Skip to main content

Antiracist Books for Kids

Use these books to talk to kids about race and how to challenge racism

Scan on mobile.
Download PDF

5 items

When the shadbush blooms
by Carla Messinger, with Susan Katz ; illustrated by David Kanietakeron Fadden.
Format:

A good opportunity to learn from the Lenape people and the indigenous relationship to this land. Learn from the past and present perspective of two Lenape children as they live through the seasons of Lenapehoking, which ranges across present boundaries of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New York, including the present area of Brooklyn.

White water
Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein ; illustrated by Shadra Strickland.
Format:

Read the true story of a boy who encounters the segregation of "white" water fountains from "colored" ones, bravely disobeys the law, and discovers the lies behind these racist signs.

Sulwe
Nyong'o, Lupita/ Harrison, Vashti (ILT)
Format:

Sulwe has darker skin than everyone in her family and school, and struggles with the shame that comes from colorism. In this stunning debut picture book, we hear a story that inspires children to see the beauty of darkness and Sulwe comes to love the color of her own skin.

I'm new here
Anne Sibley O'Brien.
Format:

Maria is from Guatemala, Jin is from Korea, and Fatima is from Somalia. All three are new to their American elementary school, and each has trouble speaking, writing, and sharing ideas in English. Through self-determination and with encouragement from their peers and teachers, the students learn to feel confident and comfortable in their new school without losing a sense of their home country, language, and identity.

The colors of us
Karen Katz.
Format:

A positive and affirming look at skin color, from an artist's perspective. 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.