Book Review: ‘No!: My First Book of Protest’

Book Review: ‘No!: My First Book of Protest’

One of the most important things for children is to find their own voice. To gain agency as opinions are formed and stances are taken. And it’s vital that parents never dampen that spark, and teach them that even when they are young, they can still take steps to effect change.

With that in mind, Downtown Bookworks ‘No!: My First Book of Protest’ (by Julie Merberg (Author) and Molly Egan (Illustrator)) makes for a wonderful primer for teaching kids about social action, showcasing some of the most famous and impactful protest movements in history.

Through colorful illustrations and concise captions, children are exposed to early acts like the Suffragists movement which led to women being allowed to vote, to Rosa Parks defying an order to sit in the back of the bus during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s.

What’s more, ‘No!: My First Book of Protest’ gives current young activists their due as well, which is particularly impactful to younger readers, such as Malala Yousafzai, who fought for the right for girls to attend school in Pakistan, or Greta Thunberg, whose fiery speech to the U.N. about climate change showed a wisdom and passion far beyond her years.

One of the most engaging elements of the book is the repeated refrain of “No!” throughout the text. I’ve yet to meet a toddler (including my own, who loved the book) who didn’t enjoy screaming “No!” whenever possible, and it is welcome and encouraged throughout.

This participatory element is very helpful in engaging young readers to learn about important activists and movements throughout history, while inspiring future protesters in the making.

In a world that grows more fragile and volatile by the day, we need young voices to force the establishment to effect change. And ‘No!: My First Book of Protest’ makes for an excellent introduction to speaking truth to power.