My Children's Books Ranked by Punk Ethics
Top 10 and 10 Honorable mentions.
- The 3 Robbers, Tomi Ungerer
Its about of a gang of bandits who use their ill-gotten loot to care for orphans and eventually form a parallel society. Would be higher on the list, but they do mild harm to horses in their highwayman shenanigans, which I do not condone.
- The Lorax, Dr. Seuss
I am not going to waste my time or yours describing one of the most well know and beloved children books ever written.
- The Little House, by Virginia Lee Burton
This is a very simple story that teaches fairly complicated lessons about the price of progress, gentrification and urban decay, and with a vast amount of heart.
- Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type, by Doreen Cronin
This one is just straight up about unions, and not that craft union bullshit. All the animals are in solidarity. It also is very funny and featured chaos geese decades before that was a meme.
- The Widow’s Broom, by Chris Van Allsburg
I love that this is a book about witchcraft, but the withes are only in it for a page and a half. All we ever find out about them is that they reward kindness with kindness and practice excellent communication and team work. Anyway, two marginalized being find each other and team up to outwit the bigots who would do them harm. Classic trickster shenanigans ensue, and they play the haters own stupidity and fear against them. We love to see it.
- The Cat Map of Aleppo, Written by Karim Shamsi-Basha and Irene Latham, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu
A true story and about a humanitarian crisis that is still to some extent unfolding. A real life hero survives some of the worst condition imaginable and bring the community together to help those smaller than them. Also it teaches kids real and actionable ways to deal with crisis, such as community organization and crowd sourcing.
- Julia’s House Finds a Home, by Ben Hatke
The third in a trilogy, all of which would be on this list if I didn’t limit myself to one book per author. It’s teaches the value of found family and new friends, building community on the margins of society, and never loosing hope, even in the face of abject defeat. I deeply suspect Hakte squatted before he started writing children's books.
- Golem, by David Wisniewki
Marginalized Jews resort to desperate measures in their struggle against a biased system. Golem uses violence as last resort to defend community, but when he does it devastating and definitive. Then the rabbi leverages violent potential to effect political change. In the end, Golem goes out raging against the betrayal by his father, the most punk rock way to possibly die.
- I will be Fierce, Written by Bea Birsong, illustrated by Nidhi Channani
Pretty straight forward “I Can Do It” book, but just a little bit gay. What really brings it to the top of a pretty stacked genre is the humor and an over dramatic bravado. It contains my favorite joke in all of kid's literature. It cracks me up every time and occasionally the kids laugh too.
- We Are All In The Dumps With Jack and Guy, by Maurice Sendak
The kids are split on this one. I am not. Its the favorite of one and scares another. I love it to. Its is a genuinely dark exploration of the cycles of violence wrought by poverty. The titular “heroes” are deeply flawed individuals who must teach each other the value of communal solidarity before they are literally eaten by the forces of capitalism. I am not editorializing or reading into subtext, that is very directly the plot. The subtext is in fact even more explicit and educational.
Honorable Mentions
I am Warrior Goddess, written by Jennifer Adams illustrated by Carme Lemniscates
Would be top 10 if I Will Be Fierce didn't edge it out in the same category.
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, Written by Eric Kimmel Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
If you know, I’m sure you already have a copy.
Instructions by an alleged* rapist, illustrated by Charles Vess
Personally, I have choose not to limit my children's media due to impropriety of their creators. That’s just me thou. I really like this book and its lessons of finding independence and adventure.
Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty, Illustrated by David Roberts
Fuck Around and Find Out is the foundational principle of both punk rock and science.
A for Activist, by Innosanto Nagara
This book slaps. It is kept off the top 10 list only because it sometimes fails as an alliteration book, which I find annoying.
This is Not My Hat, by Jon Klassen
More kid’s books should end with the main character getting eaten, if you ask me.
Questions and Swords, Written by Subcomandante Marcos and illustrated by Domitila Dominguez and Antonio Ramirez
I really wish this book doesn’t reference smoking tobacco was much as it does, otherwise it would be top 10 for sure.
Groo & Rufferto by Sergio Aragones
Our boy accidentally creates a parallel society beyond the reach of the law and his loyal hound takes us on a tour of the cupidity of modern adult life.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustated by Lois Ehlert
Little a gets fucked up doing dumb shit for no reason and then sneaks out to do it again. Rock on, little dude.
Witches of Brooklyn: What the Hex?!, by Sophie Escabasse
Just everything about this one, I don’t even know were to start, it slaps all the way thru. It probably would have made top 10 if my kids didn’t happen to latch onto the weakest in this series and make me read that one over and over again instead.
Stupid bullshit that I hate and will never expose my kids too.
Punk Farm, by Jarret J. Krosoczka
This is an empty nothing burger that happens to have a few drawings of guitars. The Exploited for toddlers, ie The Exploited.
Recent Additions I have not yet made up my mind about.
Punk in the Willows, by Alex CF
C'mon man, don't tell my kids I do drugs. Also the rhyme scheme and pentameter are wildly inconsistent, even by the very low bar of punk rock. Other than that its pretty good and the artwork is phenomenal.