An origami warrior; a thumbprint of a bird; Hitler’s housemate. The stars of a prize called The Little Rebels Children’s Book Award are meant to encourage a generation of young readers to think differently.
The award, organized by a UK community of “radical” booksellers and non-profit children’s bookseller Letterbox Library, has been given annually since 2012 to books that highlight social justice topics. Says Letterbox, “Children are never too young to be engaged in questioning conventions and exploring big ideas.”
See the shortlist for books published in 2015, announced yesterday (April 4):
A young orphan moves in with his aunt, who is a servant in the German mountains to Hitler.
Two children held prisoner in a rebel soldier camp forge a friendship with a captured baby gorilla.
“I’m sweet and sour / and not a little flower.” A little girl who loves to win and wear shorts meets a little boy who likes princess dresses.
A picture book for “budding philosophers,” about a thumbprint-bird named Henry Finch. Says the jacket, “Vegetarians will love it too.”
An army of famous children’s book characters come together in origami form to fight a bureaucrat.
The exploits of a boy and his curmudgeonly uncle, who eats beans on toast incorrectly.
