Early Childhood: Learning about Racial Identity and Fairness

DESCRIPTION: All the Colors of the Earth is an exquisitely illustrated story-poem about how all skin colors are “the color of love.”  (Also shows non-stereotypical gender and disabilities.)

DESCRIPTION: Grace loves stories —- whether she hears them, reads them, or makes them up. It is only natural when Grace's teacher announces a classroom production of Peter Pan that Grace wants to play the lead. One classmate says she can't because she's a girl and another says she can't because she's black. Note: The teacher or parent will need to explain to children that Grace is dressed in a “stereotypical” multi-feathered Native American headdress when she is playing the role of Hiawatha.

DESCRIPTION: A small boy with two Moms figures out that he can have many best friends and many best colors.

DESCRIPTION: Now a classic, this is a beloved story of an African-American mother, a white father, and their two "tan" children in a loving, non-sexist, extended family. Softly-colored pictures with poetic, rhyming text sing the joys of family life and appreciate the many skin tones in their family. The language is as magical as the message. This is still the best book available about bi-racial families. (Also shows non-stereotypical gender roles.)

DESCRIPTION: In this exquisite and loving book, a Latina child describes how each person in her family has hair that looks and acts different. It is written in Spanish and English. From Cisneros' The House on Mango Street.

DESCRIPTION: Every night before she goes to bed, Keyana sits down between her mother's knees to have her hair combed. But no matter how gently Mama pulls, it still hurts sometimes! Keyana doesn't feel lucky to have such a head of hair – until Mama reminds her of all the lovely ways her wonderful hair can be fixed.

DESCRIPTION: A beautiful story told from the perspective of a young African American girl growing up in a rural area where adults tell black children and white children not to play together. Clover becomes curious about a lonely white girl who lives on the other side of her family's fence and makes a bold move in deciding to join the girl on the fence. Clover becomes a leader because her African-American friends decide to sit on the fence too, and they hope that someday someone might knock it down. This is an excellent text for introducing the history of segregation and sparking discussion about leadership and seeking commonalities. It can be paired with other stories about inclusion such as Moss's Say Something and Otoshi's One. Also see Woodson's Coming On Home Soon.

DESCRIPTION: This wonderful photo books celebrates the many beautiful shades of "Black" children’s skin, eyes, and hair. It is a joyful book for all children and an essential one for African American children.

DESCRIPTION: There are two Mrs. Gibsons in this young girl's life and she remembers both of them lovingly. The older Mrs. Gibson has skin the color of chocolate, big hands and a big voice, and she gives big, fat hugs. The younger Mrs. Gibson has skin the color of vanilla, writes Japanese, and cooks Japanese dishes. It is not until the end of the book that readers discover that the first Mrs. Gibson is the girl's grandmother, while the second Mrs. Gibson is her mother.