18 ANTI-RACISM BOOKS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES
Image: Via Instagram/@jane_mount
BY JESSICA BOSCO
As protests over the tragic murder of George Floyd at the hands of US police enter their second week, many parents across the globe are wondering how we should be talking about the situation with our children.
Many of us are trying to stand up and educate ourselves on the systemic racism that is deeply rooted both in the US and here in Australia, which means it can be hard to know what to say to our children; when we ourselves are still learning. We acknowledge this, in itself, is a privilege. But the most important thing we can do is not shy away from those difficult conversations, just because we don’t have all the answers.
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“The best advice I can give parents is to be models for the attitudes, behaviour and values that they wish to see in their children,” Nia Heard-Garris, M.D., an attending physician at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago told The New York Times.
“It is not enough to talk about racism, you must strive to be anti-racist and fight against racist policies and practices,” Dr. Heard-Garris added, if you have the privilege, “make space, speak up or amplify issues of inequity and injustice.”
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When the hashtags stop trending and the social media feeds resume “regular programming”, we need to keep the conversation going. We need to keep talking, keep acting and keep teaching our kids. And one of the best ways to do that is through books.
Here is a list of some books to read with your children that cover the issue of racism and help understand and encourage diversity by exposing them to a range of experiences and cultures – but it is by no means exhaustive. We have compiled these through research and recommendations we have found online as we are not the experts here, these are some of the books we plan to read with our own kids as we commit to our own journey to be better and to do better, please share any other books or resources that you have found useful.
Some accounts to follow on Insta for more children’s book and resource recommendations include @theconsciouskid, @booksfordiversity, @blackfulla_bookclub, @thetinyactivists, @littlefeministbookclub as well as indigenous bookstores Magabala.com and iadpress.com.
*Note: These the descriptions of the books are those provided online. We have provided links to buy but encourage you to support local bookstores where possible - or better yet check out your local library for a copy and donate the cost of the book to the cause.
Ages 0+
Woke Baby
By: Mahogany L. Browne
‘Woke Baby’, Mahogany L. Browne
For all the littlest progressives, waking up to seize a new day of justice and activism.
Woke babies are up early. Woke babies raise their fists in the air. Woke babies cry out for justice. Woke babies grow up to change the world.
This lyrical and empowering book is both a celebration of what it means to be a baby and what it means to be woke. With bright playful art, Woke Baby is an anthem of hope in a world where the only limit to a skyscrapper is more blue.
An ABC of Equality
By: Chana Ewing, Paulina Morgan
An ABC of Equality, by Chana Ewing, Paulina Morgan
A is for Ability, B is for Belief, C is for Class. ALL people have the right to be treated fairly, no matter who they are, what they look like or where they come from. This is called equality. An ABC of Equality introduces complicated concepts to the youngest of children. From A to Z, bitesize pieces of text accompanied by colourful and lively artwork teaches children about the world we live in and how to navigate our way through it. Celebrate your Differences, ask more Questions, share your Kindness and learn to Understand the world.
With clear and simple explanations and bright and engaging artwork this is the perfect gift for anyone who wants to teach children about current issues and social justice.
AntiRacist Baby
By Ibram X. Kendi
AntiRacist Baby. By Ibram X. Kendi
From the National Book Award-winning author of Stamped from the Beginning and How to Be an Antiracist comes a fresh new board book that empowers parents and children to uproot racism in our society and in ourselves.
Take your first steps with Antiracist Baby! Or rather, follow Antiracist Baby's nine easy steps for building a more equitable world.
With bold art and thoughtful yet playful text, Antiracist Baby introduces the youngest readers and the grown-ups in their lives to the concept and power of antiracism. Providing the language necessary to begin critical conversations at the earliest age, Antiracist Baby is the perfect gift for readers of all ages dedicated to forming a just society.
Ages 2+
The Snowy Day
By Ezra Jack Keats
The Snowy Day. By Ezra Jack Keats
No book has captured the magic and sense of the possibility of the first snowfall better than The Snow Day. Universal in its appeal, the story has become a favourite of millions, as it reveals a child&;s wonder at a new world, and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever. The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day.
The book is notable not only for its lovely artwork and tone but also for its importance as a trailblazer. According to Horn Book magazine, The Snowy Day was the very first full-colour picture book to feature a small black hero; yet another reason to add this classic to your shelves. It&;s as unique and special as a snowflake.
Ages 3 +
Our Home, Our Heartbeat
By Adam Briggs
Our Home, Our Heartbeat, by Adam Briggs
Adapted from Briggs’ celebrated song 'The Children Came Back', Our Home, Our Heartbeat is a celebration of past and present Indigenous legends, as well as emerging generations, and at its heart honours the oldest continuous culture on earth.
Readers will recognise Briggs' distinctive voice and contagious energy within the pages of Our Home, Our Heartbeat, signifying a new and exciting chapter in children's Indigenous publishing.
Age 4+
A Is For Activist
by Innosanto Nagara
A Is For Activist , by Innosanto Nagara
"A is for Activist is an ABC board book written and illustrated for the next generation of progressives- families who want their kids to grow up in a space that is unapologetic about activism, environmental justice, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, and everything else that activists believe in and fight for. The alliteration, rhyming, and vibrant illustrations make the book exciting for children, while the issues it brings up resonate with their parents' values of community, equality, and justice. This engaging little book carries huge messages as it inspires hope for the future, and calls children to action while teaching them a love for books."
Sulwe
By: Lupita Nyong'o
Sulwe, by Lupita Nyong'o
From Academy Award–winning actress Lupita Nyong’o comes a powerful, moving picture book about colorism, self-esteem, and learning that true beauty comes from within.
Sulwe has skin the color of midnight. She is darker than everyone in her family. She is darker than anyone in her school. Sulwe just wants to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Then a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything.
In this stunning debut picture book, actress Lupita Nyong’o creates a whimsical and heartwarming story to inspire children to see their own unique beauty.
The Skin I'm in
By Pat Thomas
The Skin I'm in , by Pat Thomas
Racial discrimination is cruel—and especially so to younger children. This title encourages kids to accept and be comfortable with differences of skin color and other racial characteristics among their friends and in themselves. ‘A First Look At’ is an easy-to-understand series of books for younger children. Each title explores emotional issues and discusses the questions such difficulties invariably raise among kids of preschool through early school age. Written by a psychotherapist and child counsellor, each title promotes positive interaction among children, parents, and teachers. The books are written in simple, direct language that makes sense to younger kids. Each title also features a guide for parents on how to use the book, a glossary, suggested additional reading, and a list of resources. There are attractive full-color illustrations on every page.
Hair Love
By Matthew A. Cherry
Hair Love, by Matthew A. Cherry
It's up to Daddy to give his daughter an extra-special hairstyle in this ode to self-confidence and the love between fathers and daughters, from Academy-Award winning director and former NFL wide receiver Matthew A. Cherry and New York Times bestselling illustrator Vashti Harrison.
Zuri's hair has a mind of its own. It kinks, coils, and curls every which way. Zuri knows it's beautiful. When Daddy steps in to style it for an extra special occasion, he has a lot to learn. But he LOVES his Zuri, and he'll do anything to make her -- and her hair -- happy.
Tender and empowering, Hair Love is an ode to loving your natural hair -- and a celebration of daddies and daughters everywhere.
AGE 5 +
Malala's Magic Pencil
By Malala Yousafzai
Malala's Magic Pencil, by Malala Yousafzai
As a child in Pakistan, Malala made a wish for a magic pencil that she could use to redraw reality. She would use it to give gifts to her family, to erase the smell from the rubbish dump near her house, to sleep an extra hour in the morning. As she grew older, Malala wished for bigger and bigger things. She saw a world that needed fixing. And even if she never found a magic pencil, Malala realized that she could still work hard every day to make her wishes come true.
This beautifully illustrated picture book tells Malala's story, in her own words, for a younger audience and shows them the worldview that allowed her to hold on to hope and to make her voice heard even in the most difficult of times.
Little People, BIG DREAMS: Rosa Parks
By Lisbeth Kaiser
Rosa Parks grew up during segregation in Alabama, but she was taught to respect herself and stand up for her rights. In 1955, Rosa refused to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Her decision had a huge impact on civil rights, eventually leading to the end of segregation on public transport. Rosa has been described as The Mother of the Freedom Movement; this inspiring story of her life features facts and photos.
This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids from around the World
By Matt Lamothe
Follow one day in the real lives of seven kids from around the world—Italy, Japan, Iran, India, Peru, Uganda, and Russia!
In Japan, Kei plays Freeze Tag, while in Uganda, Daphine likes to jump rope. While the way they play may differ, the shared rhythm of their days—and this one world we all share —unites them.
This genuine exchange provides a window into traditions that may be different from our own as well as mirrors reflecting our common experiences. Inspired by his own travels, Matt Lamonthe transports readers across the globe and back with this luminous and thoughtful picture book.
Ages 8+
Separate Is Never Equal
By Duncan Tonatiuh
Separate Is Never Equal, by Duncan Tonatiuh
A 2015 Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book and a 2015 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book. Almost 10 years before Brown vs. Board of Education, Sylvia Mendez and her parents helped end school segregation in California. An American citizen of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage who spoke and wrote perfect English, Mendez was denied enrollment to a "Whites only" school. Her parents took action by organizing the Hispanic community and filing a lawsuit in federal district court. Their success eventually brought an end to the era of segregated education in California.
Resist: 35 Profiles of Ordinary People Who Rose Up Against Tyranny and Injustice
By Veronica Chambers
Resist: 35 Profiles of Ordinary People Who Rose Up Against Tyranny and Injustice
By Veronica Chambers
A perfect tool for young readers as they grow into the leaders of tomorrow, Veronica Chambers’s inspiring collection of profiles—along with Senator Cory Booker’s stirring foreword—will inspire readers of all ages to stand up for what’s right.
You may only be one person, but you have the power to change the world.
Before they were activists, they were just like you and me. From Frederick Douglass to Malala Yousafzai, Joan of Arc to John Lewis, Susan B. Anthony to Janet Mock—these remarkable figures show us what it means to take a stand and say no to injustice, even when it would be far easier to stay quiet.
Resist profiles men and women who resisted tyranny, fought the odds, and stood up to bullies that threatened to harm their communities. Along with their portraits and most memorable quotes, their stories will inspire you to speak out and rise up—every single day.
Ages 9 +
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History
By Vashti Harrison
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History, by Vashti Harrison
This beautifully illustrated New York Times bestseller introduces readers of all ages to 40 women who changed the world.
An important book for all ages, Little Leaders educates and inspires as it relates true stories of forty trailblazing black women in American history. Illuminating text paired with irresistible illustrations bring to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of Black history such as abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball, politician Shirley Chisholm, mathematician Katherine Johnson, poet Maya Angelou, and filmmaker Julie Dash.
Among these biographies, readers will find heroes, role models, and everyday women who did extraordinary things - bold women whose actions and beliefs contributed to making the world better for generations of girls and women to come. Whether they were putting pen to paper, soaring through the air or speaking up for the rights of others, the women profiled in these pages were all taking a stand against a world that didn't always accept them.
The leaders in this book may be little, but they all did something big and amazing, inspiring generations to come.
Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness
By Anastasia Higginbotham
Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness, by Anastasia Higginbotham
Not My Idea, the latest in the critically-acclaimed Ordinary Terrible Things series, is a book about whiteness. A white child sees TV news coverage of a white police officer shooting a brown person whose hands were up. Upset, he asks his mother why; she deflects, assuring him that he is safe. Later, they visit an aunt and uncle, where the TV, always-on, shows a rally in response to the police shooting. The child glimpses a moving press conference with the victim's family while his aunt claims she simply "can't watch the news."
The book's narrator accompanies the child as he faces history and himself. The activities section urges kids to grow justice ("like a bean sprout in a milk carton") inside of themselves, seek out and listen to the truth about racism and white supremacy, and prepare to be changed, heartbroken, and liberated by this experience. Part history lesson, part compassionate primer to assist children (and parents) past defensiveness, Not My Idea is a tangible tool for necessary conversations.
Ages 11+
This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons On How To Wake Up, Take Action, And Do The Work
By Tiffany Jewell
Who are you? What is racism? Where does it come from? Why does it exist? What can you do to disrupt it? Learn about social identities, the history of racism and resistance against it, and how you can use your anti-racist lens and voice to move the world toward equity and liberation.
Gain a deeper understanding of your anti-racist self as you progress through 20 chapters that spark introspection, reveal the origins of racism that we are still experiencing and give you the courage and power to undo it. Each chapter builds on the previous one as you learn more about yourself and racial oppression. Exercise prompts get you thinking and help you grow with the knowledge.
Author Tiffany Jewell, an anti-bias, anti-racist educator and activist, builds solidarity beginning with the language she chooses - using gender neutral words to honour everyone who reads the book. Illustrator Aurelia Durand brings the stories and characters to life with kaleidoscopic vibrancy.
After examining the concepts of social identity, race, ethnicity and racism, learn about some of the ways people of different races have been oppressed, from indigenous Americans and Australians being sent to boarding school to be 'civilized' to a generation of Caribbean immigrants once welcomed to the UK being threatened with deportation by strict immigration laws.
Find hope in stories of strength, love, joy and revolution that are part of our history, too, with such figures as the former slave Toussaint Louverture, who led a rebellion against white planters that eventually led to Haiti's independence, and Yuri Kochiyama, who, after spending time in an internment camp for Japanese Americans during WWII, dedicated her life to supporting political prisoners and advocating reparations for those wrongfully interned.
This book is written for EVERYONE who lives in this racialised society-including the young person who doesn't know how to speak up to the racist adults in their life, the kid who has lost them self at times trying to fit into the dominant culture, the children who have been harmed (physically and emotionally) because no one stood up for them or they couldn't stand up for themselves and also for their families, teachers and administrators.
With this book, be empowered to actively defy racism to create a community (large and small) that truly honours everyone.
Ages 15+
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
By Jason Reynolds, Ibram Kendi
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, by Jason Reynolds, Ibram Kendi
A timely, crucial, and empowering exploration of racism--and antiracism--in America
This is NOT a history book.
This is a book about the here and now.
A book to help us better understand why we are where we are.
A book about race.
The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. This remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America, and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers. It also proves that while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can also be discredited.
Through a gripping, fast-paced, and energizing narrative written by beloved award-winner Jason Reynolds, this book shines a light on the many insidious forms of racist ideas--and on ways readers can identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their daily lives.