Judgmental Dad Reviews: woke books for 3-4 year olds

Yangsook Choi The Name Jar – tackles the experience of immigrant children and the complexity of identity by focusing on the desire to “fit in.” Bonus points for not having a white male hero, and for having a supportive white male ally character

Andy Blackford and Mike Byrne The Green Machines – environmentalism and social justice. Slightly ambiguous ending (do Digger, Dumper and Dozer set up commune in the forest for counter-cultural machines?)

Steve Antony I’ll Wait, Mr Panda – a gentle critique of “I want it now”

Catherine Barr and Francesca Chessa Elliott’s Arctic Surprise – powerful environmentalist message framed in a way that makes sense for children who grow up in countries where Father Christmas/Santa Claus is a major figure