Early twentieth-century social activist Jane Addams is best known for her work at Hull House, the settlement house she founded with Ellen Gates Starr in 1889. Adams was also a pacifist, storyteller, writer and philosopher. Through her actions, stories, and writing, Addams modeled a philosophy of democracy-in-action based in imagination and sympathetic understanding. In this article, the author first examines how Addams wove moral imagination, stories, and compassion into the fabric of her thinking and writing. Next, the author compares her ideas to the ideas of today' educators who are committed to bringing social justice issues to young people through literature. Then, the author places several Addams Award books alongside Addams's stories and philosophy to show how connecting her legacy to present-day literary experiences can foster deeper understanding of social justice through literature. (Contains 1 footnote.)