Oh, the Things We’re For!

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.

Reviews:

“With Seussian rhyme, Nagara crafts a progressive call-to-arms about social justice topics, including universal health care, climate change, free public education, and prison abolition. Utilizing a framing device — a child questioned by skeptics — Nagara walks readers through a rhythmic summation of contemporary issues. Busily colorful digital art combines textures, gradients, and typography, reinforcing the energy with which Nagara conveys the necessity of standing up for various rights… [T]his primer offers a useful starting point for readers seeking to begin conversations about social justice.”

– Publishers Weekly

“Nagara’s direct, pragmatic approach to activism for a child audience reaches new levels of specificity and real-world application in this book … Vibrant colors infuse Nagara’s expressive, textured illustrations, which feature a diverse range of humans, protest signs, and symbolic as well as literal depictions of societal issues and potential solutions…. An accessible, all-too-timely manifesto for young activists (and everyone else).”

– Kirkus Reviews