Anti-racist Education: From Theory to Practice, by Julie Kailin. (Roman and Littlefield). 240 pp., $24.95. A helpful exploration of the theoretical underpinning of anti-racist education, as well as practical examples of what it looks like in schools.

In Schools We Trust: Creating Communities of Learning in an Era of Testing and Standardization, by Deborah Meier. (Beacon Press, 2002) A powerful critique of standardized tests in the context of thoughtful proposals about how schools should function as communities in which students and adults embrace academic learning while absorbing democratic habits.

Intellectual Character: What It Is, Why It Matters and How to Get It, by Ron Ritchhart. (Jossey-Bass, 2002). 302 pp. $24.95. Going to the heart of the standards/testing debate this book introduces the concept of intellectual character and examines the dispositions of curiosity, skepticism, and open-mindedness. Offering concrete classroom ideas to go well beyond traditional school curriculum, this book will challenge even the most veteran teachers to rethink their curriculum.

* Pedagogy of the Oppressed, by Paulo Freire. (Continuum, 2002). 183 pp., $15. On its 30th anniversary, this classic text has been reprinted with a special introduction by Donaldo Macedo. "For any teacher who links education to social education, this is required reading. Freire remains the most important writer on popular education and the virtual founder of critical pedagogy." - Stanley Aronowitz (Catalyst Center).

Racism: A Short History, by George Frederickson. (Princeton University Press, 2002). 207 pp. $22. A concise, historical survey of the two main forms of racism: white supremacy and anti-Semitism and their interconnection. This very readable book traces the evolution of religious and pseudo-scientific rationales for racism and the corresponding policies and practices of various countries.