Believe it or not, when I was a kid, I hated reading. Somewhere along the way, I came to my senses and discovered the power of books and the stories they hold. My fascination with picture books today might just be my way of making up for all the time I lost as a reluctant reader.

I’m now a university professor of elementary education at Western Washington University, where my teaching and research focus on multicultural education and social studies education. At the intersection of these fields lies a critical truth: history is often told from a single perspective. My work challenges that tradition by highlighting the voices of marginalized communities, both past and present. This approach to social studies education promotes justice for all — not just some.

As the child of Cuban immigrants, I rarely saw my own story reflected in my social studies lessons growing up. That experience fuels my commitment to helping educators create classrooms where every child can see themselves in the curriculum. Perhaps the books shared here will inspire you to enrich your social studies instruction — or simply enjoy powerful, meaningful read-alouds that spark curiosity and connection.