, Caregivers, and Educators about the importance of teaching LGBTQ history and culture to children.

2017 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award SILVER Winner for Young Adult Nonfiction 
Feminism from A-Z takes readers on an alphabetical journey through the basics of feminism. Each chapter features writing and action exercises geared specifically for the tween and teen reader, along with suggestions and resources for how readers can take feminism to a higher level. 

​And here's another book description I found on Amazon: Feminism From A to Z is an alphabetical primer on feminism for teen girls. Each chapter examines a topic that offers call-to-action exercises incorporated into each lesson. Together, the chapters take a look at history and current events through the lens of feminist theory and introduce an inclusive and wide range of feminist thoughts and perspectives. Includes an introduction to readers on how to use the book and an alphabetical list of ways to take feminist action.

In A Church for All, inspired by Glide Memorial Church and other wonderful progressive churches,  this book is yet another story about inclusion, acceptance and making a just and loving world told with simple beautiful language inviting children to enter the church for all. Here's the description from Gayle's website: This simple, lyrical story celebrates a Sunday morning at an inclusive church that embraces all people regardless of age, class, race, gender identity, and sexual orientation. All are welcome at the church for all!

You can learn more about Gayle and her books on her website https://gaylepitman.com/books which I really encourage you to visit. Also, because Gayle has published several of her books though Magination Press, I also encourage you to think of purchasing her books there to give maximum benefit to the author, illustrator and publisher so they can keep publishing wonderful books like these.