Let's Talk About Race

I got this book to open up discussion with my son about how people are different- yet the same. The author is extremely relatable for kids. The questions he asks are thought provoking but also easy for them to see where the conflict arises. This book is suitable for all races, religions and ages. It shows how we may look different but underneath out skin, we are the same and may end up having lots of things in common. The illustrations are colorful and fun for kids to look at. Pictures of people without their skin are interesting and fun- not gory or scary.

I read this book last year to my first grade class. I used it frame a discussion about difference and the current violence and unrest in our country. The kids LOVED it! I still hear them referring back to the message Lester artfully shares in this story. The illustrations are also raw and beautiful.

This is a very powerful tool in explaining what race is and isn't. It does a wonderful job of introducing the concept of race and our social constructs around race for children. This is not a book about racism, nor does it white wash us and say we all live in a melting pot. It brings about a lot of powerful conversations about race for children. I would highly recommend this book to be used in the classroom!

I love the way the author described no need to look on the outer. Let’s spend some time looking on the inner stop judging and stop being judged. Let’s just live life in pieces.

This book is amazing. My 5yo was so intrigued, and we both love it, but I love the deeper level of understanding and conversations that came out of it!

I disagree with the reviewers who say that this text promotes a colorblind ideology. Lester says that race is a one of many important parts of our identities and that it is something we should talk about. A major point of the book is to talk about race and move beyond racial stereotypes to our common humanity. Acknowledging our common humanity does not necessarily mean ignoring race and racism.I give the book 4 stars because it is a great conversation starter, even though it does not clearly define racism and put it in in the context of systemic white racism. What it does do is introduce the concept of a false sense of racial superiority that people can have. I have used this book with preschoolers often as a tool to jumpstart our conversation on how racism is built on the lie that people with lighter skin are better than people with darker skin. Then we build on this by talking about how schools, cities, etc have been built on that lie and therefore limit people of colors' access to resources and opportunities over the course of many conversations.In summary, I see this book as a good starting point for very young children, not a comprehensive textbook on racism. If you find one of those that's appropriate for preschoolers/kindergarteners, please let me know!

Beautifully written. A wonderful way to start a conversation about race with kids. I will use it with my 2nd grade students.

We love this book and it’s message for our 4 year old. It enables a great discussion about the human race.

Must read

Amazing illustrations and a good place to open the conversation around race and racism. My 4 year old enjoyed answering the questions in the book as though she was having a conversation with the narrator. This isn't a deep dive into the issue of racism but it is a good place to start introducing the concept in an engaging way.

Das Buch ist riesig. Das Format ist unerwarteterweise sehr gross, das gefällt mir. Die Geschichte ist schön geschrieben und ich freue mich darauf, meiner Tochter das Buch vorzulesen.

Brilliant book. Beautiful pictures. Great discussion with my 6 year old while reading this.

Excellent book!