As a parent of two white children (both under two) living in a predominantly white community, I am committed to helping my kids understand their unearned power and privilege and helping them address and attack racism. I am also committed to helping my kids develop anti-racist values and tools as well asknowledge to move through the world as anti-racists. These commitments were initially overwhelming, and I felt paralyzed with where to start.
I realized that one way I could help my kids address racism in their lives was through exposure to literature and conversation that celebrates diversity and addresses race. I’m constantly searching for age-appropriate picture books that promote diversity, value equity, celebrate Black and brown children, and discuss power systems and oppression. I’ve also done my best to not shy away from conversations around race by incorporating open-ended discussion questions as we are reading together. Here are just a few of the books I’ve found through conversations with other parents, recommendations from my colleagues, and research.
Picture Books for Children Ages 4-9
Title: All Because You Matter
Author: Tami Charles
Illustrator by: Bryan Collier
Themes: Validates identities of Black and brown children
Title: I Am Enough
Author: Grace Byers
Illustrator: Keturah A. Bobo
Themes: Validates identities of Black and brown children and kindness
Title: Beautiful Beautiful Me
Author: Ashley Sirah Hinton
Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley
Themes: Individuality and diversity
Title: Princess Truly in I Am Truly
Author: Kelly Greenawalt
Illustrator: Amariah Rauscher
Themes: Individuality and diversity
Title: Not My Idea: A Book about Whiteness
Author & Illustrator: Anastasia Higginbotham
Themes: Power and privilege
Title: If Kids Ran the World
Authors & Illustrators: Leo & Diane Dillon
Themes: Kindness and diversity
Title: For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World
Author: Michael W. Waters
Illustrator: Keisha Morris
Themes: Racism and responding to racism
Picture Books for Infants and Toddlers
Title: Antiracist Baby
Author: Ibram Kendi
Illustrator: Ashley Lukashevsky
Themes: Anti-racism
Title: The Family Book
Author & Illustrator: Todd Parr
Themes: Kindness and diversity
Title: A is for Activist
Author & Illustrator: Innosanto Nagara
Themes: Activism
Exposure by reading is the first step. The books listed above (and the School Library Journal has even more recs if you need them) can be effective at exposing children to important themes and diverse perspectives. But the crucial second step is facilitating discussion around what you are reading. Here are a few sample questions to get you started.
- What do you notice about the illustrations? How are they different from those in some of the other books that we look at?
- Why is understanding others important?
- Why might the world be unfair?
- Why do race and color matter?
- How would you make things better?
- What are ways you would help make the world more equitable?
- What are ways that you can make others feel and know that they belong and are valued and important?
- How do you and your family define racism?
- Do you feel brave enough to address racism if you see it in public?
I know that I’m not perfect, that I have a lot to learn when it comes to my growth as being an anti-racist parent. I also know that read alouds and discussion don’t solve racism, but they are a few steps parents can add to their anti-racist parenting tool kit to tackle racism.
Do you have any go-to read alouds and books that you use to read at home or in your class? Let us know.
This post was written by Heidi Towne, Associate and Operations Specialist at CT3 as part of CT3 CARES Campaign.
Check out CT3 Education programs such as No-Nonsense Nurturer, Real Time Teacher Coaching, and Real Time Leadership Coaching to find out more about Professional Development for Teachers and Leaders, classroom management strategies, and building relationships with students and their families, and properly addressing important issues in the classroom and school.
Category: Anti-Racism, Teaching, No-Nonsense Nurturer®
