It is with utter heartache that I write this message. The killing of George Floyd, yet again reminds us that racism and hatred is pervasive in our society, community, and neighborhoods. I hope we can all agree that education (for adults and children) is a powerful pathway to gaining a better understanding of why discrimination and the underlying causes of racism exist.
Your children may be asking some big questions right now, or you may feel it is time to start conversations about race in your home. I have included several resources to help support you, and hope that whatever age your child is, you will find a way to begin and further these often difficult, but important conversations. Let us all work together to make all members of our community feel valued, respected, and safe.
Dr. Montessori so wisely understood that, “Establishing lasting peace is the work of education: all politics can do is keep us out of war”.
Please reach out if you need further help or support and let us all stand up for what is just and right. And please remember to stay safe.
In peace,
Debbie
Children’s Book Lists
These lists of children’s books, compiled by a variety of sources, have themes that aim to accurately reflect the many people, cultures, and traditions of our world; help dispel myths and biases; and promote peace and understanding.
“Children’s Books That Tackle Race and Ethnicity,” by Maria Russo, from the New York Times, September 23, 2016.
LGBT Books for Children, by the Bank Street School of Education, is sorted by category: picture books, juvenile fiction, juvenile nonfiction, children’s poetry, young adult fiction, and juvenile biography.
See What We See, a coalition of writers, scholars, educators, librarians, and activists who believe that what we read can help shape our attitudes and actions, has created this guide for selecting anti-bias books for children.
We Need Diverse Books, a grassroots foundation that invites us to “imagine a world in which all children can see themselves in the pages of a book,” offers suggestions of books for children of all ages.
This Social Justice Book List is an initiative of the National Network of State Teachers of the Year.