While young children are avid observers and questioners of their world, adults often shut down or postpone conversations on complicated topics because it’s hard to know where to begin. Research shows that talking about issues like race and gender from the age of two not only helps children understand what they see, but also increases self-awareness, self-esteem, and allows them to recognize and confront things that are unfair, like discrimination and prejudice. This first book in the series begins the conversation on race, with a supportive approach that considers both the child and the adult. Stunning art accompanies the simple and interactive text, and the backmatter offers additional resources and ideas for extending this discussion.
Megan Pamela Ruth Madison is a lifelong student of radical Black feminism and an early childhood educator. She holds an MS in early childhood education from Dominican University and a BA in studies in religion from the University of Michigan. She is currently pursuing her PhD at Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy. When she’s not working on finishing up her dissertation, she works as a trainer for the Center for Racial Justice in Education, the Human Root, and the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute, facilitating workshops for teachers on race, gender, and sexuality based learning at the American Library Association Conference, Young Child Expo, and the Bank Street Center for Children’s Literature.
Jessica Ralli is the Coordinator of Early Literacy Programs at Brooklyn Public Library, where she develops and manages programming for BPL’s award-winning First Five Years initiative. She received her MA in Early Childhood Special Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and previously taught in schools, childcare centers, and museums. She has written about early literacy and library services for young children in School Library Journal (where she co-authors the “First Steps” column with Rachel G. Payne) and has presented on play-based learning at the American Library Association Conference, Young Child Expo, and the Bank Street Center for Children’s Literature.
Read Aloud Tips
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Use this book as an opportunity to teach a unit around social justice. This can be done by pairing this book with a film or show that discusses issues like race and gender for kids and adolescents.
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Follow this book with the other books in the series to stimulate self-awareness and improve comfortability around unfair topics like discrimination.
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Create a safe space for students and educators to have conversations about race. Allow adequate time for debriefing, reflection, and discussion.
” This book helps children to recognize and discuss the diversity of skin color, identify what they love about their own skin, understand where skin color comes from, identify groups they belong to, understand the construct of race and where it comes from, understand racism, AND learn how to stand up against racism. Wow. All in an age-appropriate and easily comprehensible way. ” – Amazon Review