Abolition is Love

by Syrus Marcus Ware

What can abolition mean for a child? How can it help them dream a different future for their community?

In Abolition is Love, Amelie learns about collective care, mutual aid, and abolitionist ideas as they help their parents get ready for the annual Prisoners’ Justice Day. Amelie explores big concepts like love, justice, and care, and learns how we can build a different world together through the small choices we make every day. They learn to resolve a conflict with their cousin who plays differently than they do, they help their Papa plan a more accessible park for all, and collectively they create a beautiful banner. Amelie is also excited to hold their own candle at the rally, and they look forward to this big kid moment–to join the ranks of activists calling for justice and abolition. The book explores possibilities for hope, and offers ideas for caring for each other and building communities rooted in social justice and safety for all people. Parents and teachers can engage young readers with the expansive illustrations and prompts that suggest new ways of being in the world together.

Abolition is Love!

Buying options

Available for pre-order. This item will be available on August 15, 2023.

Hardback

$13.56

$16.95

Publish Date: 2023-08-15

ISBN: 9781644212554

Pages: 36

Not available

Ebook

Publish Date:

ISBN: 9781644212561

Pages: 36

“Syrus has given us an immense gift with Abolition is Love—this children’s book is full of practical visions of the future from characters who feel like community. Help our babies understand the breadth and complexity of abolition by reading them this text and having them read it to each other.”

– adrienne maree brown, New York Times bestselling author of Pleasure Activism and Emergent Strategy

“This book is a treasure — a beautifully written and illustrated vision for building a future our young ones can thrive in. Encouraging children to be active participants in building healthy relationships and developing empathy and compassion is just what this world needs.”

– Sandy Hudson, co-founder Black Lives Matter, Canada

SYRUS MARCUS WARE is cofounder of Black Lives Matter Canada and an Assistant Professor at the School of the Arts, McMaster University. A scholar, visual artist, activist, curator and educator, Syrus uses drawing, installation and performance to explore social justice frameworks and Black activist culture. He is part of the Performance Disability Art Collective, curator of the That’s So Gay show, and a past co-curator of Blackness Yes!/Blockorama. Syrus is the co-editor of the best-selling Until We Are Free: Reflections on Black Lives Matter in Canada (URP, 2020), and the illustrator of the children’s book I Promise written by Catherine Hernandez. He lives in Tkaronto (also known as Toronto, Canada).