Together We March is a children’s book featuring 25 marches in history. While I don’t normally write full review posts for picture books, this one contains quite a bit of text and is more of a traditional nonfiction book when it comes to that. This is definitely a picture book for older readers with plenty of content on these marches.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you click on and/or purchase from some links, I make a portion of the sale. This helps keep Bitch Bookshelf running. All affiliate income from this post will be donated to Black Lives Matter.
Find out more about how I review books here.
The summary, from Amazon:
March through history and discover twenty-five groundbreaking protest movements that have shaped the way we fight for equality and justice today in this stunningly illustrated and sweeping book!
For generations, marches have been an invaluable tool for bringing about social change. People have used their voices, the words on their signs, and the strength in their numbers to combat inequality, oppression, and discrimination. They march to call attention to these wrongs and demand change and action, from a local to a global scale.
Whether demanding protective laws or advocating for equal access to things like voting rights, public spaces, and jobs, the twenty-five marches in this book show us that even when a fight seems impossible, marching can be the push needed to tip the scales and create a movement. This gorgeous collection celebrates this rich and diverse history, the often-overlooked stories, and the courageous people who continue to teach us the importance of coming together to march today.
Buy Together We March here.
Together We March features 25 protest marches in the 20th and 21st centuries. Each march has a two-page spread with a good deal of text and some simple, colorful illustrations that add to the story. This is certainly a powerful and informational book, and almost each chapter ends with a call to action or nugget of inspiration. What really stands out is that whenever possible, children and young people involved in the march are centered.
Together We March looks like a picture book, but contains quite a good deal of text and is definitely for older children. I wish it had been a chapter book rather than a picture book because there is so much information presented, and I think the formatting might turn off some readers. I also think that while this much information was shared, the author might as well have included some additional nuance to some of the marches. A chapter book would have leant better to this. However, this is still a pretty exceptional read.
I appreciate that the author ties together each march from chapter to chapter while still allowing for the chapters to be read separately. This book provides not only a great introduction to each march included, but additional information that will inspire the reader to research further or become involved in an ongoing fight for justice.
There is some solid backmatter with this book, though I do think it would have benefited from a table of contents.
Overall, this was a 4 star read for me. A great introduction to the protest movements included!
Find out more about how I rate books here.
Together We March: 25 Protest Movements That Marched into History by Leah Henderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Solid backmatter, could do with a table of contents. Good information but I wish it had been in a chapter book vs. picture book format. There’s a LOT of text and a chapter book could have added even more nuance.
Book Club Questions
- Have you ever attended a march? Was it one of the ones included in this book? What was your experience like?
- Did you learn about any of these marches for the first time while reading this book?
- Has this book inspired you to research any of these movements further?
- What is a cause you are passionate about that you would march for? It could be one included in this book, or something else.
Interested? Buy Together We March.
And don’t forget to add me as a friend on Goodreads!
