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Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race

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( 1,071 ratings, 190 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli is a children's book designed to spark conversations about race and diversity. It uses engaging, age-appropriate language and vibrant illustrations to help young readers understand the significance of skin colour and the concepts of fairness and equity. This book aims to encourage open dialogue among children and adults about diversity, empathy, and justice.
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Format: Hardback
$2600
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're looking for a sensitive and age-appropriate way to introduce young children to the concepts of race and diversity. Through engaging illustrations and simple discussion points, it encourages understanding and empathy, making it a valuable addition to any child's library.

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Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race

"An age-appropriate introduction to the concepts of race, gender, consent and body positivity, developed by early childhood and activism experts, combines clear text with engaging artwork to help the youngest children recognize and confront unjust actions."--

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Based on the research that race, gender, consent, and body positivity should be discussed with toddlers on up, this read-aloud board book series offers adults the opportunity to begin important conversations with young children in an informed, safe, and supported way.

Developed by experts in the fields of early childhood and activism against injustice, this topic-driven board book offers clear, concrete language and beautiful imagery that young children can grasp and adults can leverage for further discussion.

While young children are avid observers and questioners of their world, adults often shut down or postpone conversations on complicated topics because it's hard to know where to begin. Research shows that talking about issues like race and gender from the age of two not only helps children understand what they see, but also increases self-awareness, self-esteem, and allows them to recognise and confront things that are unfair, like discrimination and prejudice.

This first book in the series begins the conversation on race, with a supportive approach that considers both the child and the adult. Stunning art accompanies the simple and interactive text, and the backmatter offers additional resources and ideas for extending this discussion.

Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race always receives positive reactions:

"An accessible, important addition to any anti-racist bookshelf." --- starred review, Kirkus Reviews

"The book lives up to its promise by opening the door to rich conversations with explanations that are age-appropriate... This timely book is essential for all collections." --- starred review, School Library Connection

Series: First Conversations

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race, by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, is a highly praised children's book that serves as a crucial and accessible resource for discussing race and ethnicity with the youngest readers. Lauded for its approachable language and engaging illustrations, critics highlight its value in fostering early conversations about justice and societal treatment. Honoured with numerous accolades, the book is deemed an essential addition to any inclusive children's library collection.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780593519394

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 25 May 2021

Country: United States

Imprint: Penguin Young Readers

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Isabel Roxas

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 9.0mm

Width: 238.0mm

Height: 264.0mm

Weight: 397g

Pages: 40

About the Author

Dr. Megan Pamela Ruth Madison is a political educator and a lifelong student of radical Black feminism. She earned her PhD in Social Policy from Brandeis University. As a scholar-activist, her approach to research and practice is guided by the Sociopolitical Ecology of Development, a theoretical framework that she developed as a part of her dissertation. Megan has served on the boards of the National Association for the Education for Young Children and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice. With Jessica Ralli, she co-authors First Conversations–an award-winning series of anti-bias books for young children and their grown-ups.

Jessica Ralli is the Early Literacy Programs Coordinator at Brooklyn Public Library where she develops & manages grant-funded programming including Books Unbanned Storytimes. She has an M.A. in Early Childhood Special Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and has taught in museums, schools, and libraries. Jessica is a contributor to School Library Journal, and in 2020, she received the Library Journal Movers and Shakers Award for her advocacy work in libraries. Jessica is currently co-authoring the award-winning First Conversations series with Megan Madison, published by RISE X Penguin Workshop.

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