Books like 'Let's Talk About Race'
Readers who enjoyed Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
social-commentary children poc-mc realistic exploration
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When Aidan Became A Brother by Kyle Lukoff
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsWhen Aidan was born, everyone thought he was a girl. His parents gave him a pretty name, his room looked like a girl's room, and he wore clothes that other girls liked wearing. After he realized he was a trans boy, Aidan and his parents fixed the parts of life that didn't fit anymore, and he settled happily into his new life... -
![Big by Vashti Harrison]()
Big by Vashti Harrison
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThis deeply moving story shares valuable lessons about fitting in, standing out, and the beauty of joyful acceptance.The first picture book written and illustrated by award-winning creator Vashti Harrison traces a child’s journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal...Categorized as:
realistic children poc-mc social-commentary children-books fiction mental-illness contemporary -
![Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen]()
Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratings“Family isn’t always your relatives. It’s the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who love you no matter what.”Teachers do so much more than just teach academics. They build a sense of community within their classrooms, creating a home away from home where they make their students feel safe, included, and loved... -
![All Because You Matter by Tami Charles]()
All Because You Matter by Tami Charles
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA lyrical, heart-lifting love letter to black and brown children reminding them how much they matter, that they have always mattered, and they always will, from powerhouse rising star author Tami Charles and esteemed, award-winning illustrator Bryan Collier... -
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![Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow]()
Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrustrated by a day full of teachers and classmates mispronouncing her beautiful name, a little girl tells her mother she never wants to come back to school. In response, the girl's mother teaches her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names on their lyrical walk home through the city...Categorized as:
realistic children poc-mc social-commentary children-books family fiction contemporary -
![Brothers in Arms by Paul Langan]()
Brothers in Arms by Paul Langan
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMartin Luna, a new student at Bluford High, is at the center of this story. Haunted by the tragic death of his little brother, Martin seeks one thing: revenge. But his mother wants more for her only remaining child... -
![Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth, Lynne Thigpen]()
Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth, Lynne Thigpen
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA little girl longs to see beyond the scary sights on the sidewalk and the angry scribbling in the halls of her building. When her teacher writes the word beautiful on the blackboard, the girl decides to look for something beautiful in her neighborhood. Her neighbors tell her about their own beautiful things. Miss Delphine serves her a “beautiful” fried fish sandwich at her diner. At Mr... -
![No Way Out by Peggy Kern]()
No Way Out by Peggy Kern
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBluford High freshman Harold Davis is trapped. Medical bills for his sick grandmother are piling up, and a social worker has threatened to put him in a foster home. Desperate for money, he reluctantly agrees to work for Londell James, a neighborhood drug dealer. The choice leads him into a world of dangerous streets where no one is safe... -
![The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater]()
The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA beautiful lyrical story that introduces the concept of individuality, accepting of others differences, and respect for those around us.This is a tale about conformism and individualism, as Mr. Plumbean's expression of creativity and individuality challenges his neighbor's ideas about the importance of having a “neat street.” By repainting his house to reflect his colorful dreams, Mr... -
![Calling Doctor Amelia Bedelia by Herman Parish, Lynn Sweat]()
Calling Doctor Amelia Bedelia by Herman Parish, Lynn Sweat
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsLearn to read with the classic Amelia Bedelia!Ever since Amelia Bedelia made her debut in 1963, young readers have been laughing out loud at the antics of this literal-minded but charming housekeeper.The doctor is out! But Amelia Bedelia is ready to help a crowd of grouchy patients... -
![Because by Mo Willems]()
Because by Mo Willems
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMo Willems, a number one New York Times best-selling author and illustrator, composes a powerful symphony of chance, discovery, persistence, and magic in this moving tale of a young girl's journey to center stage. Illustrator Amber Ren brings Willems' music to life, conducting a stunning picture-book debut... -
![Eyes That Weave the World's Wonders by Joanna Ho, Liz Kleinrock]()
Eyes That Weave the World's Wonders by Joanna Ho, Liz Kleinrock
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom New York Times bestselling Joanna Ho, of Eyes that Kiss in the Corners, and award-winning educator Liz Kleinrock, comes a powerful companion picture book about adoption and family. A young girl who is a transracial adoptee learns to love her Asian eyes and finds familial connection and meaning through them, even though they look different from her parents’... -
![Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer]()
Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhether you have two mums, two dads, one parent, or one of each, there's one thing that makes a family a family... and that's love. A book for EVERY family by dazzling illustrator Sophie Beer... -
![Home is in Between by Mitali Perkins]()
Home is in Between by Mitali Perkins
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsShanti misses the warm monsoon rains in India. Now in America, she watches fall leaves fly past her feet. Still, her family’s apartment feels like a village: Mama cooking luchi, funny stories in Bangla, and Baba’s big laugh. But outside, everything is different – trick-or-treating, ballet class, and English books.Back and forth, Shanti trudges between her two worlds... -
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![Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady]()
Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFrom debut author Antwan Eady and artist Gracey Zhang comes a glowing tale about the young dreaming big. A perfect story to demonstrate how pride in where we come from can bring a shining confidence.When Nigel looks up at the moon, his future is bright. He imagines himself as…an astronaut, a dancer, a superhero, too!Among the stars, he twirls. With pride, his chest swells. And his eyes, they glow... -
![The Colors of Us by Karen Katz]()
The Colors of Us by Karen Katz
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA positive and affirming look at skin color, from an artist's perspective. Seven-year-old Lena is going to paint a picture of herself. She wants to use brown paint for her skin. But when she and her mother take a walk through the neighborhood, Lena learns that brown comes in many different shades... -
![Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox]()
Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsAs everyone knows, nothing is sweeter than tiny baby fingers and chubby baby toes. . . -
![The Sandwich Swap by Rania Al-Abdullah, Kelly DiPucchio]()
The Sandwich Swap by Rania Al-Abdullah, Kelly DiPucchio
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsLily and Salma are best friends. They like doing all the same things, and they always eat lunch together. Lily eats peanut butter and Salma eats hummus--but what's that between friends? It turns out, a lot. Before they know it, a food fight breaks out... -
![Rainbow Weaver / Tejedora del Arcoiris by Linda Elovitz Marshall]()
Rainbow Weaver / Tejedora del Arcoiris by Linda Elovitz Marshall
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA young Mayan girl isn't allowed to use her mother's thread to weave, so with a little ingenuity she discovers how to repurpose plastic bags to create colorful weavings. Based on an actual recycling movement in Guatemala... -
![Anni Dreams of Biryani by Namita Moolani Mehra]()
Anni Dreams of Biryani by Namita Moolani Mehra
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAnni’s on a mission to YUM!The café across the street from Anni’s home in Little India makes the best biryani in the world. Fluffy and fragrant, spicy and succulent—Anni could eat it every day. In fact, Anni loves that biryani so much that she’s determined to uncover the secret to the recipe. She has so many questions for Uncle, the grumpy chef and owner of the café... -
![Little You by Richard Van Camp]()
Little You by Richard Van Camp
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsRichard Van Camp, internationally renowned storyteller and bestselling author of the hugely successful Welcome Song for Baby: A Lullaby for Newborns, has partnered with talented illustrator Julie Flett to create a tender board book for babies and toddlers that honors the child in everyone... -
![Ruby's Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges, Sophie Blackall]()
Ruby's Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges, Sophie Blackall
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsRuby is unlike most little girls in old China. Instead of aspiring to get married, Ruby is determined to attend university when she grows up, just like the boys in her family...Categorized as:
realistic poc-mc children social-commentary exploration historical-fiction children-books family -
![Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis]()
Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsJamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell, the New York Times bestselling team behind Today I Feel Silly and I’m Gonna Like Me, bring us a tender and funny picture book for every parent and child. Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born is a special celebration of the love and joy an adopted child creates for a family... -
![Please, Baby, Please by Kadir Nelson, Spike Lee]()
Please, Baby, Please by Kadir Nelson, Spike Lee
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsVivid illustrations from celebrated artist Kadir Nelson evoke toddlerhood from sandbox to high chair to crib, and families everywhere will delight in sharing these exuberant moments again and again... -
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![I Promise by LeBron James]()
I Promise by LeBron James
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsNBA champion and superstar LeBron James pens a slam-dunk picture book inspired by his foundation’s I PROMISE program that motivates children everywhere to always #StriveForGreatness.Just a kid from Akron, Ohio, who is dedicated to uplifting youth everywhere, LeBron James knows the key to a better future is to excel in school, do your best, and keep your family close... -
![Saturday at the Food Pantry by Diane O'Neill]()
Saturday at the Food Pantry by Diane O'Neill
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMolly and her mom don't always have enough food, so one Saturday they visit their local food pantry. Molly's happy to get food to eat until she sees her classmate Caitlin, who's embarrassed to be at the food pantry... -
![Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie]()
Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFrom New York Times bestselling author Sherman Alexie and Caldecott Honor winning Yuyi Morales comes a striking and beautifully illustrated picture book celebrating the special relationship between father and son. Thunder Boy Jr. wants a normal name...one that's all his own. Dad is known as big Thunder, but little thunder doesn't want to share a name... -
![Novel Ideas: Judy Blume's Fudge Series: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing/Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great/Super Fudge/Fudge-A-Mania/Double Fudge by Crystal Rende]()
Novel Ideas: Judy Blume's Fudge Series: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing/Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great/Super Fudge/Fudge-A-Mania/Double Fudge by Crystal Rende
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNovel Ideas: Judy Blume's Fudge Series is an easy to use guide that will ensure your student will become a successful reader and writer! It will also engage the student in the learning process and provide creative opportunities to apply their new knowledge... -
![Runaway Retriever by Tui T. Sutherland]()
Runaway Retriever by Tui T. Sutherland
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAn exciting new series about those adorable pets that just won't behave--it's Marley & Me for middle-grade readers!Parker hadn't considered getting a dog, but when playful Merlin, the golden retriever, comes into his life, Parker is thrilled... -
![Jaded by Monica McKayhan]()
Jaded by Monica McKayhan
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat Jade Morgan wants: for her parents to get back together. Instead her dad proposes to his new girlfriend, who has the nerve to ask Jade to be a bridesmaid. Like that'll ever happen. Her new boyfriend, Terrence, thinks she should give her future stepmom a chance, try to get to know her. Yet Jade barely knows Terrence—who is cute and cool, but is seriously hiding something... -
![Let's Dance! by Valerie Bolling]()
Let's Dance! by Valerie Bolling
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThis rhythmic showcase of dances from all over the world features children of diverse backgrounds and abilities tapping, spinning, and boogying away!Tap, twirl, twist, spin! With musical, rhyming text, author Valerie Bolling shines a spotlight on dances from across the globe, while energetic art from Maine Diaz shows off all the moves and the diverse people who do them... -
![Our Pool by Lucy Ruth Cummins]()
Our Pool by Lucy Ruth Cummins
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOn a hot day, people come from all over the city to spend the day at the pool in this joyful picture book that’s a love song to summer, the city, community, and staying cool!Today is a pool day in the city! The sun is shining, so what are you waiting for? Friends and family. Kids and grandparents. Big bodies and small bodies... -
![Moses Goes to a Concert by Isaac Millman]()
Moses Goes to a Concert by Isaac Millman
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIsaac Millman tells Moses Goes to a Concert in pictures and written English, and in American Sign Language (ASL), introducing hearing children to the signs for some of the key words and ideas.Moses and his school friends are deaf, but like most children, they have a lot to say. They communicate in American Sigh Language, using visual signs and facial expressions. This is called signing... -
![This Story is Not About a Kitten by Randall de Sève]()
This Story is Not About a Kitten by Randall de Sève
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA heartwarming picture book about a neighborhood coming together to help a kitten find a home, from a New York Times bestselling author and a Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator.Contrary to what you may believe, this story is not about a kitten, hungry and dirty, scared and alone, needing a home. It is also not about the dog who heard the kitten meowing sadly... -
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![Besos for Baby: A Little Book of Kisses by Jen Arena, Blanca Gómez]()
Besos for Baby: A Little Book of Kisses by Jen Arena, Blanca Gómez
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAn adorable English/Spanish bilingual eBook that proves that love is the same in every language.Features:Read-Aloud functionality [where available]Book Description:Everyone has kisses for Baby, from Mami and Papi to perro and gato... -
![Wilma Jean The Worry Machine by Julia Cook]()
Wilma Jean The Worry Machine by Julia Cook
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMy stomach feels likeit’s tied up in a knot.My knees lock up, andmy face feels hot.You know what I mean?I’m Wilma Jean,The Worry Machine.Anxiety is a subjective sense of worry, apprehension, and/or fear. It is considered to be the number one health problem in America. Although quite common, anxiety disorders in children are often misdiagnosed and overlooked... -
![The Breaking News by Sarah Lynne Reul]()
The Breaking News by Sarah Lynne Reul
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen devastating news rattles a young girl's community, her normally attentive parents and neighbors are suddenly exhausted and distracted. At school, her teacher tells the class to look for the helpers—the good people working to make things better in big and small ways. She wants more than anything to help in a BIG way, but maybe she can start with one small act of kindness instead . . -
![Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color by Monique Fields]()
Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color by Monique Fields
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA young biracial girl looks around her world for her color. She finally chooses her own, and creates a new word for herself—honeysmoke.For multiracial children, and all children everywhere, this picture book offers a universal message that empowers young people to create their own self-identity...Categorized as:
realistic social-commentary children poc-mc exploration children-books family fiction -
![B Is for Baby by Atinuke]()
B Is for Baby by Atinuke
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsB is for Baby. B is for Brother. B is for going to see Baba! Baby’s brother is getting ready to take a basket of bananas all the way to Baba’s bungalow in the next village. He will have to go along the bumpy road, past the baobab trees, birds and butterflies, and all the way over the bridge... -
![Patchwork by Matt de la Peña]()
Patchwork by Matt de la Peña
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom a Newbery Medal-winning author and a New York Times bestselling illustrator comes a deeply moving ode to the complexity and uniqueness of every child...Categorized as:
realistic children poc-mc children-books fiction coming-of-age mental-illness audiobook -
![Gibberish by Young Vo]()
Gibberish by Young Vo
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt's Dat's first day of school in a new country! Dat and his Mah made a long journey to get here, and Dat doesn't know the language. To Dat, everything everybody says – from the school bus driver to his new classmates – sounds like gibberish... -
![The Big Bed by Bunmi Laditan]()
The Big Bed by Bunmi Laditan
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsFrom the creator of the Honest Toddler blog, The Big Bed is a humorous picture book about a girl who doesn't want to sleep in her little bed, so she presents her dad with his own bed―a camping cot!―in order to move herself into her parents' big bed in his place. A twist on the classic parental struggle of not letting kids sleep in their bed... -
![Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn]()
Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsLola has a big smile on her face. Why? Because it's Tuesday--and on Tuesdays, Lola and her mommy go to the library. Join Lola in this cozy celebration of books and the people who love them... -
![Encounter by Jane Yolen]()
Encounter by Jane Yolen
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhen Christopher Columbus landed on the island of San Salvador in 1492, what he discovered were the Taino Indians. Told from a young Taino boy’s point of view, this is a story of how the boy tried to warn his people against welcoming the strangers, who seemed more interested in golden ornaments than friendship... -
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![A New Home by Tania de Regil]()
A New Home by Tania de Regil
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAs a girl in Mexico City and a boy in New York City ponder moving to each other's locale, it becomes clear that the two cities -- and the two children -- are more alike than they might think.But I'm not sure I want to leave my home.I'm going to miss so much.Moving to a new city can be exciting... -
![The Mike Lupica Collection by Mike Lupica]()
The Mike Lupica Collection by Mike Lupica
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThree of New York Times bestseller Mike Lupica’s wildly popular sports stories gathered together in one box! Baseball and basketball fans will rejoice, for all of their favorite novels are available in one gorgeous... -
![Sometimes, All I Need Is Me by Juliana Perdomo]()
Sometimes, All I Need Is Me by Juliana Perdomo
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsGentle themes of resiliency, mindfulness, and self-care are brought home in this sweet and soulful picture book with charmingly graphic illustrations and a poetic text.I love listening to music, especially samba!It feels like my heart follows the beat.Meet a young girl who loves her cozy home. It smells like cinnamon tea and feels like warm pajamas... -
![I Love You Like Yellow by Andrea Beaty]()
I Love You Like Yellow by Andrea Beaty
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFrom New York Times bestselling author Andrea Beaty and New York Times bestselling illustrator Vashti Harrison, a sweet and playful bedtime book that reminds young readers just how loved they areI love you like yellow.I love you like green.Like flowery orchidand sweet tangerine . . . Love comes in many forms. It can feel tart as lemonade, or sweet as sugar cookies... -
![I Want to Be Spaghetti! by Kiera Wright-Ruiz]()
I Want to Be Spaghetti! by Kiera Wright-Ruiz
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA funny debut picture book about how one little ramen packet finds self-love and belonging in a spaghetti-obsessed world.Even from Ramen's small shelf in the supermarket, they see spaghetti propaganda everywhere. They want to be celebrated, too. Maybe, Ramen misguidedly thinks, I have to change to be loved like that... -
![Der Dachs hat heute schlechte Laune! by Moritz Petz]()
Der Dachs hat heute schlechte Laune! by Moritz Petz
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIn this German language edition of The Day Everything Went Wrong, Badger decides to give himself a treat and only do things that he enjoys! But from the moment he gets out of bed and nearly knocks over his lamp, everything goes wrong. When he visits each of his friends, he discovers something surprising . .
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