Books in this category address a wide range of historical and current forms of bigotry, prejudice that is both intentional and systemic and prejudice that is unintentional, but just as hurtful. In some books prejudice is the primary focus of the story; in others it is part of the fabric of the book but not its central theme.
This is whichCatvalue: 6
All Books in the Prejudice & Discrimination Category
If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks Written by Faith Ringgold A contemporary schoolgirl boards the bus on which Rosa Parks rode in 1955, and the bus tells the girl about Rosa's story, from growing up with the constant threat of a Ku Klux Klan attack to her act of passive resistance against the segregation of bus passengers. [Grade Level: K - 3]
Iggie's House Written by Judy Blume This re-issue of Judy Blume's classic 1970 novel dealing with racism and housing segregation still strikes a chord. 11-year-old Winnie is quick to make friends with her new neighbors, the Garbers, who are the first African-American residents of the neighborhood (“The Garbers were black and Grove Street was white and always had been”). Winnie is distressed when another neighbor organizes a petition to pressure the Garbers into moving, and frustrated that her parents are initially ambivalent on the issue. Winnie tries to help her neighbors, and the Garber kids accuse her of befriending them only because she thinks it is “cool” to have black friends. The story has a positive resolution when the racist neighbor decides to move and Winnie makes up with the Garbers. [Grade Level: 4 - 7]
Iggie's House Written by Judy Blume This re-issue of Judy Blume's classic 1970 novel dealing with racism and housing segregation still strikes a chord. 11-year-old Winnie is quick to make friends with her new neighbors, the Garbers, who are the first African-American residents of the neighborhood (“The Garbers were black and Grove Street was white and always had been”). Winnie is distressed when another neighbor organizes a petition to pressure the Garbers into moving, and frustrated that her parents are initially ambivalent on the issue. Winnie tries to help her neighbors, and the Garber kids accuse her of befriending them only because she thinks it is “cool” to have black friends. The story has a positive resolution when the racist neighbor decides to move and Winnie makes up with the Garbers. [Grade Level: 4 - 7]
Indigo's Star Written by Hilary Mckay A 12-year-old boy dreads his return to school where his sensitive, peace-loving nature makes him a target for bullies. [Grade Level: 5 & Up]
Jar of Dreams Written by Yoshiko Uchida A young girl watches her family cope with financial pressures and racial prejudice. [Grade Level: 4 - 6]
John F. Kennedy: The Making of a Leader (Biographies for Kids Series) TIME for Kids (Author), Ritu Upadhyay (Author) Using simple text and lots of visuals, this biography introduces Kennedy's childhood, family life, military service and political life. Pivotal events are discussed, including The Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis, Cold War, civil rights movement, and JFK's assassination. [Grade Level: 2 - 5]
John Lewis in the Lead: A Story of the Civil Rights Movement James Haskins (Author), Kathleen Benson (Author), Benny Andrews (Illustrator) This illustrated biography celebrates the life of a living legend of U.S. history, a sharecropper’s son who grew up to become a major civil rights leader. Stirred by his experience of segregation and inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Lewis joined Dr. King and other civil rights leaders after graduating high school, and was in the forefront of the major civil rights protests of the 1960s. In the face of physical attacks, he persevered with dignity and a devotion to nonviolence, helping southern black people gain the right to vote. Lewis has continued his commitment to human rights since that time and, in 1986, he was elected to represent Georgia in the U.S. Congress, where he continues to serve today. [Grade Level: 3 - 5]
Joseph and Me: In the Days of the Holocaust Lili Cassel-Wronker (Illustrator), Judy Hoffman (Author) The author describes her experiences as a Jewish child living in hiding with a Dutch family during WW II; additional text and photographs provide details of Nazi persecution of Jews and the fate of those who survived. [Grade Level: 4 - 6]
