The Artivist

A Black child who is both activist and artist combines those concepts in this layered work from Smith (That Flag). For the story’s narrator, who loves to paint and to “seed goodness,” the world they live in often proves not to be the world they want, as visualized by the building-size monster they face that’s made up of all manner of injustices. Bringing their identities together to effect change, the child determines to make art that will “show everyone what isn’t working right.” Kinetic textured digital illustrations portray issues of gentrification and housing insecurity, pollution and waste, hate and racism, and voter disenfranchisement, among others, while simple language makes big actions feel powerfully straightforward (“This needs to be fixed. This needs to be fixed too”). Envisioning “the broken bones I see and the healing I hope for” makes an impact: when the child paints a mural that transforms an eviction-related sign from “MOVE TODAY” to “LOVE TODAY,” the image goes viral, inspiring others. It’s a meaningful portrait of artistic advocacy that ends with an invitation: “The Artivist is you. What change will you bring?” An author’s note concludes. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)