Kimberton Waldorf School

Education That Matters

Social Justice

books for adults

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books for adults, resources & instagram accounts to follow

  • How to Be an Antiracist – by Ibrahim X. Kendi
  • Me and White Supremacy – by Layla F. Saad
  • Any book by James Baldwin
  • Such a Fun Age – by Kiley Reid
  • The Mothers – by Brit Bennett
  • The Vanishing Half – by Brit Bennett
  • What We Lose – by Zinzi Clemmons
  • The Turner House – by Angela Flournoy
  • The Nickle Boys – by Colson Whitehead
  • Patsy – by Nicole Dennis-Benn
  • Here Comes the Sun – by Nicole Dennis-Benn
  • Well-Read Black Girl Anthology- edited by Glory Edim
  • Annie John – by Jamaica Kincaid
  • Sister Outsider – by Audre Lorde
  • Maud Martha – by Gwendolyn Brooks
  • Lost in the City – by Edward P Jones
  • Life on Mars -by Tracy K. Smith (United States Poet Laureate)  

young adult/high school books

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young adult/high school books

  • The Sun is Also a Star – by Nicola Yoon
  • The Poet X – by Elizabeth Acevedo
  • All the Things We Never – by Liara Tamani
  • Calling My Name – by Liara Tamani
  • Piecing Me Together – by Renee Watson
  • The Hate U Give – by Angie Thomas
  • Black Enough – edited by Ibi Zoboi
  • Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You – by Ibrahim X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
  • Resist: 35 Profiles of Ordinary People who Rose Up – by Veronica Chambers

books for middle school children

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books for middle school children

  • All four books in the Track Series by Jason Reynolds (Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu)
  • Look Both Ways – by Jason Reynolds
  • Miles Morales, Spider Man – by Jason Reynolds
  • Clean Getaway – by Nic Stone
  • Clayton Byrd Goes Underground – by Rita Williams-Garcia
  • Ways To Make Sunshine – by Renee Watson
  • Planet Middle School – by Nikki Grimes
  • Words With Wings – by Nikki Grimes
  • The Jada Jones series of books – by Kelly Starling Lyons
  • Big Ideas for Young Thinkers – by Jamia Wilson
  • Step Into Your Power – by Jamia Wilson
  • Young, Gifted, and Black – by Jamia Wilson

storybooks for young children

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storybooks for young children

  • Little Red Riding Hood – by Jerry Pinkney
  • The Talking Eggs – by Jerry Pinkney
  • Rachel Isadora fairytale storybooks…     
    • Rapunzel   –
    • Hansel and Gretel   –  
    • The Twelve Dancing Princesses  –   
    • The Princess and the Pea   –  
    • The Fisherman and His Wife   –  
    • 12 Days of Christmas
  • Hair Love – by Matthew A Cherry
  • Julian is a Mermaid – by Jessica Love
  • Little Leaders – by Vashti Harrison
  • The Day You Begin – by Jacqualine Woodson
  • Any storybook by illustrator Christian Robinson (@christianrobinson)
  • Rocket Say Look Up – by Nathan Bryon
  • Just Like Me – by Vanessa Brantly Newton
  • Mae Among the Stars – by Roda Ahmed
  • Radiant Child – by Javaka Steptoe
  • We Are Shining – by Gwendolyn Brooks
  • Honey, I Love and Other Love Poems – by Eloise Greenfield
  • He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands – by Kadir Nelson
  • Trombone Shorty – by Troy Andrews
  • The Colors of Us – by Karen Katz
  • Bronzeville Boys and Girls – by Gwendolyn Brooks
  • Her Stories – by Virginia Hamilton
  • Wangari’s Trees of Peace – by Jeanette Winter
  • Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters – by John Steptoe
  • The Apple-Pip Princess – by Jane Ray
  • The Story of Christmas – by Jane Ray

Social Justice Discussion with Torin Finser, July 9

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KWSPA hosted Torin M. Finser on July 9th


Torin has over 60 years of experience in Waldorf education as a student and learner, parent, teacher, teacher of teachers, author, Ph.D., and leader in the international Waldorf community.


“Waldorf Education for Social Justice” is his passion and the focus of much of his current work.  He emphasizes the need for schools to connect with the current issues dividing our society: political polarization, racism, income inequality, immigration, nationalism, and religious fundamentalism to name a few.  Focus on these problems at the educational level can be transformative and put power in the hands of the community to address their immediate concerns, seek out new ways for the field to change and adapt in the future.  But external advocacy needs to be balanced with opportunities for introspection as well, which Waldorf education also beautifully teaches our children. 


Please take a moment to become familiar with Torin and his work.  His extensive bio and the books he has authored are linked below.  We’ve also attached a link to recent and powerful articles to read in preparation.  There will be a small window for discussion and a few questions.  Please take advantage of this tremendous opportunity to engage with change. 

Bio https://www.antioch.edu/new-england/faculty/torin-finser/

Books https://www.amazon.com/Books-Torin-Finser/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ATorin+Finser

The Future of Waldorf Education: Beyond 100 https://www.waldorftoday.com/2019/09/the-future-of-waldorf-education-beyond-100/

Beyond 100: A return to the social justice roots of Waldorf Education https://www.antioch.edu/new-england/2019/04/19/beyond-100-a-return-to-the-social-justice-roots-of-waldorf-education/

A Discussion on Anti-Racism with Mari Avicolli, June 25

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Thurs, Jun 25, 7:30p (see community email for link)

We would like to thank all those who participated on June 25 in the first of a series of Social Justice discussions through the KWS Parent Association.  Many thanks to Mari Avicolli for hosting.  We’re proud to say it was our largest Parent Association gathering thus far!  This anti-racist self-reflection work is not easy or comfortable, and we acknowledge the courage it takes each individual to look within for evidence of racism or bias.  This is the only way forward to a peaceful and socially just world, which is one of the core principles of our school.

Mari Avicolli is an alumna who returned to KWS to teach in 2015. Prior to that, she earned her Bachelor’s degree from Penn State with a focus in cross-cultural communication. From 2017-2019 she served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia. While there, she led diversity trainings for PCVs and host country nationals in an effort to help everyone be seen and feel playing in the orchestra for the musical, assisting on the Odyssey, or roasting coffee and talking about Ethopia with the 7th and 8th grades.

We are grateful to Mari for initiating the conversation about anti-racism with our community, and during this discussion she will share an overview of…

white fragility – cultural appropriation – how to raise anti-racist children – intersectionality

Resources for Talking about Race

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Resources for Talking about Race and Making Positive Change

Kimberton Waldorf School is deeply saddened by recent tragic events of racial injustice. We support work in the world that aims to break down systemic forms of racism. We wish to express our sorrow for all people of color who are and have been subjected to injustice and racial discrimination. Diversity and inclusion are important values of our school community, and we honor the inherent dignity of all human beings.

Talking About Race

Bryan Stevenson on the Frustration Behind the George Floyd Protests