Rise Up!: Powerful Protests in American History

by Rachel C. Katz, Sophie Bass (Illustrator)

Overview

Featured on Literary Hub's Most Anticipated Children's Books of 2025 list!

"Brilliant colors and dramatic contrast burst from the pages of this age-appropriate primer on the history and power of protests in the United States." – Foreword Reviews

Throughout our long history, when something's unfair
When rights need expanding, or wrongs need repair
Americans argue. We march and we cheer.
We write songs and speeches. We go volunteer.

From the Boston Tea Party to the Capitol Crawl, inspire young activists in this bold nonfiction picture book that explores 25 moments of protest, resistance and revolution throughout American history. In a powerful celebration of the United States' 250th birthday, teach kids how we campaign and vote. We challenge tradition. Protest is American by definition! 
 

• Lyrical text inspires young readers to make change in the world
• Info boxes on each page support learning
• 14 pages of endmatter includes a timeline and map of the 25 protests, and dives deeper into each event to further learning beyond the book

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798888593691
Publisher:	Barefoot Books
Publication date:	05/26/2026
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 9.75(h) x 0.16(d)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Rachel C. Katz taught middle school humanities for many years and introduced hundreds of students to her passions: writing, literature, American history, and civics. Rachel is a curriculum consultant and a writer who loves making American history accessible to young readers. She is a student in Hamline University’s Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults program. RISE UP: POWERFUL PROTESTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY is her debut picture book. In addition to writing both serious and silly picture books, Rachel also writes graphic novels and nonfiction for older readers. Rachel loves making art, doing crossword puzzles, and spending time with her family. She probably didn’t hear what you just said because she’s busy reading. Rachel lives in Massachusetts.

Sophie Bass is an Illustrator of mixed British and Trinidadian heritage who lives and works in London. Her work draws inspiration from music, social justice, mythology and symbolism. Sophie works by hand, employing traditional techniques with gouache and pen, to create contemporary images with strong figures, vivid hues and a distinctive style. Windrush Child by renowned poet by John Agard was her debut picture book.

Editorial Reviews

A moving historical protest primer that invites even the youngest readers to rise up and fight for what’s right. - Kirkus Reviews

"Brilliant colors and dramatic contrast burst from the pages of this age-appropriate primer on the history and power of protests in the United States. From the Boston Tea Party to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, the book asserts that “protest is American by definition!” The rhyming text conveys a message of determination and hope, while supplemental text boxes, timelines, and maps provide additional reading for older children or their reading helpers to expand on the events and topics raised." - Danielle Ballantyne, Foreword Reviews

"As the country commemorates Lexington and Concord and the American Revolution, author Rachel Katz and illustrator Sophie Bass’s fact-filled and delightfully rendered picture book shows how 25 moments of protest, resistance, and revolution led to victories won by the same kind of grit and risk-taking of the Minutemen 250 years ago—emancipation from slavery, women’s rights, safe foods, environmental protection, and minority voting rights. – LitHub, most anticipated children's books of 2025

"In its wide scope, lively illustrations, and enthusiastic message, it’s a highly recommended volume." - Mombian

"And finally, a book that is VERY much a book we need for our times right now. 25 protests are recounted, showing kids how to get into some good trouble." –  Betsy Bird, Librarian, @FuseEight

From the Publisher

2025-04-19
From the Boston Tea Party to demonstrations against the Dakota Access Pipeline, the United States was founded on protest movements and continues to evolve because of them.

Vibrant, richly colored gouache illustrations depict bold scenes of American resistance throughout history. Katz presents an array of iconic protest movements in no particular order. Bass’ swirling images detail iconic moments, sometimes reminiscent of famous photographs, like that of Ruby Bridges descending the stairs of her newly integrated school or Marian Anderson’s 1939 concert at the Lincoln Memorial. An informative text box is laid atop the illustration of each movement, lending historical context. Rhyming couplets offer an upbeat, singsongy overview of each movement, which will appeal to a young audience. Further information overlaid atop the images dives deeper, providing context to encourage more nuanced conversations with a caregiver or teacher and cleverly extending the text’s target age range. More in-depth, bulleted explanations within the extensive backmatter will endear the book even to older elementary readers, though without references to source material, students will have to seek primary sources elsewhere. The protests highlighted in the text represent a wide range of time periods and racial and cultural backgrounds.

A moving historical protest primer that invites even the youngest readers to rise up and fight for what’s right. (timeline, map)(Informational picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews