Skip to Main Content

Anti-Racism: Children & Families: Identity & Diversity

print, online and video resources for discussing racism and white supremacy culture; dismantling racism; and raising compassionate, loving children

Welcome

Welcome to The Ministry Lab's curated list of resources for Talking with Children about the Identity and Diversity. Here you'll find:

  • Books and Downloadable resources that are authored by, affirm and celebrate diverse identities
  • Additional Book Lists from trusted sources
  • Blogs, Podcasts & Articles to spark conversation
  • Websites & Curricula to deepen and broaden at-home and at-church learning and growth

If you don't find a resource to fit your need, don't hesitate to consult with The Ministry Lab's director, Emily Meyer, who is happy to assist you.

Children's Books

                         Black Boy Joy     Black Girls Unbossed: Young World Changers Leading the Way     Black Is a Rainbow Color     Black Magic          Brown Is Beautiful     A Costume for Charly     Daddy Why Am I Brown? A Healthy Conversation About Skin Color and Family.     Drawn Together          Eyes That Kiss in the Corners          God Is Just Like Me          

                           accompanied by God's Big Plan Board Book.

     God's Holy Darkness     Hats of Faith     A Head Full of Birds     Cover of The Heart of Mi Familia          I Am God's Dream by Matthew Paul Turner    I Am Golden     I Am Perfectly Designed              Juneteenth for Mazie     Latinitas     Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World     Loving Kindness     Magnolia Flower     Cover of Marvelous Maravilloso: Me and My Beautiful Family (medium)          Mira and the Big Story (read by the author)     A Place Inside of Me               Run, Little Chaski!     Sing, Aretha, Sing!     The Snowy Day - Wikipedia    Stella's Stellar Hair               Sulwe     Cover of They’re So Flamboyant     Watercress                    Amazon.com: When I Fly with Papa (9781634891158): Claudia May, Jena  Holliday, Jena Holliday: Books     When We Are Kind            

Addresses issues children might hear about in the news and may not understand; straightforward and kid-friendly explanations of tough topics; includes ideas for what they can do to help make the world a better, fairer place. Each book has a glossary and additional resources.

The series includes: Culture and Diversity; Rights and Equality; Protecting the Planet; and Rules and Responsibilities.

Adults & Youth Books

BUILDING LASTING BRIDGES          Sistering | The Art of Holding Close and Letting Go (Dickey and Neff)     210215_FrontCover-01.png     When Kids Ask Hard Questions, Volume 2: More Faith-Filled Responses for Tough Topics     When We Belong

Other Book Lists

Building Faith's Picture Books for Antiracists provides an overview for:

  • Seeing the Beloved Community
  • Celebrating the Joy in Everyday Life
  • Building Empathy
  • Practicing Love & Kindness
  • Social Justice
  • Embracing a Vision
  • Hope for All

The MN Annual Conference UMC's Rev. Dana Neuhauser offers this list of Books That Can Build Empathy for BIPOC Communities.

Rev. Kelly Sherman Conroy of Nativity Lutheran Church created this Indigenous Peoples Resources list for all ages.

Picture Books that Celebrate Diversity

13 Books about Race and Diversity from PBS Kids for Parents is fantastic.

Beaming Books offers 10 Books That Celebrate Our Many Differences which includes topics such as ableism, age, race, culture and ethnicity, and gender and sexuality identities.

Mattress Advisor's Bedtime Stories in response to We Need Diverse Books (a nonprofit working for more diversity in children's books):  The list is available in full or broken into these categories:

Blogs, Podcasts & Articles

THIS set of slides on pronouncing a name from a culture that is not your own is very useful and practical - and helpful when you want to be hospitable and welcoming whether in your building or your neighborhood.

Websites & Curricula

Embrace Race offers a number of resources:

  • toolkits for study and teaching
  • support for adults caring for children (and others) affected by racialized trauma
  • podcasts and webinars to empower and encourage all ages in meeting white nationalism, white supremacy, and racialized violence

Honor God's DiversityHonor God’s Diversity - God calls us to honor diversity that God has created in our world by diving deep beyond just accepting diversity. When we recognize and celebrate the different gifts, abilities, and voices in all creation, we honor the diversity in the world God has created.

With age-specific and intergenerational/full congregation curriculum available (click here and scroll down).

R-Squared

What Is Critical Race Theory and What Christians Should Know

includes:

  • GCORR REAL TALK video to learn more about Critical Race Theory

  • Critical Race Theory Infographic Series download

  • Christian Voices on Critical Race Theory
  • More Christian Perspectives (additional resources)
  • How White Christians Can Learn from Critical Race Theory

Who Is My Neighbor? - MennoMedia’s 2019 VBS curriculum

Compassion Camp: Be Kind. Be Loved. Be You. is an At-Home/Virtual VBS where kids and their families explore what it means to have compassion for others, ourselves, and the world. Geared toward preschool-age children and K-5th graders, it is incredibly flexible, adaptable, and fun for the entire family, older siblings included.

In Our Library - Adults

The Sacred Selves of Adolescent Girls  -     Edited By: Evelyn L. Parker          This Is My Body     When Kids Ask Hard Questions: Faith-filled Responses for Tough Topics     Stolen: Is Social Media Stealing Your Identity? (Softcover)  -     By: Jessica Fralin

In Our Library - Children

Main_angels_ride_bikes     35248378. sx318      WYA01