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!
Author interview with Alison Goldberg
REVIEWS
“Innosanto Nagara is writing a new kind of children’s book. Besides being a fun, rhythmic, and lively text to read, the book’s illustrations present a world of diversity and complex, inclusive beauty. We should shower our children, schools, libraries, and our communities with books like this one.”
—Julia Alvarez
Author of numerous books including, A Wedding in Haiti: the Story of a Friendshipand How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents. Founding member of Border of Lights, an ongoing movement to promote peace and collaboration between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, borderoflights.org
“Meaningful change begins with doing small things at the local level, like picking up trash on the street, helping a neighbor, planting a community garden. Counting on Community encourages our children to embrace the power within each of us to create the world anew, to become SOLUTIONARIES.”
—Grace Lee Boggs
Lifelong social activist and author of The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century
“Few children’s books present a world in which kids and their families are so diverse, engaged, and vibrant. Not only is Counting on Community an endearing and beautifully illustrated book, it represents the best hopes and dreams for our communities.”
—Bryant Terry
Food justice activist, host of the PBS series The Endless Feast, and author of Afro-Vegan andVegan Soul Kitchen
“At last, a counting book that will speak to all kinds of different people, living in diverse environments! Counting on Community has real-world content that breaks up stereotypes while teaching.”
—Novella Carpenter
Author of Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer
“Counting on Community is a meaningful introduction to early readers about our innate power to contribute to our home, neighborhood and the world.”
—Ozomatli (sometimes also known as OzoKidz)