Each chapter focuses on how the authors used children's literature in combination with other texts to introduce critical conversations and construct social action projects in their classrooms. They used books in four ways: pairing everyday texts with texts written for children ; focusing on social issues ; using children's literature to unpack social issues in the school community ; integrating critical literacy, children's literature, and mathematics investigations.

Setting the context : a critical take on using books in the classroom -- Pairing everyday texts with texts written for children -- Using children's literature to unpack social issues in the school community -- Focusing on social issues by bringing the outside world into the classroom -- What if and why? Critical literacy, children's literature, and mathematics investigations -- What's the weather? Creating space for critical literacy in the science curriculum -- Rethinking Arbor Day: creating space for critical literacy in the social studies curriculum -- A podcast is born: critical literacy and new technologies -- New directions and curricular possibilities for doing "important work".