Equity Walk Books: Staying Balanced

What does it mean to have balance in our life? What makes you feel anxiety or “out of balance?” What if you fall? Can you get back up again?

Big Red Lollipop, by Rukhsana Khan
An older sister is caught between cultures when her Pakistani Canadian mother makes her take her younger sister to a birthday party.
Zen Shorts, written and illustrated by Jon Muth.
In this Caldecott Honor-winning book, Muth helps young readers learn some basic Zen concepts. The story revolves around three children who each learn something important about life through their separate visits to their new neighbor, a panda named Stillwater.

Front Desk, by Kelly Yang
Ten-year old Mia Tang lives and works in a crummy motel with her hardworking immigrant parents in this story based on Kelly Yang’s unique and difficult childhood.
The Higher Power of Lucky, written by Susan Patron.
After her mother dies, 10-year-old Lucky is sent to live with her father’s former French girlfriend in Hard Pan, a motor home community in the California desert. This book gives young readers a memorable look at a character struggling to come to terms with her mother’s death and her place in the world.

From the Desk of Zoe Washington, by Janae Marks
An aspiring 12-year old pastry chef is troubled by the mystery of the incarcerated father she never met.
New Kid, by Jerry Craft
A funny and tough graphic novel about authenticity, starting over, culture shock, school diversity, being caught between worlds
The Thing About Luck, written by Cynthia Kadohata.
The story of 12-year-old Summer whose family seems to be mired in bad luck. Summer’s parents have to suddenly journey from the U.S. to Japan to care for elderly relatives, leaving Summer and her challenging younger brother Jaz in the care of their grandparents.