16 Children’s & Teen’s Books to Help Explain Racism February 2, 2023 -Annalise Nassani

Part of a child’s learning and developmental experience also includes navigating the complex and nuanced subject of racism. We all want our children to grow up accepting people for who they are and not because of the color of their skin. But creating a safe and productive environment to discuss racial identity and racism is not the easiest task. Luckily, to support your conversations at home, there are lots of books written to help parents initiate, guide, and answer many questions children might have during the process. Especially for teenagers, reading about a teen protagonist experiencing similar racial issues can be a great touchstone for larger conversations.

Books expose children and teens to new cultures they wouldn’t have experienced otherwise, and examples age-appropriate language adults can use. They also help disprove biased messaging and false information that could lead to unfounded conclusions if left alone. So, here are sixteen books to help you explain racism:

Grandpa is Everything Black Bad? By Sandy Lynne Holman

Often, many books, tv shows, movies, etc. depict Black characters as evil and White characters as the hero. In this book, Montsho, an African-American boy, talks with his grandpa about his heritage and the beauty of being Black.