Planting Seeds of Justice: Supporting the Back to School Bonanza Giveaway
As a new school year began, classrooms across the nation were filled with the excitement of fresh starts and new opportunities to learn. At Planting People Growing Justice Press (PPGJ Press), we believe that every child deserves to begin their educational journey with stories that reflect who they are, where they come from, and the limitless possibilities of who they could become.
That is why we proudly partnered with We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) to support the Back to School Bonanza Giveaway. Together, we provided teachers and students with diverse, empowering stories that celebrated identity, leadership, and community.
Stories That Inspired Young Leaders
As part of this initiative, PPGJ Press donated cases of two powerful titles:
Justice Makes a Difference: The Story of Miss Freedom Fighter, Esquire by Dr. Artika Tyner and Jacklyn Milton
Gumbo Joy by Robert P. Dixon Jr.
Each of these stories brought a unique message to classrooms: the power of justice, the beauty of cultural heritage, and the importance of community.
Justice Makes a Difference, an award-winning book, told the inspiring story of a young girl named Justice who learned, through the example of her grandmother and historical sheroes like Ella Baker and Ida B. Wells, that she was never too young to change the world. She dreamed of becoming “Miss Freedom Fighter, Esquire,” a superhero with a law degree and an afro, showing readers that leadership begins with learning and love for community.
Gumbo Joy celebrated the rich cultural history of the African Diaspora through the comforting and unifying dish of gumbo. It shared a story about family, food, and the shared joy that comes from creating something that brings people together.
Together, these books offered classrooms a celebration of culture, history, and empowerment, sparking conversations about identity, justice, and community.
A Shared Mission for Change
At Planting People Growing Justice Press, we remained deeply committed to increasing diversity in children’s literature and promoting youth leadership development. Our books helped young readers build skills in social-emotional learning, emotional intelligence, and anti-racist education, encouraging them to grow into compassionate, informed, and empowered leaders.
Partnering with We Need Diverse Books was a natural extension of our mission. WNDB is a nonprofit organization that creates lifelong readers and a more empathetic world through the power of inclusive literature.
Why We Need Diverse Books
According to We Need Diverse Books, the impact of diverse stories on young readers is clear:
Children read four more hours per week when they have access to diverse books.
99% of educators agree that having a diverse classroom library is important.
For over 60 years, studies have shown that increasing access to diverse books improves literacy rates.
Research shows that diverse books deepen language development and spark imagination.
By supporting initiatives like the Back to School Bonanza Giveaway, we helped make sure that more classrooms were filled with stories that inspire, educate, and empower every student.
Join Us
Planting People Growing Justice Press was grateful to support educators and classrooms nationwide. Together with We Need Diverse Books, we helped teachers and students start the school year inspired with stories that celebrated identity, leadership, and community.
Thank you for helping us plant seeds of justice, one book at a time.