Teacher in me had to do this..
CHILDREN’S BOOKS THAT DISCUSS RACE & RACISM THREAD:
— Brittany (@wanderingbritt_) June 2, 2020
Books are a powerful tool for learning about diverse perspectives. While we might think of these types of books as being for older people, no one is too young to engage with texts that start important conversations about race and racism. If you’re a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle—anyone that regularly interacts with children—there are a myriad of great children’s books filled with vibrant and engaging illustrations that cover these topics in a way that is accessible for kids. But where do you start? In a now-viral Twitter thread, educator Brittany Smith shared her favorite books to have in her classroom.
Smith’s selections both educate on and celebrate diversity. Some cover historical figures, such as the book Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison. Others broach topics that have profound effects on children. Maddi’s Fridge raises awareness about poverty and hunger while My Family Divided is based on actor Diane Guerrero’s personal story of her undocumented immigrant parents’ deportation.
Scroll down for Smith’s picks. And for even more suggestions, visit Twitter to see what other people recommended in their replies.
Educator Brittany Smith shared her favorite children's books dealing with race and racism.
Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X written by Ilyasah Shabazz and illustrated by AG Ford
Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters written by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Stephen Alcorn
Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story About Racial Injustice written by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard and illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin
My Hair Is a Garden by Cozbi A. Cabrera
Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh
Young Water Protectors: A Story About Standing Rock by Aslan Tudor and Kelly Tudor
My Family Divided: One Girl's Journey of Home, Loss, and Hope by Diane Guerrero and Erica Moroz
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga written by Traci Sorell and illustrated by Frané Lessac
I Am Not a Number written by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer and illustrated by Gillian Newland
Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Eric Velasquez
Lailah's Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story written by Reem Faruqi and illustrated by Lea Lyon
The Day You Begin written by Jacqueline Woodson illustrated by Rafael López
The Whispering Town by written by Jennifer Elvgren and illustrated by Fabio Santomauro
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
When I Was Eight written by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton and illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
Happy in Our Skin written by Fran Manushkin and illustrated by Lauren Tobia
Chocolate Milk, Por Favor: Celebrating Diversity with Empathy written by Maria Dismondy and illustrated by Donna Farrell
Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Ekua Holmes
When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson and Julie Flett
Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story by Paula Yoo and Lin Wang
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
Maddi's Fridge written by Lois Brandt and illustrated by Vin Vogel
Sulwe written by Lupita Nyong’o and illustrated by Vashti Harrison
A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara
Intersection Allies: We Make Room for All written by Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, and Carolyn Choi and illustrated by Ashley Seil Smith
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family written by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali and illustrated by Hatem Aly
h/t: [BuzzFeed]
All images via Brittany Smith/Twitter.
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