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
The Alphabet War: A Story About Dyslexia Diane Burton Robb (Author), Gail Piazza (Illustrator) Learning to read is a great struggle for Adam, whose frustration grows over the course of his elementary school years as the demands become greater. "I can't do that" becomes his regular refrain, until Adam begins to discover that there are many things he can do well. With hard work and support, Adam's confidence gradually grows and he ultimately wins "The Alphabet War." The book includes information about dyslexia for adults. [Grade Level: 2 - 5]
Always Remember Me: How One Family Survived World War II Written and Illustrated by Marisabina Russo Rachel's Oma (grandmother) has two picture albums. In one the photographs show only happy times -- from after World War II, when she and her daughters had come to America. But the other album includes much sadder times from before -- when their life in Germany was destroyed by the Nazis' rise to power. For as long as Rachel can remember, Oma has closed the other album when she's gotten to the sad part. But today Oma will share it all. Today Rachel will hear about what her grandmother, her mother, and her aunts endured. And she'll see how the power of this Jewish family's love for one another gave them the strength to survive.
[Grade Level: 2 - 4]
Amazing Grace Mary Hoffman (Author), Caroline Binch (Illustrator) A young African-American girl discovers that she can do anything she sets her mind to. [Grade Level: Pre-K - 3]
Amelia's Road Linda Jacobs Altman (Author), Enrique O. Sanchez (Illustrator) A young girl from a migrant-worker family overcomes the hardship of their frequent moves by creating a special place for herself. [Grade Level: K - 3]
Antonio's Card/La Tarjeta de Antonio Rigoberto Gonzalez (Author), Cecilia Conception Alvarez (Illustrator) Mother's Day is coming soon, and Antonio is excited to make cards for both his mother and her partner, Leslie. But he's not sure what to do when his classmates make fun of Leslie, an artist, who towers over everyone and wears paint-splattered overalls. As Mother's Day approaches, Antonio must choose whether - or how - to express his connection to both of the special women in his life. [Grade Level: 2 - 4]
Arnie and the New Kid Written by Nancy Carlson Philip uses a wheelchair and has the challenge of being new to town. Arnie targets Phillip with acts of bullying and name-calling, until Arnie falls, breaks his leg, and finds himself temporarily disabled. As Arnie begins to understand and experience a physical disability, the two become friends. [Grade Level: Pre-K - 3]
Ballerino Nate Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Author), Robert W. Alley (Illustrator) After attending a student ballet performance with his kindergarten class, Nate decides he wants to become a ballet dancer, but is discouraged by his second-grade, sports-loving brother, who pronounces, "You can't... You're a boy," and reminds Nate at every turn that his dream is for girls' and will require him to wear pink shoes and a dress. Despite his parents’ reassurance, Nate is still apprehensive when he begins a ballet class and learns that he is the only boy enrolled. Nate's mother takes him to a real ballet performance, where he sees that half the dancers are men. Nate gets to meet one of the dancers, who agrees that a man can't be a ballerina, because that means "woman dancer." Instead, he tells Nate that he hopes some day to be a top ballerino, and Nate feels good about his new pursuit at last. [Grade Level: Pre-K - 3]
Ballot Box Battle Emily Arnold McCully (Author), A. Levine (Editor) This is the story of Cordelia, a fictional young girl who is inspired by her neighbor, the suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Cordelia loves to ride on Stanton's old horse and dreams of being a real horsewoman despite her brother's sneers (he says she will not be a true horsewoman until she jumps a four-foot fence) and her parents' belief that this is not a lady-like ambition. On Election Day in 1880 (40 years before the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote), Cordelia accompanies Stanton to the Tenafly, New Jersey polls, where Stanton attempts to cast a vote in the local contests each year. Cordelia watches despondently as election officials ridicule Stanton, who flings her ballot at the hand covering the slot in the box. Inspired by Stanton's courage and angered by the teasing of her brother and other local boys, Cordelia makes her own protest by riding Stanton's old horse over a four-foot fence and proving her independence.
[Grade Level: 2 - 4]
Baseball Saved Us Dom Lee (Illustrator), Ken Mochizuki (Author) When a Japanese-American boy and his family are interned in a camp during WWII, they decide to combat their depression by building a baseball field. During a game the boy channels his humiliation--both from being a prisoner and from being a bad player--to anger, giving him the strength to hit a game-winning home run. [Grade Level: 2 - 4]
