By Katie Auman
Four years ago, we shared a book list aimed at kids, tweens, and teens to help them understand and talk about social justice, race, and cultural awareness. It came on the heels of the shooting deaths of two black men in Louisiana and Minnesota, and soon after the shooting deaths of five Dallas police officers.
Today, we’re updating that list to again address the topics of diversity, social justice, and equality following the death of George Floyd.
As a public institution, we are committed to achieving racial and social equity by contributing to a more just society in which all community members can realize their full potential.
It can be difficult to discuss with children and young adults the images and information they’re seeing in the media…again. We hope these books are helpful in starting the conversation.
Books for Children
Picture / Board Books
Something Happened in Our Town by Marianne Celano, et al, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin
Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi, illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky (releases mid-June)
The Day You Begin/ El día en que descubres quién eres by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López
My Hair Is a Garden by Cozbi A. Cabrera
Dreamers / Soñadores by Yuyi Morales
Ron’s Big Mission by Rose Blue and Corinne J. Naden
Where Are You From? / ¿De dónde eres? by Yamile Saied Méndez
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold, Suzanne Kaufman
Chocolate Me! by Taye Diggs
Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed
The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson
Usha and the Stolen Sun by Bree Galbraity
Crown, An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes
Don’t Touch My Hair! by Sharee Miller
Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration by Samara Cole Doyon, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita
Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color by Monique Fields, illustrated by Yesenia Moises
That is My Dream! by Langston Hughes, Daniel Miyares
Biography / Nonfiction
Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Young Water Protectors: A Story about Standing Rock by Aslan & Kelly Tudor
Richard Wright: Author and World Traveler by Duchess Harris with Tammy Gagne
The Tulsa Race Riot by Duchess Harris with A. R. Carser
How to Make a Better World: For Every Kid Who Wants to Make a Difference by Keilly Swift ; illustrated by Rhys Jefferys
This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell; illustrated by Aurélia Durand
The Impact of Black Churches on the Civil Rights Movement by Duchess Harris with Martha London
The Unsung Hero of Birdsong USA by Brenda Woods
Enough! 20 Protesters who Changed America by Emily Easton; illustrated by Ziyue Chen
This Promise of Change: One Girl’s Story inquality by Jo Ann Allen Boyce and Debbie Levy
The Long Ride by Marina Budhos
We Rise, We Resist, We Raise our Voices edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson
The Little Book of Little Activists with an introduction by Bob Bland
Children’s Fiction
Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes
The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert
Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968 by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Blended by Sharon M. Draper
Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz with Renée Watson
A Sky Full of Stars by Linda Williams Jackson
It All Comes Down to This by Karen English
Books for Teens
Fiction and Poetry
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds
Mexican Whiteboy by Matt de la Peña
Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes
Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles
I’m Not Dying With You Tonight by Kimberly Jones
Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson
Novels
March: Books One, Two, and Three by John Lewis
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
Ms. Marvel Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson
Monster by Walter Dean Myer
Teen Nonfiction/Biography
Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos
We Are Not Yet Equal: Understanding Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson
Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
How I Resist: Activism and Hope for a New Generation ed. By Maureen Johnson
