On December 10th in 1948, the United Nations approved a series of rights called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which declares that “the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”. The rights include freedom, security, equal protection under the law, freedom of movement, right to food, education, work, health, and liberty, among others. In 2002, President George W. Bush declared the first Human Rights Week, and it has since become a month-long, worldwide celebration.
Below is a sampling of books that includes one of these rights or have themes of related subjects. The books for younger children can be used to talk about how we can make the world a better place, and the books that appeal to older readers feature real people that have been champions of human rights.