Prisons Must Fall

From Mariame Kaba, New York Times-bestselling author of We Do This ‘Til We Free Us, and social worker Jane Ball comes a powerful book showing the harm that prisons cause and exploring alternatives, gorgeously illustrated by Olly Costello.

Prisons, they do no good.
They do not help.
They do not teach.

On a moonlit road, tucked away from prying eyes, a child sees a prison complex―cinder blocks, watch towers, barbed wire. Page by page, we come to see the prison as a child sees it.

Prisons hurt people and leave them lonely, without loved ones to comfort them or lend a listening ear.

As dandelion stars float up in the air, this dreamscape becomes a hope-scape, where love transcends the prison walls. All the families and friends of the people in the prison march and protest in beautiful song, march together to a new way and a new dawn―in this case a cooperative housing and community center, next to a neighborhood greenhouse for restoration and healing. A new world, where connection and repair are fundamental, and even tangible, as people around a table quilt messages, “I hear you. I’m sorry for what I did. How can I make it better?”

In Prisons Must Fall, Mariame Kaba, a longtime activist, together with co-author Jane Ball, present solutions that do not involve incarceration, such as meeting people’s basic needs, restorative justice, and community support―seeds for a safe world. Illustrator Olly Costello provides textured images of a global majority community and a grey, monotone backdrop that is overtaken by joyful colors. A gentle but effective addition to all social justice bookshelves and libraries. Discussion questions included.

Perfect for:

• Parents, teachers, and librarians looking for books on the prison industrial complex and prison reform
• Kids who are interested in fairness and social justice
• Readers who love exceptional and sophisticated illustration

What People Are Saying

“Though emotionally demanding, the book's bright color choices, images of community members of all abilities and backgrounds working together, and thoughtful word choice all craft a palatable and poignant message.” Booklist, starred review

“As an organizer and author, Mariame Kaba gets that kids both can handle and deserve straight talk about the moral scandal that is our system of mass incarceration, and that indeed they may be clearer about the necessity of abolition than most of us adults. This beautiful book, grounded in hope and collective action, is going to be a wonderful tool for parents and educators who want to help children understand how to change the world—and why it needs changing so urgently.” John Duda, Red Emma's worker-owner and co-founder

"How can one heal without the presence of love? Kaba and Costello help us re-imagine a world of true rehabilitation and community care, one without indignation or limitations. This stunning ode to abolition is a beacon of light in stifling times and reminds us there is potential for a brighter future." Beth Wilson, co-owner of Wild Rumpus Books

“A picture book told in rhyme that educates young readers about the concept of prison abolition. The book starts off with teaching readers about the harm caused by mass incarceration (“In a cell you are alone,/without family, without friends./No one to talk to,/no one to listen.”), and continues with lessons on how communities can create support and solutions to help folks who may be vulnerable to incarceration. The language is simple and accessible, and the rhyming stanzas are easy for young readers to follow. The illustrations are colorful and engaging, and provide a lot of diversity in the characters who are being shown.” Dina Delic, Youth Services Book Review

About the Contributors

Mariame Kaba is an organizer, educator, librarian, and prison industrial complex (PIC) abolitionist who is active in movements for racial, gender, and transformative justice. Kaba is the founder and director of Project NIA, a grassroots abolitionist organization with a vision to end youth incarceration. Mariame co-leads the initiative Interrupting Criminalization, a project she co-founded with Andrea Ritchie in 2018.

Olly Costello (Illustrator) is a white queer illustrator, PIC abolitionist, food growing enthusiast and community seed saver, who is committed to participating in the creative, collective work of building a liberated and flourishing future for all of us. Through their artistic and community based practices they explore themes of interconnectedness, spiritual ecology, emergence, accountability, community building, Prison Industrial Complex Abolition, Transformative Justice and belonging.

Jane Ball is a social worker, artist, parent, children's yoga instructor, and creative collaborator. She spent the early years of her career assisting survivors of domestic violence and their children, in navigating systems that did not serve them. She has worked in multiple communities to organize youth, engage in creative resistance, counsel folks in crisis, and advocate for children with disabilities. Jane regularly uses art and movement as mediums to engage in self-reflection and explorechallenging questions, with young people. This work has inspired her to explore a multitude of possibilities, what-ifs, opportunities, and alternatives to the many inequitable and destructive systems folks will encounter during their lifetime. She remains hopeful.