Children’s books about racism by age Baby-3 years

A Is for Activist (2013) Innosanto Nagara This board book demonstrates that it’s never too early to teach kids about inclusion and diversity. Each spread presents a letter of the alphabet and a bit of social commentary urging children to take a stand against war and violence, develop an awareness of the environment, and promote acceptance and equality for all cultures, races, religions, genders, and walks of life.

Whoever You Are (2017) Mem Fox (Author), Leslie Staub (Illustrator) A rhythmic board book that celebrates the diversity in our world, underscoring the fact that, inside, we are all the same. Ages 2-8 years

Unlikely Friends (Baby Rhino and Billy Goat) (2018) Susan Banki (Author) and Joshua McConnell (Illustrator) A children's picture book discussing racism, diversity and friendship.

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Ages 3-6 years

All the Colors We Are/Todos los colores de nuestra piel: The Story of How We Get Our Skin Color/La historia de por qué tenemos diferentes colores de piel (2014) Katie Kissinger (Author) and Chris Bohnhoff (Photographer) This bilingual (English/Spanish) book is filled with colorful photographs of the beautiful and diverse skin tones of children as well as simple and scientifically accurate explanations of how skin color is determined. It is intended to free children from the myths and stereotypes associated with skin color to help them build positive identities and learn to accept, understand, and value the world’s richness and diversity of people. Activity ideas included to help extend the conversation. Ages 4-8 years

Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story About Racial Injustice (2018) Marianne Celano (Author), Marietta Collins (Author), Ann Hazzard (Author), Jennifer Zivoin (Illustrator) This book, a National Parenting Product Award Winner, tells the story of two families—one White and one Black—as they discuss a police shooting of a Black man in their community, answering children's questions about such traumatic events, and explaining how to identify and counter racial injustice in their own lives. It includes “Note to Parents and Caregivers,” which contains guidelines for discussing race and racism with children, child-friendly definitions, and sample dialogues.

The Story of Ruby Bridges (2010) Robert Coles (Author), George Ford (Illustrator) This is a story about racial segregation and its costs. In1960, by order of the federal court, four black children were sent to two of New Orleans’ segregated white schools. Three went to one school and the

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fourth, Ruby Bridges, entered first grade at William Frantz Elementary School. The story of how six-year-old Ruby persevered in the face of hatred, threats, and protests is told by a noted child psychiatrist and Pulitzer Prize winner. Ages 6-9 years

“Momma, Did You Hear the News?” Talking to Kids about Race and Police (2017) Sanya Whittaker Greg (Author) and Kim Holt (Illustrator) The story of Avery who becomes concerned after seeing another police shooting of an unarmed man. His parents decide it is time to have “The Talk,” teaching him and his brother a catchy chant to help them remember what to do if approached by an officer, while also emphasizing that all policemen are not bad. Ages 8-12 years

Can I Touch Your Hair: Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship (2018) Irene Latham (Author, Charles Waters (Author), Sean Qualls (Illustrator), Selina Alko (Illustrator) How can two children—Charles who’s black and Irene who’s white, work together on their fifth grade poetry project?

Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness (2018) Anastasia Higginbotham Named a School Library Journal Best Book of 2018, this picture book about racism and racial justice encourages white children and parents to become curious about racism and work to understand the effects of power and privilege from birth, accept that it's real, and cultivate justice.

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A Good Kind of Trouble (2019) Lisa Moore Ramée This is the story about 12-year-old Shayla, a 7th grader who has begun to question who her friends are and what it means to be “Black enough.” Shayla’s sister Hana is involved in Black Lives Matter, but Shayla is hesitant to join her until she experiences a powerful protest, everyone begins taking sides, and she is given an ultimatum. “Shay is scared to do the wrong thing (and even more scared to do the right thing), but if she doesn't face her fear, she'll be forever tripping over the next hurdle. Now that’s trouble, for real.”

Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation (2014) Duncan Tonatiuh This picture book tells the story of the 1947 California ruling against public-school segregation, describing how a child being banned from enrolling in an Orange County grade school because of her skin tone and Mexican surname inspired her family to fight for integrated schools and how they were joined by many others, including the NAACP and the Japanese American Citizens League, which led to their hard-won victory. Includes an endnote essay recapping the events, including photos of Sylvia and her schools, and a glossary and resource list for further research.

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Teenagers

How It Went Down (2015) Kekla Magoon This Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book tells the story of Tariq Johnson, a 16-year-old African American, who was shot and killed by Jack Franklin, who is white, how multiple accounts of the events obscured the truth of how it went down, the way perceptions and preconceptions shape narratives and affect our actions, and the ripple effects of one act of violence on an entire community.

All American Boys (2017) Jason Reynolds and Brandan Kiely A Coretta Scott King Author Honor book and recipient of the Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature, this novel tells the story of two teens—Rashad Butler, who is African American, and Quinn Collins, who is white—grappling with the repercussions of a single violent act that leaves their school, their community, and, ultimately, the country bitterly divided by the racial tension created when privilege and racism cannot be ignored. For Parents

Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America (2019) Jennifer Harvey Written by a university professor whose work focuses on racial justice and white anti-racism, this book offers age-appropriate insights for teaching children how to address racism when they encounter it,

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and also provides answers to difficult questions about how to help white children be mindful of racial relations while understanding their own identity and the role they can play in achieving justice for all. American Psychological Association RESilience Initiative The RESilience Initiative is providing resources to parents and others to assist them in promoting strength, health, and well-being among youth of color by providing resources that focus on the effects of racism, racial bias, and discrimination and promote positive racial identities, which serve as factors and bolster resilience. One example: Black Pain, Black Joy, and Racist Fear: Supporting Black Children in a Hostile World https://psychologybenefits.org/2017/08/30/encouraging-black-childrens-self-expression/