Published by Candlewick
Summary: Mari and her mother get out crayons and poster board to make signs: “Be Kind”, “Love Is Powerful”. From their apartment, they can see crowds gathering in the streets. Mom explains that they are sending a message to the world. “How will the whole world hear?” asks Mari. “They’ll hear because love is powerful,” her mother tells her. Mari thinks about friends and family members who are also demonstrating around the world as she and Mom ride the elevator down to join the crowd. Her mother lifts Mari up on her shoulder. When Mari shouts the message on her sign, “Love is powerful”, others around her pick up the chant. The illustrations show hearts swirling around the crowd and up into the sky. Includes a note from Mari that explains how she felt when she participated in the first Women’s March in 2016. 32 pages; ages 5-8.
Pros: An inspiring story of activism told from a child’s point of view. The Women’s March is portrayed very positively with lots of empowering signs and happy people marching together. LeUyen Pham’s illustrations are adorable and capture the spirit of the story.
Cons: As I sit here on the morning after Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, pondering what is going to happen in the next few months, it’s hard for me to feel the happy optimism of this story.