The premise of this bold and vibrant visual reference is set out right at the start: “All human beings deserve to be respected and valued. Regardless of where we were born, how much we have, what we think or believe, whether we walk with our legs or use a wheelchair, what sex we are assigned at birth, who we love, our age or the color of our skin. . . all lives are important and we deserve to live them with satisfaction.” Nation states, author Yayo Herrero goes on to explain, have agreed to “a declaration and a multitude of treaties and agreements” that help ensure these rights.
The book then takes a close look at the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with spreads focusing on its important concepts like personal rights, freedom of thought and religion, economic and social rights, and more, with examples of people, events, practices, and media that support (or show the need for) each concept. We learn, too, about various forms of collective rights, including indigenous people’s rights and the right of peoples to self-determination.
Rights are not gifted, however, the text asserts, and shows us many of the long (and not always linear) struggles to gain rights, including women’s rights, workers’ rights, children’s rights, disability rights, racial equality, and LGBTQIA+ rights around the world. There are examples of civil disobedience, and a few pages with brief blurbs about various creators and advocates of rights. A final section looks at ongoing and future challenges, and calls on readers “to imagine and implement a way of living that prioritizes fulfilling all rights for all living beings, one that celebrates the beauty of life and the joy of living it with dignity.”
Any overview of as broad a topic as human rights is bound to be selective; one could quibble about what’s here and what’s not, but overall, the plethora of examples feels varied and wide-ranging.
Luis Demano’s bold graphics and creative page design enliven the material, although it should be noted that the text is at a middle grade level; this is not a picture book. It’s an engaging volume on an important topic that should spark young readers’ interest in learning more—and taking action in support of human rights themselves.
I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t note that on the page about the right of peoples to self-determination, the text explains that in 1974, the UN “recognized the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and independence in the land of Palestine.” That’s all that’s said on the matter; it’s obviously an oversimplification of one of the knottiest topics in world politics, but it’s true enough as a bare fact. I have concerns, however, about the associated image, which shows a burly, glowering soldier in green camouflage, standing in front of a much smaller person trying to reach around him to wave a Palestinian flag. The soldier has a pale green Star of David on his chest. The intent seems to be to indicate that he is an Israeli soldier. The Star of David, however, is a symbol of worldwide Jewry, not of Israel per se. This makes the image seem to convey that it is Jews as a whole who are oppressing Palestinians. As someone who is both Jewish and supports the Palestinian right to self-determination (and opposes the current government of Israel), I find this troubling. Additionally, although the book elsewhere includes Jews in a list of the many communities targeted by Nazis, it never mentions antisemitism (although it mentions Islamophobia).
Readers and their adults can decide whether the above issues are showstoppers for them, or if the other issues of human rights explained throughout the book can help prepare readers to discuss further the places where it itself might fall short or benefit from additional materials.
