Penguin Australia

A ongoing discussion amongst my circle of family and friends is how the pandemic has brought out both the best and the worst in people. Of course, racism has been a worrying problem for many years but in some sectors it appears to be a growing hate factor, and one which we, as educators, must do our very best to address. Of course, making this explicit and understandable can be tricky when it comes to little people.

I am in love with this book for its message, its clarity, its simplicity and its overall positive vibe. The riot of colourful illustrations and the depiction of children from all cultures and backgrounds complements the text perfectly and makes for engaging reading whether as an independent read or a shared read-aloud.

The first in an ongoing series to help young children understand big and complex issues this will support young learners in their journey to become empathic and tolerant adults. Help your small humans to understand what racism is and how it can affect their friends and classmates. I highly recommend this for your junior collection and in particular, at the start of a new year, as children may encounter new members of their classes.