America is still deeply racially divided. At Brightly we’re committed to helping you raise kids that are not only “not racist” but who are actively “anti-racist.” When we are anti-racist, we speak out against the human injustices that happen every day, because change does not come from staying silent.<\/p>\n
It’s never too early to talk to children about race. According to HealthyChildren.org<\/a>, “As early as 6 months, a baby’s brain can notice race-based differences. By ages 2 to 4, children can internalize racial bias. By age 12, many children become set in their beliefs \u2014 giving parents a decade to mold the learning process, so that it decreases racial bias and improves cultural understanding.”<\/p>\n Books play an important role in combating racial bias. Children need to see themselves and their experiences represented in the books they read, and perhaps even more crucial, they need to read about the experiences of people who are different from them. Sharing stories fosters empathy and understanding, allowing readers to gain new perspective by walking in someone else\u2019s shoes.<\/p>\n Reading books featuring BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) characters and experiences provides a great way to start a conversation about race with the kids in your life. But support for these communities goes well beyond that. We’ve complied further reading resources for parents, caregivers, and educators \u2014 from how to talk to your kids about protests to understanding white privilege. If we truly wish to see change happen, it’s vital that we put in the work, with and for our children.<\/p>\n yes yes Picture Books 9780593203224 Change Sings<\/i> by Amanda Gorman, illustrated by Loren Long 9780593307359 The 1619 Project: Born on the Water<\/i> by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Ren\u00e9e Watson; illustrated by Nikkolas Smith 9780593110515 Goodnight Racism<\/i> by Ibram X. Kendi, illustrated by Cbabi Bayoc 9780593529423 Hey You!<\/i> by Dapo Adeola 9780593110416 AntiRacist Baby<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/624774\/antiracist-baby-by-ibram-x-kendi-illustrated-by-ashley-lukashevsky\/9780593110416 by Ibram X. Kendi, illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky 9780375806131 The Name Jar<\/i> by Yangsook Choi 9780525554226 Love Makes a Family<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/602705\/love-makes-a-family-by-sophie-beer\/9780525554226 by Sophie Beer 9780147515469 Max and the Tag-Along Moon<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/289890\/max-and-the-tag-along-moon-by-floyd-cooper-illustrated-by-floyd-cooper\/9780147515469 by Floyd Cooper 9780140564402 Goggles<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/317117\/goggles-by-ezra-jack-keats\/9780140564402 by Ezra Jack Keats 9780803740853 I am Rosa Parks<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/314828\/i-am-rosa-parks-by-brad-meltzer-illustrated-by-christopher-eliopoulos\/9780803740853 by Brad Meltzer, illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos 9780399257742 Last Stop on Market Street<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/310757\/last-stop-on-market-street-by-matt-de-la-pena-illustrated-by-christian-robinson\/ by Matt de la Pe\u00f1a, illustrated by Christian Robinson 9781524740740 The King of Kindergarten<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/556838\/the-king-of-kindergarten-by-derrick-barnes-illustrated-by-vanessa-brantley-newton\/ by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton 9781524770563 We\u2019re Different, We\u2019re the Same (Sesame Street)<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/90043\/were-different-were-the-same-sesame-street-by-bobbi-kates-illustrated-by-joe-mathieu\/ by Bobbi Kates, illustrated by Joe Mathieu 9780147510587 Back of the Bus<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/302883\/back-of-the-bus-by-aaron-reynolds-illustrated-by-floyd-cooper\/9780147510587 by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Floyd Cooper 9780525553366 Hair Love<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/585658\/hair-love-by-matthew-a-cherry-illustrated-by-vashti-harrison\/ by Matthew A. Cherry, illustrated by Vashti Harrison 9780593123133 We Are a Garden<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/611560\/we-are-a-garden-by-lisa-westberg-peters-illustrated-by-victoria-tentler-krylov\/ by Lisa Westberg Peters, illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov 9781623541927 We Are Still Here!<\/i> by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frane Lessac 9781534400597 Mommy’s Khimar<\/i> https:\/\/www.simonandschuster.com\/books\/Mommys-Khimar\/Jamilah-Thompkins-Bigelow\/9781534400597 by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illustrated by Ebony Glenn 9780062667120 I Am Enough<\/i> https:\/\/www.harpercollins.com\/9780062667120\/i-am-enough\/ by Grace Byers, illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo 9780399246531 The Day You Begin<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/299104\/the-day-you-begin-by-jacqueline-woodson-illustrated-by-rafael-lopez\/ by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael L\u00f3pez 9780399166150 Firebird<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/314568\/firebird-by-misty-copeland-illustrated-by-christopher-myers\/ by Misty Copeland, illustrated by Christopher Myers 9780399246524 Each Kindness<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/299101\/each-kindness-by-jacqueline-woodson-illustrated-by-e-b-lewis\/ by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis 9780399550171 That Is My Dream!<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/534895\/that-is-my-dream-by-langston-hughes-illustrated-by-daniel-miyares\/ by Langston Hughes, illustrated by Daniel Miyares 9781682633984 My Dadima Wears a Sari<\/i> by Kashmira Sheth, illustrated by Yoshiko Jaeggi 9780375835278 Of Thee I Sing<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/123907\/of-thee-i-sing-by-barack-obama-illustrated-by-loren-long\/ by Barack Obama, illustrated by Loren Long 9780593463055 Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country<\/i> by Kelly Yang 9781442412163 Malcolm Little<\/i> https:\/\/www.simonandschuster.com\/books\/Malcolm-Little\/Ilyasah-Shabazz\/9781442412163 by Ilyasah Shabazz, illustrated by AG Ford 9781580898355 Follow Chester!<\/i> by Gloria Respress-Churchwell, illustrated by Laura Freeman yes yes Books for Tweens and Teens 9780593384695 What Is Juneteenth?<\/i> by Kirsti Jewel and Who HQ, illustrated by Manuel Gutierrez 9780593352526 And We Rise<\/i> by Erica Martin 9780525645818 Brave. Black. First.<\/i> by Cheryl Hudson, illustrated by Erin K. Robinson 9780593224502 Who Was the Voice of the People?: Cesar Chavez<\/i> by Terry Blas and Who HQ, illustrated by Mar Julia 9781423142577 Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America<\/i> https:\/\/www.lbyr.com\/titles\/andrea-pinkney\/hand-in-hand\/9781423183037\/ by Brian Pinkney, Andrea Davis Pinkney 9780593462553 They Call Me G\u00fcero<\/i> by David Bowles 9780147515827 Brown Girl Dreaming<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/304851\/brown-girl-dreaming-by-jacqueline-woodson\/ by Jacqueline Woodson 9780593378526 This Is Your Time<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/671312\/this-is-your-time-by-ruby-bridges\/9780593378526 by Ruby Bridges 9781984815736 Sanctuary<\/i> by Paola Mendoza and Abby Sher 9780593385883 What Is Black Lives Matter?<\/i> by Lakita Wilson and Who HQ, illustrated by Gregory Copeland 9780525517269 Count Me In<\/i> by Varsha Bajaj 9780440413288 Bud, Not Buddy<\/i> by Christopher Paul Curtis 9780593112229 We Belong<\/i> by Cookie Hiponia 9780735228870 Two Roads<\/i> by Joseph Bruchac 9780525582199 It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime<\/i> by Trevor Noah 9781481438285 Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks<\/i> https:\/\/www.simonandschuster.com\/books\/Look-Both-Ways\/Jason-Reynolds\/9781481438285 by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Alexander Nabaum 9781524701277 The Stars Beneath Our Feet<\/i> by David Barclay Moore 9780593177044 Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults)<\/i> by Bryan Stevenson 9780062498533 The Hate U Give<\/i> https:\/\/www.harpercollins.com\/9780062498533\/the-hate-u-give\/ by Angie Thomas 9781101939529 Dear Martin <\/i> by Nic Stone 9781984835659 A Phoenix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope<\/i> edited by Patrice Caldwell 9780593119662 145th Street: Short Stories<\/i> by Walter Dean Myers 9781984897152 American Betiya<\/i> by Anuradha D. Rajurkar 9780593111307 The Many Meanings of Meilan<\/i> by Andrea Wang <\/p>\n Further Reading<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Resources for Parents:<\/strong><\/p>\n Resources for Educators:<\/strong><\/p>\n More Anti-Racism Resources for Adults\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Editor’s Note: This article was published in 2020 and updated in 2025.<\/small><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s never too early to talk to children about race. At Brightly, we’re committed to helping you raise kids that are not only “not racist,” but who are actively “anti-racist.” <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":83886,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,47],"tags":[116,416,737,954,1110],"coauthors":[146],"class_list":["post-15949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-tips-advice","tag-parenting","tag-race","tag-diversity","tag-educators","tag-diverse-books","ages_stages-all-ages"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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