Books That Heal Kids: race

Showing posts with label race. Show all posts
Showing posts with label race. Show all posts

Book Review: Sulwe

Author: Lupita Nyong'o
Illustrator: Vashti Harrison

From the Book Jacket: Sulwe has skin the color of midnight. She is darker than everyone in her family. She is darker than anyone in her school. Sulwe just wants to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Then a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything. 

In this stunning debut picture book, Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o creates a whimsical and heartwarming story that will inspire children to see their own unique beauty. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Wow. This book belongs in every classroom library. It addresses the issue of colorism or shadeism which is discrimination based on skin color usually from members of the same race in which people are treated differently. Author and actress Lupita Nyong'o brings us a story that shares the pain this treatment of people can cause. She adds an author's note at the end letting readers know the journey of self-love she has been on - her transparency is inspiring. Cannot recommend this one enough!

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Book Review: Mixed - A Colorful Story

Author/Illustrator: Arree Chung

From the Book Jacket: In the beginning, there were three colors...Reds, Yellows, and Blues. All special in their own ways, all living in harmony - until one day, a Red says, "Reds are the best!" and starts a color kerfuffle. When the colors decide to separate, is there anything that can change their minds? A Yellow, a Blue, and a never-before-seen color might just save the day in this inspiring book about color, tolerance, and embracing differences. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: My daughter has read this book about ten times since we got it. I cannot wait to share it with students. The message of kindness, getting along, and respecting one another is exactly how I would like kids to start their school year. Too many times our differences keep us apart and can sadly create an environment that does not feel inclusive or accepting. Building a positive school community is what matters most to me. Mixed - A Colorful Story supports that mission and will help children to be kind and caring towards one another. This one is a must for your home, classroom, and counseling curriculum!

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Book Review: Who We Are! All About Being the Same and Being Different


Author: Robie H Harris
Illustrator: Nadine Bernard Westcott
Interest Level: Ages 4 and Up

From the Book Jacket: Young children are curious about almost everything. Asking questions is one of the many ways they learn about themselves and the world around them. The Lets Talk About YOU and ME series provides our youngest children with easy-to-understand facts and fascinating answers to their delightful, thoughtful, and often nonstop questions. 

Join Nellie, Gus, baby Jake, and their parents at Funland as they go on rides, watch performers, and play games with many other children and grown-ups. This enjoyable excursion can help children understand that people are the same as one another in lots of ways and different from one another in lots of ways. 

Accessible, humorous, family-filled illustrations; conversations between Gus and Nellie; and matter-of-fact text help children to realize why treating other people the way they want to be treated - and the way you want to be treated - matters, whether a person is a lot like you or different from you or is a friend or someone you have met or seen for the first time. 


Why It's On My Bookshelf: I'm adding this one to my kid's bookshelf at home and also here at school to use in lessons on differences. I see books like these as community builders. The more we teach and remind children how important, wonderful, and normal differences are - the more we become connected on a deeper level. 

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Book Review: Mixed Me!























Author: Taye Diggs
Illustrator: Shane Evans
Interest Level: Ages 4 and Up

From the Book Jacket:  My mom and dad say I'm a blend of dark and light. "We mixed you perfectly, and got you JUST RIGHT!" Mike has awesome hair. He has LOTS of energy! His parents love him. And Mike is a PERFECT blend of the two of them. Still, Mike has to answer LOTS of questions about being mixed. And he does, with LOTS of energy and joy in this charming story about a day in the life of a mixed-race child.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I've been using this as a read aloud with my K-3 grades and it is AWESOME. My hope is that it would bring more understanding, acceptance, and validation to children of all races. It did that and so much more. Our librarian also bought a copy for our library so kids can access it. As a counselor, I deeply appreciate a book that opens kids hearts to each other and helps take away any stigmas or negative messages that have been received regarding one's race.

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Book Review: Wilma Unlimited


Author: Kathleen Krull
Illustrator: David Diaz
Interest Level: Ages 6 and Up

From the Book Jacket: One of the most energetic kids in the town Clarksville, Tennessee, Wilma loves to run and laugh and play with her nineteen older brothers and sisters. But before she's five years old, she gets very sick, and the doctor's news is not good: polio has paralyzed her left leg. Everyone says that Wilma will never walk again. 

Wilma refuses to believe it. Not only will she walk again, she vows, she'll run. It takes years. It takes hard work. But at last she does run - across the basketball court, around the track, and eventually, all the way to the Olympic Games.  

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This is an inspiring story to read after winter break. I'm already thinking about June! We all need a good dose of PERSEVERANCE! We live in a time when kids expect an immediate reward without putting in the hard work. We need to encourage children to establish a target and practice their skills to achieve it. Even if it's a small goal...like finishing a book. We will be using Wilma Unlimited as our school's book of the month and I am so happy that ALL of our students will get to hear her story and learn the importance of perseverance.

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Book Review: The Land of Many Colors

Written by the Klamath County YMCA Family Preschool
Illustrated by Rita Pocock
Interest Level: Ages 4-8

From the Book Jacket: A simple message of peace and respect for differences is the theme of this book written by children for children. When the purple people, the blue people, and the green people begin fighting and hurting each other, they are reminded that although they have different feelings and like different things, they can still be friends.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: There are some books I enjoy reading....and then there are ones I REALLY enjoy reading like The Land of Many Colors. "Can't we all just get along?" Remember that famous quote? Well, sometimes I feel that way in an elementary school setting! We've got a lot of peace and harmony flowing through our school, but once in awhile a group of students will sort of become exclusive. That's when I'm reminded of how important books are and as cheesy as this sounds....they can save the world gosh darn it! I am so grateful for this simple, yet powerful, story. I have been able to do A LOT with this book. It promotes diversity, differences, friendship, and team work. Favorite part of the story is when the different colors are confronted by a little child all covered in dust and shouts, "STOP!" I ask the students why he/she is covered in dust. Oh my goodness, I love the responses. This is a heart and mind opener. GET IT.

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Book Review: Skin Again

Author: Bell Hooks
Illustrated by Chris Raschka
Interest Level: Ages 5-10

About This Book: Celebrating all that makes us unique and different, Skin Again offers new ways to talk about race and identity. Race matters, but only so much - what's most important is who we are on the inside. Looking beyond skin, going straight to the heart, we find in each other the treasures stored down deep. Learning to cherish those treasures, to be all we imagine ourselves to be, makes us free. Skin Again celebrates this freedom.

The skin I'm in is just a covering.
If you want to know who I am
you have got to come inside
and open your heart way wide.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Ever wanted to open a discussion up with a child or a classroom about skin color? Diversity? Then this is your book! It is so beautifully written. I was so overcome with such an exciting feeling when I thought about sharing it with children. Skin Again helps children understand we are more than just our skin color. What counts most is what is within. Kids soak up this message because that is how they are built. They are born to love and accept others. Skin Again is a lovely reminder of that. Find room on your shelf for it.


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