Regardless of the political climate in which you raise your kids, parenting is never straightforward, and there are lots of differing opinions about when it’s “appropriate” to bring up tough conversations about things like identity, sexuality, and violence. But recently there’s been dramatic censoring of language about diversity, equity, and inclusion from federal institutions and organizations around the country that depend on federal funding. So whether it’s talking to your kids about the nuances of climate change, the dangers of AI, the use of gender-neutral pronouns, or racial discrimination at school, parents are feeling the pressure to instill tolerance and critical thinking in their kids more urgently than ever before.
Luckily, there’s still plenty of children’s literature that can aid in the process, though children’s literature itself has long suffered from a lack of diverse representation. The University of Wisconsin-Madison has tracked the number of children’s books by or about Black and Indigenous people and other people of color since 2018, and while the numbers have mostly increased, it remains much harder to find children’s books that are widely representative than it should be. We know today without a doubt how important it is for people to not only see themselves represented in media, but to also see a diverse range of characters that might look different from themselves, too.
This list covers books that teach valuable lessons of inclusion and equality for children as young as newborns. With so many institutions abandoning inclusivity, there’s an urgent need for adults to model antiracism for our kids, and encourage them to be inquisitive, courageous, kind, and nurturing — even from the very youngest ages.
— Additional reporting by Emma Glassman-Hughes
