Promoting Democratic Ideals and Social Action: Children’s Literature on the Civil Rights Movement and School Integration Available to Purchase

This article highlights the role of social studies educators in promoting democratic ideals and social action. The benefits of incorporating children’s and young adult literature into the social studies curriculum in the elementary and middle school grades are discussed. Biography, historical fiction, poetry, and information books are presented to teach students about the civil rights movement and school integration. Literature extension activities are designed to encourage students to examine issues of equality, social justice, and human dignity, while also considering their own prejudices and perspectives on social action.