Most Popular Books by Innosanto Nagara

One of NPR''s Top 100 Book for Young Readers “Reading it is almost like reading Howard Zinn''s A People''s History of the United States, but for two-year olds—full of pictures and rhymes and a little cat to find on every page that will delight the curious toddler and parents alike.”—Occupy Wall Street A is for Activist is an ABC board book written and illustrated for the next generation of progressives: families who want their kids to grow up in a space that is unapologetic about activism, environmental justice, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, and everything else that activists believe in and fight for. The alliteration, rhyming, and vibrant illustrations make the book exciting for children, while the issues it brings up resonate with their parents'' values of community, equality, and justice. This engaging little book carries huge messages as it inspires hope for the future, and calls children to action while teaching them a love for books.

Counting on Community is Innosanto Nagara''s follow-up to his hit ABC book, A is for Activist. Counting up from one stuffed piñata to ten hefty hens--and always counting on each other--children are encouraged to recognize the value of their community, the joys inherent in healthy eco-friendly activities, and the agency they posses to make change. A broad and inspiring vision of diversity is told through stories in words and pictures. And of course, there is a duck to find on every page!

A new book by the author of A is for Activist is a rhyming, boldly illustrated vision of a better world. When you go to a march And raise your sign high You''ll make people smile who thought you were shy And you''ll make people wonder, does that kid really know why? You DO know of course That''s why you are there You''re there to say STOP! What''s happening''s not fair Then they say, we know what you''re against End poverty stop war... But okay then what are you for? Oh! What are we for! That''s my favorite question And I''m sure it''s yours too Because you pay attention You have so many answers And so many options And so many solutions that you want to impart The only hard question is where does one start? Oh, The Things We''re For! is a celebration of the better world that is not only possible, but is here today if we choose it. Today''s kids are well aware of the many challenges that they face in a world they are inheriting, from climate change to police violence, crowded classrooms to healthcare. Poetically written and beautifully illustrated in Innosanto Nagara''s (A is for Activist) signature style, this book offers a vision of where we could go--and a future worth fighting for. Oh, the Things We''re For! is a book for kids, and for the young at heart of all ages.

The Wedding Portrait is an essential book for kids about standing up for what''s right. Here are stories of direct action from around the world that are bookended by the author''s wedding story. He and his bride led their wedding party to a protest, and were captured in a photo by the local newspaper kissing in front of a line of police just before being arrested. "We usually follow the rules. But sometimes, if you see something is wrong--more wrong than breaking the rules and by breaking the rules you might stop it--you may need to break the rules." When indigenous people in Colombia block an oil company from destroying their environment--this is a blockade; when Florida farmworkers encourage people not to buy their tomatos because the farm owners won''t pay them for their hard work--this is called a boycott; and when Claudette Colvin takes a seat in the front of the bus to protest racism--this is called civil disobedience. In brilliantly bright and inspiring illustrations we see ordinary people say No--to unfair treatment, to war, to destroying the environment. Innosanto Nagara has beautifully melded an act of love with crucial ideas of civil disobedience and direct action that will speak to young readers'' sense of right and wrong. There has never been a more important moment for Innosanto Nagara''s gentle message of firm resolve.

7-year-old Innosanto spends an exciting night with his mom sleeping under the stars in the Jakarta Planetarium. Innosanto''s father is a playwright and the boy memorizes lines during the actors'' rehearsals, so they invite him to join the performance, which tours the country. The play is about a General, who doesn''t treat people very well, "so they decided to do a play about how that was wrong." Fact: Indonesia aka The Spice Islands is the place Christopher Columbus was looking for when he crashed in the New World. Fact: Indonesia is made up of 17000 islands where people speak over 750 different languages. Fact: when Inno was a child, speaking out against the government could land you in jail. On the last night of the performace Inno packs a toothbrush ("they figured if you''re going to go to jail for a long time, you may as well have your toothbrush with you so you can keep your teeth clean. (true story)."), the curtains go down, and with soldiers on the way, the actors scatter into hiding. On its surface, My Night in the Planetarium is a modern Indonesian children''s story about one night in the late ''70s that the author got to spend in the Jakarta planetarium. But it''s actually much more than that. It''s an introduction to the history and culture of Indonesia. It''s about colonialism, revolution, how power corrupts, and how through art and solidarity liberation can be won.

From the author of A is for Activist, here is the story of a child born at the dawn of a social movement. At first the protests were in small villages and at universities. But then they spread. People drew sustenance from other social movements in other countries. And then the unthinkable happened. The protagonist in this fictionalized children''s memoir by Innosanto Nagara is a witness and a participant, fearful sometimes, brave sometimes too, and when things change, this child who is now an adult is as surprised as anyone.

A é de ativista, assim como B é a letra de bem-comum e C é de coletividade. A é de ativismo é o primeiro ABCDário em português que traz palavras importantes para a construção de um vocabulário engajado, reunidas em um livro divertido para crianças pequenas. A cada página, uma letra. A cada letra, um aprendizado. Um livro para a formação de leitores e cidadãos mais conscientes e ativos. Como falar de justiça, igualdade e liberdade com as crianças pequenas? "A é de ativismo" apresenta, de maneira acessível, palavras importantes para o vocabulário de todo cidadão ativo. Conhecer o alfabeto faz parte do aprendizado das crianças, que percebem a sonoridade de cada letra e rapidamente começam a fazer relações entre o som e as suas palavras favoritas. A proposta do livro é mostrar as letras do alfabeto de maneira engajada para as crianças, que ampliarão o seu vocabulário e se tornarão leitores mais questionadores, partes de uma comunidade de cidadãos conscientes. O livro traz ilustrações muito vibrantes que mostram cenas de posicionamento social, reivindicações e coletividade, que completam o texto que traz diversas palavras que questionam, instruem e revolucionam.

Uma festa comunitária. Duas crianças brincando. Três bicicletas para um transporte coletivo. Esse livro ensina, de modo acessível e lúdico, a contagem de um a dez com itens fundamentais para uma vizinhança unida e engajada em questões sociais. Bebês e crianças pequenas conhecerão os números e também ações possíveis e sustentáveis para uma vizinhança unida, que se preocupa com o meio ambiente e também se diverte muito! Como falar de quantidade, coletividade e comunidade com as crianças pequenas? A proposta do livro é mostrar os números para as crianças pequenas, recurso comum em livros infantis, mas contextualizá-los a partir de um assunto fundamental para a formação de cidadãos conscientes: a comunidade e o respeito social. A partir de um texto simples, os leitores vão conhecer mais sobre as ações possíveis e sustentáveis para uma vizinhança divertida, que se preocupa com o meio ambiente. As ilustrações, vibrantes e expressivas, refletem o texto e trazem elementos adicionais, que convidam o leitor a cuidar e contar de tudo o que há na sua própria comunidade, engajando-se em buscar sempre o melhor para si e para todos com quem convive.

Généralement, on respecte les règles... mais parfois, face à quelque chose de grave - quelque chose de plus grave que de désobéir - on peut décider de les enfreindre. Partant d''une photo de mariage inhabituelle, sur laquelle des mariés menottés s''embrassent cernés par la police, Innosanto Nagara propose une réflexion engagée et lumineuse sur la désobéissance civique. À travers des exemples concrets - Claudette Colvin refusant de céder son siège dans le bus, le blocus du peuple U''wa pour empêcher le forage de leurs terres - il montre comment des actions collectives et non violentes ont pu mettre un terme à des situations injustes. Il définit les termes, explique les méthodes et interpelle le lecteur, insistant sur le fait que la résistance implique toujours une prise de risque.