Your Freedom, Your Power A Kid's Guide to the First Amendment

A nonpartisan, unbiased look at the First Amendment and how it informs our daily lives, this book clearly explains the fundamentals of American politics to middle grade readers.

A Junior Library Guild Selection!
Chicago Public Library’s BEST BOOKS OF 2023! 

The First Amendment grants kids and every other citizen five monster privileges: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press,
freedom of assembly, and the right to petition the government. If the First Amendment is everywhere in their lives, shouldn’t kids know more about it? Yes!

In Your Freedom, Your Power, middle grade readers get a focused look at their freedoms and rights through the lens of this all-powerful First Amendment. The book engages children in learning more about their country and their rights and responsibilities. Each section will answer key questions readers may have thought about like: Do I have the right to protest at school? Can I be punished at school for something I say on social media? Why can’t I wear whatever I want? Can I text whatever I want? While answering these questions and explaining fundamental legal concepts every kid should know, Your Freedom, Your Power shares the fascinating stories behind some of the most important legal cases and social movements that have affected kids’ lives and rights.

Allison Matulli is a former attorney and educator, now Founder of The Little Lawyers, an organization promoting legal awareness for children. Allison is an educational reform activist who consults with schools worldwide on how to introduce, teach, and empower educators and kids to address issues of race, systemic racism, prejudice, legal literacy, diversity, and inclusion. Formerly a teacher and a certified American Montessori Society lead educator, she has always brought legal literacy into her classroom. She is a biweekly columnist for Education Week, the leading K-12 periodical (Circulation: Print: 50,000; Online: 725,000). Allison holds a B.A. in Economics from St. Joseph’s University, a Master’s in Education from Endicott College and a J.D. from Howard University School of Law. She is based in Miami where she lives with her husband and two children, Max and Eva. 

Clelia Castro-Malaspina is a former attorney whose goal is to make the law more accessible to kids. She received her bachelor’s degrees in English and Communications from Boston College, her law degree from American University Washington College of Law and her Master’s in Publishing and Writing from Emerson College.