A First Look At: Racism: The Skin I’m In

This book spells out in simple terms why people may feel threatened by racial differences, what it feels like to be bullied because your skin is a different colour and why it hurts everyone to judge people by their skin or culture. It will encourage positive acceptance and openess about differences and suggest ways for children to celebrate their own cultural heritage without belittling someone else’s. Notes for parents and teachers at the back of the book provide valuable advice for how to share this book with your child or class.

Suitable for Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7), occasional prompts throughout the text give a chance to discuss the issue being raised. Written by trained psychotherapist, journalist and parent, and illustrated by an experienced children’s book artist, this is a part of an acclaimed and successful, long-running series of picture-book non-fiction books for Early Years. Books in the series give advice and promote interaction between children, parents and teachers on a wide variety of personal, social and emotional issues.

They are excellent tools for teachers to use during classroom discussions. “This picture-led book is a good introduction to the issue of racism; what it means to be the victim or the perpetrator, how subtle racism can be, and how unfair it is to judge someone by the colour of their skin. A useful introduction to the topic, particularly for classroom use.” – Evening Echo’The book explores the issue of racism and deals with children’s concerns in a sensitive and reassuring way.’ – Child Education