Little Rebels

Emphasizing that “there is more than one/ way of doing anything,” Caldecott Honoree Morales describes tenets of living in the world with love, curiosity, intuition, and tenderness in this values-based picture book. Text and speech bubbles from three children—one who resembles an Olmec head, another who wears a flower behind each ear, and a third who carries a stringed instrument—introduce the concept of little rebels. A collective “we” reveals that little rebels ask questions, “speak words that shape the world/ we want to live in,” and “dare to say/ what we feel.” Such actions lead to regular practices, including trusting one’s intuition, creating “a tender path for everybody,” and not racing “to be the first one or the best.” When the children arrive at a dry and cracked landscape, the principles become clear action as the trio work to protect “those that are small and near” and reach out to prior rebels—“Abuelas Rebeldes”—for guidance about larger concerns. Multimedia illustrations both playful and serious depict a lush natural world, showcasing animals and plants alongside the children throughout an engaging, emotionally-secure-feeling telling that offers a powerful message: “You stir a revolution by caring for each other.” Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. A contextualizing afterword supplies more about “How to Be a Little Rebel.” A Spanish-language edition publishes simultaneously. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)