A Flea for Justice: Marian Wright Edelman Stands Up for Change

Marian Wright Edelman is a flea for justice. Just like her hero, Sojourner Truth, Marian pushes for change even when it's uncomfortable. She makes people itch, just like a flea.

A historical and political picture book biography for 6-9-year-olds about Black perseverance. An aspiring read for future activists and changemakers!

As Marian Wright Edelman grows up, she never loses the spirit she had as a child when she swapped the signs on water fountains designating where Black and white people were allowed to drink.

Marian learns about Sojourner Truth, and she decides to make people itch in order to make change, just like Sojourner did. Marian becomes the first Black woman lawyer in Mississippi, and she creates the Children's Defense Fund, which continues to be a voice for poor children, children of color, and children with disabilities today.

A Flea for Justice is an accessible read with a unique, kid-friendly structure; award-winning educator Valerie Bolling directly asks the kid readers questions, like--"Do you know what Sojourner told that man?" to engage in the story. An inspiring, call-to-action biography that's sure to make readers itch!

"Marian has spent six decades bending the moral arc of the universe toward justice, and we are all the beneficiaries of her noble mission."
--Hilary Rodham Clinton

Author: Valerie Bolling
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing
Published: 09/16/2025
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 8.70h x 11.30w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9781623545826
Audience: Ages 9-12


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2025
Booklist 08/01/2025

About the Author
Valerie Bolling is an award-winning educator with more than thirty years of experience and the author of many books for children. Her picture books include I See Color; Let's Dance!; Together We Ride; Together We Swim (a Kirkus Prize finalist); Ride, Roll, Run: Time for Fun!; and Bing, Bop, Bam: Time to Jam! Valerie is also the author of the early reader series Rainbow Days. She is passionate about creating stories in which all children can see themselves and feel seen and heard, valued, and validated. Valerie lives in Connecticut with her husband.

TeMika Grooms is a writer and illustrator passionate about creating stories for young readers. She grew up in a military family rooted in the southern United States. She now lives near Atlanta, Georgia, a city with civil rights justice woven into its fabric. TeMika uses her art for storytelling and building community connections to inspire others to think and improve our world. www.TeMikaTheArtist.com