Review of Little Allies: A Children’s Story about Inclusion, Diversity, and Becoming an Ally
Sponsored* | All opinions are our own
The Children’s Book Review
Little Allies: A Children’s Story about Inclusion, Diversity, and Becoming an Ally
Written by Julie Kratz
Illustrated by Edwards Maiello
Ages 5-10 | 74 Pages
Publisher: Next Pivot Point | ISBN-13: 978-1736515907
What to Expect: Inclusivity, Cultural Diversity, Friendship, Allies.
There are plenty of books that urge children to be more inclusive. What makes Little Allies so important is that it goes one step further, reminding children that it is not only their responsibility but also the responsibility of teachers, parents, educators, and other authority figures to support and celebrate diversity.
Ally (Al-lee) has had a very busy week in fourth grade. She’s been working hard to make her friends feel included, from Jack, who has two moms, and Lucia, who speaks Spanish, to gender non-binary Sam and her best friend Yasmin who feels picked on because of her dark skin. All of her friends are so different from one another, and they don’t all understand each other very well. But Ally learns that by listening, learning, and speaking up, she can help her friends overcome fear and ignorance and celebrate the differences that make us all special. It’s tough because Ally doesn’t like speaking in front of other people—until Mr. Clark teaches her a new word for someone who speaks up like she does: Ally (Al-eye)!
Ally is an engaging narrator, whose honesty and shyness make her easily relatable to young readers. Throughout the book, sketches bring Ally’s story to life, helping readers follow her through her school week. The volume concludes with the “Ally Promise” —a list of affirmative statements about inclusivity that invite readers to see the Ally in themselves. Questions at the end allow opportunities for further discussion.
Overall, Little Allies: A Children’s Story about Inclusion, Diversity, and Becoming an Ally is a positive, wholesome, and enjoyable exploration of diversity.
Buy the Book
Julie Kratz is a highly acclaimed TEDx speaker and inclusive leadership trainer who led teams and produced results in corporate America. After experiencing many career “pivot points” of her own, she started her own speaking business, focused on helping leaders be more inclusive. Promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace, Julie is a frequent keynote speaker, podcast host, and executive coach. She holds an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, is a Certified Master Coach, and is a certified unconscious bias trainer.
Her books include Pivot Point: How to Build a Winning Career Game Plan, ONE: How Male Allies Support Women for Gender Equality, and Lead Like an Ally: A Journey Through Corporate America with Strategies to Facilitate Inclusion, and Little Allies: A Children’s Story about Inclusion, Diversity, and Becoming an Ally.
To learn more, visit https://thelittleallies.com/.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of TLittle Allies: A Children’s Story about Inclusion, Diversity, and Becoming an Ally by Julie Kratz. Learn more about getting a book review …
