A Flea For Justice
Marian Wright Edelman Stands Up for Change
by Valerie Bolling
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Pub Date Sep 16 2025 | Archive Date Sep 15 2025
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Description
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
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9781623545826 |
PRICE | $17.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 32 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews

This is a book that should be read by children and adults. I have been reading about Freedom Schools and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee but wasn't aware there were Freedom Schools for children. Marian Wright Edelman is an important figure in American history, and her story deserves to be known. I highly recommend this book for schools and libraries and hope it wins all of the awards.

Such a wonderful and important book, and this will always be relevant. Maybe one person can't make a huge change, but we can all be a flea for justice, finding ways to make it known that we are here and ready to do the right thing, one irritating little bite at a time.

What is "a flea for justice"? It is someone who gets things done by causing other people to feel bothered or disturbed, just the way a flea bite disturbs people. When Marian Wright Edelman was growing up, she noticed inequalities that made life difficult for Black children. And when she grew up, she dedicated her life to moving our society ahead by providing equal access to education and social equality for all people. She worked hard to see that children had a good start towards a rewarding life. Her dedication and her achievements are a model for everyone.
This book clearly explains why Marian Wright Edelman used the term "flea for justice" and how she applied it. The text is engaging and it is well-supported by colorful illustrations and back matter.
Perfect for read-alouds, for book discussion groups, as part of a study of civil rights, or simply individual reading.
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