“Mommmmmmm it’s not fair!!!”
“Why does he get everything”
“She always gets her way!”
This kind of whining between my kids drives me INSANE. What about you? Or are my kids the only kids who are in constant battle for resources, no matter how abundant and easy their lives are?
In short, we need to talk about justice in our house pretty much weekly.
What is Justice?
“Practicing justice is being fair in everything you do. It is seeing with your own eyes and not judging something or someone by what other people tell you.” (p. 165)
Justice means everyone gets what they deserve – and this doesn’t mean it is always going to be equal. If we gave out medical aid equally, people with head-injuries would get the same treatment as people with paper cuts. In a just world, everyone gets what they need and what they deserve. Everyone deserves access to medical help when they are sick or injured – but the treatments they get may be different because they need different things. Every person on the planet has rights – which means they can expect to be treated by others in a way that is the same as everyone else. This is equal rights.
When someone does a wrong thing that hurts others, it is just for them to receive a consequence or a punishment. When someone makes a right choice or does something good that helps others, it is just for them to receive a reward or recognition of their hard work.
When we are just, we stand up for ourselves and for the rights of others. We defend ourselves against someone who is hurting us or hurting others.
“When you practice being just, you treat each person as an individual. You don’t judge people or put them in categories. You just see them one by one.” (p. 165)
Here are some books that explore unjust situations or equality!
But first, a small disclaimer that this post contains Amazon affiliate links. They are one small way you can support my blog, so thank you!
A Big Guy Took My Ball by Mo Willems
It’s not fair that a big guy took Piggie’s ball! That is until they see the perspective of the “bully”.
The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Steven Kroll
Two mice are caring for a pumpkin and have radically different ideas of how they will use the pumpkin…who deserves the pumpkin when they both worked hard to grow it? How can they share one pumpkin? Find out in this delightful Halloween-adjacent story.
Little Red Riding Hood by Paul Galdone
There are many versions of the ending to the classic fairytale, Little Red Riding Hood. In some, the wolf is chased away. In others, the wolf is killed. Red Riding Hood is a good example of justice being served to the wolf for eating grandma and Red Riding Hood.
This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
A small fish steals a big fish’s hat. He spends most of the story justifying why it was okay that he did something he knows is wrong and trying to hide. But the big fish is on his tail and gets his hat back. Justice is served.
Dolores Huerta by Sarah Warren
Dolores Huerta fought for safe working conditions and fair wages for migrant farm workers in California – very important people who keep our economy functioning. We are learning about Dolores Huerta in our study of California history as well.
Mamie Tape Fights to Go to School by Traci Huahn
This is the true story of a Chinese-American girl who fights for the right to go to school in San Francisco in the 1880s. We are reading it as part of our California history curriculum as well.
I hope these books encourage some conversations about justice in your home this week!
Enjoyed this post? Check out some of my other recent posts!
- Making Homeschooling Work During Home Remodeling
- Why Halloween is Important for Kids
- Kids Books about Trustworthiness
- Having a Pet Hamster for Families
- Kids Books About Compassion
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