Resources for Talking to Kids About Racism
The last few weeks have filled many hearts with sadness as we have watched events unfold following George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery’s deaths. It has left many of us wondering how to speak to our children about race. How do we help spark change and create a better world for all children? How do we raise future generations that are compassionate, inclusive, and understanding citizens?
There are many resources out there right now to help you talk to your kids about racism. Here are some of my favorites:
Book suggestions by age
0-3
Anti-Racist Baby by: Ibram X. Kendi
Dream Big, Little One by: Vashti Harrison
3-5
The Other Side by: Jacqueline Woodson
All Are Welcome Here by: Alexandra Penfold
5-9
Something Happened in Our Town: a Child’s Story About Racial Injustice by: Marianne Celano
The Youngest Marcher by: Cynthia Levinson
Giant Steps to Change the World by: Spike Lee and Tonya Lee Lewis
Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mensex & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by: Duncan Tonatiuh
Desmond and the Very Mean Word by: Desmond Tutu
9-12
Ten Miles Past Normal by: Frances O’Roark Dowell
Resist: 40 Profiles of Ordinary People Who Rose Up Against Tyranny and Injustice by: Veronica Chambers
12 and up
Black Lives Matter by: Sue Bradford Edwards and Duchess Harris
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by: Jason Reynolds
More Book Resources:
The Conscious Kid is an education, research and policy organization dedicated to reducing bias and promoting positive identity development in youth. We partner with organizations, children’s museums, schools, and families across the country to promote access to children’s books centering underrepresented and oppressed groups.
A Mighty Girl is the world’s largest collection of books, toys, movies, and music for parents, teachers, and others dedicated to raising smart, confident, and courageous girls and, of course, for girls themselves!
LEE & LOW BOOKS is the largest multicultural children's book publisher in the country.
The Colours of Us, your one-stop source for multicultural children's books (listed by subjects, ethnicity and age groups), toys and clothes. Because representation matters!
The Diverse BookFinder is a comprehensive collection of children's picture books featuring Black and Indigenous people and People of Color (BIPOC)
Additional Resources
EmbraceRace fights systemic racism by supporting parents to raise children who are brave, informed and thoughtful about race. Join the movement!
Healthy Children’s article focused on how to talk to your children about racism.
Teaching Tolerance provides free resources to educators—teachers, administrators, counselors and other practitioners—who work with children from kindergarten through high school.
New York Times short lesson plans featuring current events articles.
Fighting Hate for Good provides a list of ways youth can engage in activism and spark change.
UNICEF’s advice on how to talk to your children about Racism.