GLOBAL AFFAIRS CANADA
Partnerships for Development Innovation

They are not too Little for Big Conversations: Talking to our Children about Race and Racism

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AFFAIRES MONDIALES CANADA

Partenariats pour l’innovation dans le développement

Ils ne sont pas trop petits pour de grandes conversations : parler à nos enfants de la race et du racisme

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Resources | Ressources

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Articles​

Pragmatic Mom, "Are Slant Eyes Racist? Portraying Asians in Children’s Books" (4 January 2021). 

Sachi Feris, Raising Race Conscious Children, “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What (Colors) Do You See?" (2016).

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Research | Recherche​

Erin N. Winkler, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, "Children Are Not Colorblind: How Young Children Learn Race" PACE Vol. 3-No. 3 (2009).

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Books | Livres

Mante's Black Literature Library

Bibliothèque de la littérature noire

Les libraries, Livres jeunesse pour sensibiliser les jeunes au racisme
 

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Grades 1 to 3 | 1e à 3e

 

Tiffany Jewell, This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons to Wake Up, Take Action, And Do the Work (2020). There is also an educator guide. 

 

Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, and Carolyn Choi, IntersectionAllies: We Make Room For All (2019). There is also a teaching guide that includes 56 pages of discussion prompts, worksheets, and activities for grades K-5. 

 

Ibram X. Kendi, Antiracist Baby Picture Book (2020).

 

Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race (2021).

 

Yamile Saied Méndez, Where Are You From? (2019). 

 

Sesame Street #ComingTogether series

 

Bret Turner, Learning for Justice, “Teaching First-Graders About Microaggressions: The Small Moments Add Up” 26 March 2019.

 

Grades 4 to 6 | 4e à 6e

 

Jerry Craft, New Kid (2019). This book addresses microaggressions, code switching and other issues (grades 3-7). There is also a teaching guide.

 

Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer, I Am Not a Number (2016).

 

Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, and Carolyn Choi, IntersectionAllies: We Make Room For All (2019). There is also a teaching guide that includes 56 pages of discussion prompts, worksheets, and activities for grades K-5. 

 

Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton and Christy Jordan-Fenton, Fatty Legs (10th anniversary edition) (2020).

 

Righting Canada's Wrongs is a series of books about racism and discrimination in Canadian history (grades 4-6) and includes a resource guide with lesson plans. 

 

Jewell Parker Rhodes, Black Brother, Black Brother (2020). Ages 8 and over. 

 

Grades 7 to 8 | 7e à 8e

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Chimamanda Adichie, TED Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story” (July 2009). There is a shorter version of her talk on YouTube. 

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Jerry Craft, Le nouveau (2021). 

 

Jerry Craft, New Kid (2019). Includes a teaching guide. This book addresses microaggressions, code switching and other issues (grades 3-7).

 

Cultivating Growth and Solidarity: An Anti-Racism Zine for Asian Youth (and Adults Too!) (2020). Please review the Facilitation Guide for Adults.

 

Jewell Parker Rhodes, Black Brother, Black Brother (2020). Ages 8 and over. 

 

Grades 9 to 12 | 9 à 12

 

Samira Ahmed, Internment (2020). 

 

Chimamanda Adichie, TED Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story” (July 2009). There is a shorter version of her talk on YouTube. 

 

David Chariandy, Brother (2018).

 

Trevor Noah, Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood (2019). The publisher also provides a Teacher’s Guide. A young adult version is also available. 

 

David A. Robertson, Black Water: Family, Legacy, and Blood Memory (2020). 


Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption (2015). A young adult version is also available.