It is never too early to talk to your children about race.
With all that is going on in the news right now, you may be looking for resources to start that conversation. Below is a list of books and resources that can help. These books are just a highlight of what is available through NCRL’s ebook services. Get started here; there are many more books and resources out there!
Picture Books
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson
Mixed by Arree Chung
A Ride to Remember by Sharon Langley
Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston Weatherford
Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh
Something Happened in Our Town by Marianne Celano and Donald Moses
The Youngest Marcher by Cynthia Levinson and Vanessa Bradley Newton
Chapter Books
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 by Christopher Curtis
We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices edited by Wade Hudson & Cheryl Willis Hudson
Viola Desmond Won’t Be Budged by Jody Nyasha Warner
Books for Young Adults
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely
Black Enough: Stories of Being Young and Black in American edited by Ibi Zoboi
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
Dig by A.S. King
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
I’m Not Dying with You Tonight by Gilly Segal
March, Books 1-3 by John R. Lewis, Andrew Aydin & Nate Powell
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
Stamped: Racism, Anti Racism, and You by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi
X: A Novel by Ilyasah Shabazz & Kekla Magoon, Overdrive
Additional Book Lists and other Resources
100 Race-conscious Things You Can Say to Your Child to Advance Racial Justice
Talking Race with Young Children- Podcast
Anti-Racism For Kids 101: Starting To Talk About Race
Here’s How W. Kamau Bell Talks About Race With His Kids
31 Children’s books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance
Illustrator Christian Robinson uses art to talk about anger
Fifteen titles to address inequity, equality, and organizing for young readers
School Library Journal’s Antiracist Resources and Reads: Lists for All Ages
We Need Diverse Books– Imagine a world in which all children can see themselves in the pages of a book! This nonprofit advocates essential changes in the publishing industry and promotes literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people.
Raising Race Conscious Children- A resource to support adults who are trying to talk about race with young children.
embracerace– Tools, resources, discussion spaces, and networks to raise kids who think critically about racial inequity