10 Kids Books to Spark Important Discussions About Race

Is your heart hurting? Mine is. I am hurting for my kiddo, my future children, my partner, the black community and the whole world. I want to yell at someone and frankly be quick to open my mouth on every platform possible. But here’s the thing, as parents we have a tremendous gift to get to set the lens through which our littles come to see the world and the people in it. It is our responsibility to teach worth and to educate our babies well. I am seeing a lot of comments all over social media with the same question: How do I start the conversation? What if I say the “wrong” thing? Can a very young child even benefit from these kinds of discussions?

YES! Having honest and open discussions about race and acceptance from a very early age can set the stage for a much broader and deeper understanding of these issues as your child grows up. And I am going to touch on this more in future posts but for now…here are 10 books to help spark those conversation and a few of my family’s personal favorites:

Skin Again

Skin Again offers new ways to talk about race and identity. Race matters, but only so much–what’s most important is who we are on the inside. Looking beyond skin, going straight to the heart, we find in each other the treasures stored down deep. Learning to cherish those treasures, to be all we imagine ourselves to be, makes us free.

Separate Is Never Equal

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.

The Colors of Us

Seven-year-old Lena is going to paint a picture of herself. She wants to use brown paint for her skin. But when she and her mother take a walk through the neighborhood, Lena learns that brown comes in many different shades.

Through the eyes of a little girl who begins to see her familiar world in a new way, this book celebrates the differences and similarities that connect all people.

Strictly No Elephants

Today is Pet Club day. There will be cats and dogs and fish, but strictly no elephants are allowed. The Pet Club doesn’t understand that pets come in all shapes and sizes, just like friends. Now it is time for a boy and his tiny pet elephant to show them what it means to be a true friend.

Martin’s Big Words

This picture-book biography is an excellent and accessible introduction for young readers to learn about one of the world’s most influential leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Doreen Rappaport weaves the immortal words of Dr. King into a captivating narrative to tell the story of his life.