June 4, 2020

4 Impassioned Resources for Teaching Diversity and Social Justice to the Very Young

We share the pain and despair of our African American colleagues and friends! Black lives absolutely matter! Their cause is our cause!

Diversity is beautiful; it’s our strength! 

Let’s build community together.

We all have more in common than we have differences.

We must find a way to live, work and love together!


Children learn what they live so it’s never too early to introduce these concepts into their lives.

Here are some resources that introduce and celebrate diversity and address racism and social justice/injustice. 

books for young children --- regional bookstores --- an article related to children’s literature 


31 CHILDREN'S BOOKS TO SUPPORT CONVERSATIONS ON RACE, RACISM AND RESISTANCE

From embracerace

Research from Harvard University suggests that children as young as three years old, when exposed to racism and prejudice, tend to embrace and accept it, even though they might not understand the feelings. By age 5, white children are strongly biased towards whiteness. To counter this bias, experts recommend acknowledging and naming race and racism with children as early and as often as possible.

Children’s books are one of the most effective and practical tools for initiating these critical conversations; and they can also be used to model what it means to resist and dismantle oppression.


BOOKS ABOUT RACISM AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

From Common Sense Media

When your kids see demonstrations in the street or on the news as a response to racially charged incidents, you can help them understand what's going on by giving them some historical context. Sometimes such actions reflect a healthy democracy. Sometimes they lead to changing laws. Some movements are peaceful, others turn violent.

These books tell stories of people's experiences of racism and of those who put their bodies on the line for the cause of equality under the law and social justice. For more great reads for kids and teens, check out our Civil Rights Books and Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners


LOOKING FOR BOOKS ABOUT RACISM? EXPERTS SUGGEST THESE MUST-READ TITLES FOR ADULTS AND KIDS

By Anika ReedHannah Yasharoff

USA TODAY

June 2, 2020 

Books and bookstores recommended in the article:

Best-selling stories to help younger kids: 

  • "The Colors of Us" by Karen Katz
  • "Let’s Talk About Race" by Julius Lester
  • "The Skin I’m In: A First Look at Racism" by Pat Thomas
  • Sesame Street's "We're Different, We're the Same" by Bobbi Jane Kates
  • "Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story about Racial Injustice" by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard
  • "I Am Enough" by Grace Byers
  • "Happy in Our Skin" by Fran Manushkin and Lauren Tobia
  • "Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement" by Carole Boston Weatherford and Ekua Holmes
  • "Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America" by Jennifer Harvey
  • "Daddy Why Am I Brown?: A healthy conversation about skin color and family" by Bedford F. Palmer
  • "A Terrible Thing Happened" by Margaret Holmes
  • “Antiracist Baby" by Ibram X. Kendi

Books For teens:

  • "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas
  • "Harbor Me" by Jacqueline Woodson
  • "This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Work" by Tiffany Jewell and Aurelia Durand
  • "Brown Girl Dreaming" by Jacqueline Woodson
  • "Dear White People" by Justin Simie

Black-owned Bookstores to Support

These bookstores run by Black owners offer a slew of titles if you're looking to shop local. 

Contributing: Sara M. Moniuszko, USA TODAY.