Resources for Having Conversations about White Supremacy, Anti-Racism, Black Lives Matter and Systems of Oppression with...

Your Child/Student (Similar to Literature Groups)

*We recommend reading these books beforehand. Some of these books are suggested for higher age ranges.

Here’s a guide on how to read picture books with your child.

This is in no way a complete or perfect list of resources, but rather serves as a starting point in our continuing commitment and action to dismantle systems of oppression. Inspired by EmbraceRace’s work with Lee and Low Books Publishing, we have borrowed these four categories to sort our recommendations.

Here is a link to their original lists.

Ready to start the conversation? Here is a guide on how to read picture books through a lens of racial justice with your child.

Inspiring Resilience in Kids of Color

My Hair is a Garden by Cozbi A. Cabrera (Read by 1-2 Teachers)
The Legendary Miss Lena Horne (Read by 1-2 Teachers)
Black Is a Rainbow Color by Angela Joy (Read by the author!)
Sesame Street-I Love My Hair
I am Enough by Grace Byers

Encouraging Kids of All Colors to be Inclusive and Empathetic

Wings by Christopher Meyers, read by Woke Kindergarten (Focused on Younger Elementary Students)
Say Something! by Peter H. Reynolds

Supporting Kids to think Critically About Racial Inequity

Let’s Talk About Race by Julius Lester
Something Happened in Our Town by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard
Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness by Anastasia Higginbotham [The images sometimes hold more meaning than the text, this book features this in particular. You might approach discussing a single page with your student(s).]
The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall Standing Up to Racism-Parts of this video addresses kids and other parts address adults.
#KidLit Rally for Black Lives- Parts of this video addresses kids and other parts address adults.

Animatimating Kids to be Racial Justice Advocates for All Kids

Youngest Marcher by Cynthia Levinson
Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson
We March by Shane Evans
A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara (Focused on Younger Elementary Students)

Next Steps: Reevaluate your bookshelf. Go through your bookshelf with your student(s) to reflect on whose voices and characters are represented.

Who is represented in your library? (Equity Bingo Sheet as PDF)
Based on your bingo sheet, what voices are missing? Here is a link to find 28 books to help diversify your bookshelf.
Here’s an article and video about for parents on how to choose diverse picture books.
Support Black owned book shops like Kizzy’s Books & More