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The Wayland Free Public Library’s Youth Services Department is committed to building an anti-racist collection, and to creating a space that is welcoming for all.

We want to support our community in furthering their own education on race, racism, and social justice.  Our librarians will continue to develop this curated list of books and resources to help in this effort.

Selected Children’s and Middle Grade Books:

On race and racism

Click to search the catalog for Let's Talk About Race. Click to search the catalog for Can I Touch Your Hair? Click to search the catalog for The Skin You Live In. Click to search the catalog for We're Different, We're the Same.

Antiracism for all ages

Click to search the catalog for Antiracist Baby. Click to search the catalog for Stamped. Click to search the catalog for This Book is Anti-Racist. Click to search the catalog for We Rise, We Resist, We Raise our Voices.

Celebrating Black joy and pride

Click to search the catalog for Black Girl Magic. Click to search the catalog for Chocolate Me! Click to search for The Crossover in the library catalog. Click to search the catalog for Crown.
Click to search the catalog for Hey Black Child. Click to search the catalog for I Believe I can. Click to search the catalog for I Love My Hair! Click to search the catalog for M is For Melanin.

Click to search the catalog for Magnificent Homespun Brown.

Click to search the catalog for New Kid. Click to search the catalog for Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy. Click to search the catalog for The Undefeated.

On race and police violence

Click to search the catalog for Something Happened in Our Town. Click to search the catalog for Not My Idea. Click to search the catalog for Ghost Boys. Click to search the catalog for A Good Kind of Trouble.

On the American Civil Rights Movement:

Click to search the catalog for The First Step.

Click to search the catalog for Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer.

Click to search the catalog for We March.

Click to search the catalog for The Youngest Marcher.

Online Resources for Kids:

Image of Moby and Nat from BrainPop - click image to open BrainPop video on Black Lives Matter.

BrainPop: Black Lives Matter

Nick News Presents: Kids, Race, and Unity

Explore resources from Gale in Context: Middle School.      Photo of a Black Lives Matter march in June 2020.

Photo: Peace Walk for Justice in Haw River (2020 June), Anthony Crider (CC BY 2.0)

Additional Resources for Parents

Common Sense Media: How to Talk With Kids About Racism and Racial ViolenceThe Conscious Kid – Resources

Embrace Race

NYT: How to Raise an Antiracist Kid

NPR: How Can Parents Make Their Kids Understand How to Be Antiracist?

PBS: Talking to Young Children About Race and Racism

Stone Bookworms Antiracist Reading List

Today’s Parent: How to Talk to Kids About Racism 

Your Kids Aren’t Too Young to Talk About Race: Resource Roundup

Washington Post: What White Parents Get Wrong About Raising Antiracist Kids — And How to Get it Right

100 Race Conscious Things to Say to Your Child to Advance Racial Justice