Resist! Peaceful Acts That Changed Our World

Stanley condenses history into bite-size pieces in this illustrated collection of one-page biographies accompanied by textural colored pencil and watercolor portraits. Organized chronologically from Harriet Tubman to Greta Thunberg, Stanley traces a broad history of nonviolent activism, telling stories of women’s fight for equality (Elizabeth Cady Stanton), consumer boycotts (the 1965 Delano grape strike), and sit-ins (the 1960 Greensboro lunch counter sit-in). She also highlights artists’ acts of political resistance (Woody Guthrie, Ai Weiwei), and shows how social media can impact social change (as for Dan Savage’s It Gets Better Project). Though Stanley’s introduction claims that “moral acts of courage are contagious,” the book’s focus on individuals occasionally downplays collective aspects of political organizing (a joint profile of Rosa Parks and Claudette Colvin, for example, doesn’t mention their roles in the NAACP). Still, the vibrant images and accessible style make this book attractive and easy to use. Ages 7–10. (Sept.)