Skin Color and Diversity
Additional resources for these texts:
Teaching Tolerance has a series of lessons titled “Different Colors of Beauty” for students to “develop their racial or ethnic identities in a safe and open classroom environment” from PreK to 5.
http://www.tolerance.org/lesson/different-colors-beauty
TED Talk-
"Multiculturalism in the Modern World"
In this TED Talk, Jen Holladay explains that teaching in a multicultural classroom embodies more than holidays and celebrations. She explains the importance of cultural competency for our students.
"Arthur's World Neighborhood: Bibliography for Kids"
This is a list of children's books for countries all over the world. It does not include multicultural books about children from the U.S., however it provides links to websites with multicultural U.S. children.
Teaching Tolerance has a series of lessons titled “Different Colors of Beauty” for students to “develop their racial or ethnic identities in a safe and open classroom environment” from PreK to 5.
http://www.tolerance.org/lesson/different-colors-beauty
TED Talk-
"Multiculturalism in the Modern World"
In this TED Talk, Jen Holladay explains that teaching in a multicultural classroom embodies more than holidays and celebrations. She explains the importance of cultural competency for our students.
"Arthur's World Neighborhood: Bibliography for Kids"
This is a list of children's books for countries all over the world. It does not include multicultural books about children from the U.S., however it provides links to websites with multicultural U.S. children.
![Picture](/uploads/4/6/3/2/46325565/200400170.jpg?250)
People by Peter Spier
In this book, Peter Spier describes how different people are with intricate watercolor paintings. He describes people's bodies, personalities, clothing, interests, play, homes, religions, and more. The text is simple, but the images are complex and provide for meaningful teaching of diversity.
Age Group:
Grades K-5, and higher
Genre:
Nonfiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This book is useful for teaching about diversity. It touches on many topics other books do not, like religion, historians, and alphabets.
Video:
"Peter Spier Author Video"
This video shows Peter Spier talking about books and creating his illustrations.
In this book, Peter Spier describes how different people are with intricate watercolor paintings. He describes people's bodies, personalities, clothing, interests, play, homes, religions, and more. The text is simple, but the images are complex and provide for meaningful teaching of diversity.
Age Group:
Grades K-5, and higher
Genre:
Nonfiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This book is useful for teaching about diversity. It touches on many topics other books do not, like religion, historians, and alphabets.
Video:
"Peter Spier Author Video"
This video shows Peter Spier talking about books and creating his illustrations.
![Picture](/uploads/4/6/3/2/46325565/937139558.jpg?250)
All the Colors of the Earth by Shiela Hamanaka
Hamanaka describes children as all the colors of the Earth with beautiful painting and poetic language. She uses words like "the tinkling pinks of tiny seashells" and "hair that flows like water."
Age Group:
Grades PreK-2
Genre:
Poetry
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This book could be paired with the other stories discussing skin color, and would go well with "Shades of People" and "All the Colors We Are."
Lesson Plan:
"The Many Shades of Our World"
Students blend paint to find their skin color match and paint a self-portrait. They read this story and discuss our similarities, differences, and diversity.
Hamanaka describes children as all the colors of the Earth with beautiful painting and poetic language. She uses words like "the tinkling pinks of tiny seashells" and "hair that flows like water."
Age Group:
Grades PreK-2
Genre:
Poetry
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This book could be paired with the other stories discussing skin color, and would go well with "Shades of People" and "All the Colors We Are."
Lesson Plan:
"The Many Shades of Our World"
Students blend paint to find their skin color match and paint a self-portrait. They read this story and discuss our similarities, differences, and diversity.
![Picture](/uploads/4/6/3/2/46325565/531750066.jpg?250)
Children Just Like Me by Barnabas and Anabel Kindersley
UNICEF funded these authors to travel the world for 50 years and learn about the children of the world. Children Just Like Me has pictures of children from all over the world and information about where they come from. This book shows children's clothing and everyday lives with photographs of the children, artifacts, landmarks, and more.
Age Group:
Grades PreK-5
Genre:
Nonfiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This book could be used to enhance discussion and cultural awareness in an abundance of ways. When reading other stories about children from places around the world, teachers can show the real life photograph and information about the place a character comes from. I would not read this text as a whole, but it could be used throughout the year as these discussions arise.
Video:
"Nations of the World" Animaniacs
In this video, Yakko Warner sings a song listing every nation in the world while showing it on a map.
UNICEF funded these authors to travel the world for 50 years and learn about the children of the world. Children Just Like Me has pictures of children from all over the world and information about where they come from. This book shows children's clothing and everyday lives with photographs of the children, artifacts, landmarks, and more.
Age Group:
Grades PreK-5
Genre:
Nonfiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This book could be used to enhance discussion and cultural awareness in an abundance of ways. When reading other stories about children from places around the world, teachers can show the real life photograph and information about the place a character comes from. I would not read this text as a whole, but it could be used throughout the year as these discussions arise.
Video:
"Nations of the World" Animaniacs
In this video, Yakko Warner sings a song listing every nation in the world while showing it on a map.
![Picture](/uploads/4/6/3/2/46325565/424981015.jpg?250)
Black is Brown is Tan by Arnold Adoff
This book is written with a poetic tone. It is about a biracial family with a black mother and white father. Adoff depicts a joyous family life where the children are taught to love their family and where they came from. This book is said to feature the first interracial family in a children's book.
Age Group:
Grades PreK-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction, Poetry
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
African American, Biracial Families
Use:
This book could be used when discussing family or during a poetry unit.
Lesson Plan:
"Black is Brown is Tan"
This lesson plan offers discussion questions and follow-up activities for this text.
This book is written with a poetic tone. It is about a biracial family with a black mother and white father. Adoff depicts a joyous family life where the children are taught to love their family and where they came from. This book is said to feature the first interracial family in a children's book.
Age Group:
Grades PreK-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction, Poetry
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
African American, Biracial Families
Use:
This book could be used when discussing family or during a poetry unit.
Lesson Plan:
"Black is Brown is Tan"
This lesson plan offers discussion questions and follow-up activities for this text.
![Picture](/uploads/4/6/3/2/46325565/490627025.jpg?250)
Brown Like Me by Noelle Lamperti
Lamperti has written a delightful story about a girl named Noelle who loves the color brown. She looks for the color brown everywhere. Noelle is encouraged by her adoptive white family to find beauty in the color brown.
Age Group:
Grades PreK-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
African American, Multicultural, Adoptive Families
Use:
This book could be used in classroom discussions about family, adoption, and skin color helping bring cultural awareness to the classroom.
Lamperti has written a delightful story about a girl named Noelle who loves the color brown. She looks for the color brown everywhere. Noelle is encouraged by her adoptive white family to find beauty in the color brown.
Age Group:
Grades PreK-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
African American, Multicultural, Adoptive Families
Use:
This book could be used in classroom discussions about family, adoption, and skin color helping bring cultural awareness to the classroom.
![Picture](/uploads/4/6/3/2/46325565/702181419.jpg?250)
Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match by Monica Brown
Marisol is a Peruvian, Scottish-American girl who is different than all the people around her. She has red hair and brown skin. Other children tease her for being different. She tries to fit in, but realizes she is marvelous just the way she is. This story is written in Spanish and English.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multiracial, South American, Peruvian, Spanish, Scottish
Use:
This story could be used for many things in the classroom. It could be use for story structure, character development, and inside/outside character. Marisol can offer rich discussions about diversity and trying to "fit in" with others.
Marisol is a Peruvian, Scottish-American girl who is different than all the people around her. She has red hair and brown skin. Other children tease her for being different. She tries to fit in, but realizes she is marvelous just the way she is. This story is written in Spanish and English.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multiracial, South American, Peruvian, Spanish, Scottish
Use:
This story could be used for many things in the classroom. It could be use for story structure, character development, and inside/outside character. Marisol can offer rich discussions about diversity and trying to "fit in" with others.
![Picture](/uploads/4/6/3/2/46325565/837308655.jpg?250)
Shades of People by Shelley Rotner
In this book, Rotner gives children vocabulary for different shades of skin. She uses words like creamy, ivory, copper, and tan.
Age Group:
Grades PreK-2
Genre:
Nonfiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This text would pair very well with the book All the Colors We Are and the follow-up activity where students come up with words to describe different shades of skin bringing cultural awareness and undoing the black/white mentality we often hear in society.
Video:
"Skin Color - The Way Kids See It"
In this eye-opening video series, CNN reporter asks children questions about skin color. Students have many manifested ideas of skin color, and particularly negative perspectives on darker skin. The texts in this text set could help break these barriers and begin to help change our students' perspectives on how we se each other.
In this book, Rotner gives children vocabulary for different shades of skin. She uses words like creamy, ivory, copper, and tan.
Age Group:
Grades PreK-2
Genre:
Nonfiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This text would pair very well with the book All the Colors We Are and the follow-up activity where students come up with words to describe different shades of skin bringing cultural awareness and undoing the black/white mentality we often hear in society.
Video:
"Skin Color - The Way Kids See It"
In this eye-opening video series, CNN reporter asks children questions about skin color. Students have many manifested ideas of skin color, and particularly negative perspectives on darker skin. The texts in this text set could help break these barriers and begin to help change our students' perspectives on how we se each other.
![Picture](/uploads/4/6/3/2/46325565/873042037.jpg?250)
Looking Like Me by Walter Dean Myers
In this poetic, jazzy picture book, the Myers duo celebrates people's differences. They share how we can be whoever we want to be. The illustrations are loud and abstract, alongside vivid word choice.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Poetry
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This book could be used when discussing students' hopes and dreams. A follow-up activity could be done about what students want to be or how they see themselves. This story would pair well with I Am America by Charles Smith.
In this poetic, jazzy picture book, the Myers duo celebrates people's differences. They share how we can be whoever we want to be. The illustrations are loud and abstract, alongside vivid word choice.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Poetry
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This book could be used when discussing students' hopes and dreams. A follow-up activity could be done about what students want to be or how they see themselves. This story would pair well with I Am America by Charles Smith.
![Picture](/uploads/4/6/3/2/46325565/686444308.jpg?250)
All the Colors We Are: The Story of How We Get Our Skin Color by Katie Kissinger
This book offers a scientific description of how people get their skin color. Kissinger talks about the melanin in our skin and how the environment can change our skin color. She writes to undo myths about skin color (like Asian people aren't "yellow"). She also offers several follow-up activities for exploring skin color. This is written in English and Spanish.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Nonfiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This book can be used to teach students about all different shades of skin and how skin colors form. It helps students understand how and why our skin is different shades. The follow-up activities are great for classroom instruction.
This book offers a scientific description of how people get their skin color. Kissinger talks about the melanin in our skin and how the environment can change our skin color. She writes to undo myths about skin color (like Asian people aren't "yellow"). She also offers several follow-up activities for exploring skin color. This is written in English and Spanish.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Nonfiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This book can be used to teach students about all different shades of skin and how skin colors form. It helps students understand how and why our skin is different shades. The follow-up activities are great for classroom instruction.
![Picture](/uploads/4/6/3/2/46325565/965606469.jpg?250)
These Hands by Margaret H. Wilson
This is a story about a young boy named Joseph and his grandfather. Joseph's grandfather shares things he can do with his hands like play the piano and throw a curve ball. He gives Joseph a history lesson by sharing the things he was not allowed to do with his hands because of discrimination laws. For example, he was not allowed to make the bread at the Wonder Bread factory where he worked - he could only sweep floors and load trucks. He shared how African American people joined hands to change the discrimination laws.
Age Group:
Grades K-3
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
African American
Lesson Plan:
"These Hands"
This lesson offers guiding questions for the story and a post-reading activity where students write and discuss what they can do with their hands.
Article:
"The Daily Cafe"
In this article from the Daily Cafe, Lori Sabo shares possible reading strategy instruction for the CAFE acronym.
This is a story about a young boy named Joseph and his grandfather. Joseph's grandfather shares things he can do with his hands like play the piano and throw a curve ball. He gives Joseph a history lesson by sharing the things he was not allowed to do with his hands because of discrimination laws. For example, he was not allowed to make the bread at the Wonder Bread factory where he worked - he could only sweep floors and load trucks. He shared how African American people joined hands to change the discrimination laws.
Age Group:
Grades K-3
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
African American
Lesson Plan:
"These Hands"
This lesson offers guiding questions for the story and a post-reading activity where students write and discuss what they can do with their hands.
Article:
"The Daily Cafe"
In this article from the Daily Cafe, Lori Sabo shares possible reading strategy instruction for the CAFE acronym.
![Picture](/uploads/4/6/3/2/46325565/508312900.jpg?210)
The Crayon Box that Talked by Shane DeRolf
This is a story about a box of crayons that doesn't like each other. A little girl overhears them at the store and decides to buy them. She took them home and began to color a picture with the crayons, mixing colors and all. The crayons decide that they do like each other after all. They are unique individually, but together they are complete.
Age Group:
Grades PreK-1
Genre:
Fiction, Poetry
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This story can be used to help discuss the importance of working together and accepting one another. This could lead into a conversation about skin color with young children.
Lesson:
"The Crayon Box That Talked"
This lesson plan has discussion questions and extension activities for the story. Teachers can create a colorful bulletin board with pictures of the students on crayon cutouts. This also has a week for each child to be special, where the class makes a class book with the sentence "___ is special because___."
This is a story about a box of crayons that doesn't like each other. A little girl overhears them at the store and decides to buy them. She took them home and began to color a picture with the crayons, mixing colors and all. The crayons decide that they do like each other after all. They are unique individually, but together they are complete.
Age Group:
Grades PreK-1
Genre:
Fiction, Poetry
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This story can be used to help discuss the importance of working together and accepting one another. This could lead into a conversation about skin color with young children.
Lesson:
"The Crayon Box That Talked"
This lesson plan has discussion questions and extension activities for the story. Teachers can create a colorful bulletin board with pictures of the students on crayon cutouts. This also has a week for each child to be special, where the class makes a class book with the sentence "___ is special because___."
![Picture](/uploads/4/6/3/2/46325565/778688604.jpg?250)
I Am America by Charles R. Smith, Jr.
This book has real life photographs of children form various backgrounds who live in America. This is a poem from Charles Smith that spans across the pages. Smith discusses styles of music, religions, foods, cultures, and more.
Age Group:
Grades PreK-1
Genre:
Nonfiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This book can be used for teaching about diversity. Students can write their own "I Am" sentences and draw self-portraits to go with the story.
This book has real life photographs of children form various backgrounds who live in America. This is a poem from Charles Smith that spans across the pages. Smith discusses styles of music, religions, foods, cultures, and more.
Age Group:
Grades PreK-1
Genre:
Nonfiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This book can be used for teaching about diversity. Students can write their own "I Am" sentences and draw self-portraits to go with the story.
Elmer by David McKee
This is a story about diversity. Elmer is a patchwork elephant with many different colors, unlike all of the other brown elephants. Elmer doesn't like being different so he goes into the forest and finds a bush with berries on it and rubs them all over his body so he would be the same color as the others. Elmer went back to the herd and looked just like all the other elephants. When the other elephants burst out into laughter, they wish Elmer was there with them. A storm cloud reveals his true colors and the elephants decide to have a day to celebrate Elmer's best joke ever with a yearly Elmer's Day Parade.
Age Group:
Grades PreK-2
Genre:
Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This book can be used for teaching about similarities and differences. This is also a great text for teaching story elements and how a character changes from the beginning to the end of a story.
Lesson Plan:
"Elmer"
In this lesson from character.org, students color their own elephants and write about why their elephants are special.
Video:
Animated video
This is a story about diversity. Elmer is a patchwork elephant with many different colors, unlike all of the other brown elephants. Elmer doesn't like being different so he goes into the forest and finds a bush with berries on it and rubs them all over his body so he would be the same color as the others. Elmer went back to the herd and looked just like all the other elephants. When the other elephants burst out into laughter, they wish Elmer was there with them. A storm cloud reveals his true colors and the elephants decide to have a day to celebrate Elmer's best joke ever with a yearly Elmer's Day Parade.
Age Group:
Grades PreK-2
Genre:
Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
Multicultural
Use:
This book can be used for teaching about similarities and differences. This is also a great text for teaching story elements and how a character changes from the beginning to the end of a story.
Lesson Plan:
"Elmer"
In this lesson from character.org, students color their own elephants and write about why their elephants are special.
Video:
Animated video