Loading
Kids’ Books About Race, Prejudice, and Protest
These books can facilitate difficult conversations about prejudice and protest.
Published on June 16, 2023
The Snowy Day
Ezra Jack KeatsFor readers aged 0–3. In The New York Times article “These Books Can Help You Explain Racism and Protest to Your Kids,” Kaitlyn Greenidge recommended “The Snowy Day,” saying, “I love all of Ezra Jack Keats’s books about Peter, because they show a black boy in the city and the stories are just about his curiosity, his bravery and his being a kid. They are beautiful meditations on the interiority of black childhood without trauma while still feeling very black.”
Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story About Racial Injustice
Marianne CelanoFor readers aged 4–8. This beautiful and thoughtful book directly engages with the atrocities that have sparked the Black Lives Matter movement, and explains the importance of activism and social justice.
We March
Shane W. EvansFor readers aged 4–8, but can be read aloud to younger readers. This beautiful and minimalist story of the March on Washington in 1963, which culminated in Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, showcases the beauty of a community marching together. It’s a great way to introduce the history of that momentous day, but it also depicts the significance of marches happening today.
Let the Children March
Frank MorrisonFor readers aged 6–9. This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of the historic Children’s Crusade during the Civil Rights Movement. It shares a powerful and empowering message for kids struggling with feelings of powerlessness.
A Good Kind of Trouble
Lisa Moore RaméeFor readers aged 8–12. This nuanced middle grade novel depicts the personal and political awakening of its protagonist, Shay, even as she navigates everyday issues like school and friendships. A wonderful novel for kids awakening to the painful realities of the world, and struggling to articulate their feelings and sense of social responsibility.
Martin Rising: Requiem For a King
Andrea Davis PinkneyFor readers aged 9–12. This gorgeous book depicts the final months of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life with deep emotion and beauty. It doesn’t shy away from the realities of his assassination, but demonstrates how his legacy has continued to inspire and transform the world.
One Crazy Summer
Rita Williams-GarciaFor readers aged 9–12. A Newbery Honor winner, this entertaining middle grade novel follows three sisters who travel to Oakland, CA in 1968 expecting trips to Disneyland, and instead find themselves at a Black Panther camp. Hilarious and heartwarming, the book also delves into difficult topics around protest, violence, and different ways of showing love.