Reading to End Racism Book List:

Mr. Lincoln’s Way     When Mr. Lincoln, “the coolest principal in the whole world,” discovers that Eugene, the school bully, knows a lot about birds, he uses this interest to help Eugene overcome his intolerance.

If a Bus Could Talk     A biography of the African American woman and civil rights worker whose refusal to give up her seat on a bus led to a boycott which lasted more than a year in Montgomery, Alabama.

My Brother Martin    This book looks at the early life of Martin Luther King Jr., as seen through the eyes of his older sister.

Amazing Grace    Classmates tell Grace that she cannot play Peter Pan in the school play because she is black and a girl.

The Butterfly    During the Nazi occupation of France, Moniques’s mother hides a Jewish family in her basement and tries to help them escape to freedom.

Encounter     A Taino Indian boy on the island of San Salvador recounts the landing of Columbus and his men in 1492.

Goin’ Someplace Special    In segregated 1950s Nashville, a young African American girl braves a series of indignities and obstacles to get to one of the few integrated places in town: the public library.

Martin’s Big Words   The life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Star of Fear, Star of Hope   Nine-year-old Helen is confused by the disappearance of her Jewish friend during the German occupation of Paris.

The Other Side    Two girls, one white and one black, gradually get to know each other as they sit on the fence that divides their town.

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt    A young slave stitches a quilt with a map pattern, which guides her to freedom in the North.

Sister Anne’s Hands    Seven-year-old Anna has her first encounter with racism in the 1960’s when an African-American nun comes to teach at her parochial school.

The Bat Boy & His Violin    Reginald is more interested in practicing his violin than in learning about his father’s job managing the worst baseball team in the Negro Leagues, but when Papa makes him the bat boy and his music begins to lead the team to victory, Papa realizes the value of his son’s passion.

So Far From the Sea     When seven-year-old Laura and her family visit Grandfather’s grave at the Manzanar War Relocation Center, the Japanese American child leaves behind a special symbol.

Painted Words     Two separate stories in one book, the first telling of Mari’s starting school in a new land, and the second describing village life in her country before she and her family left in search of a better life.  A very touching and powerful portrayal of perspective.

The Rag Coat     Minna proudly wears her new coat made of clothing scraps to school, where the other children laugh at her until she tells them the stories behind the scraps.

Suki’s Kimono  Suki’s very favorite thing is her blue cotton kimono.  A gift from her obachan, it holds special memories of her grandmother’s visit over the summer.  And Suki is going to wear it on her first day back to school –no matter what anyone says.

Yoko   When Yoko brings sushi to school for lunch, her classmates make fun of what she eats – until one of them tries it for himself.

Angel Child, Dragon Child    Ut has just come to the United States from Vietnam, and she does not like her new American school.  The children all laugh when she speaks in Vietnamese.  There is an "awful red-haired boy," named Raymond, who picks on her almost every day.  Ut also misses her mother, who had to stay behind in Vietnam.  To her surprise, it is Raymond who thinks of the perfect way to help her.

Freedom on the Menu     A portrait of the 1960 civil rights sit-ins at the Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, as seen through the eyes of a young Southern black girl.

First Day in Grapes   When Chico starts the third grade after his migrant family moves to begin harvesting California grapes, he finds that self confidence and math skills help him cope with the first day of school.

Coolies    A young boy hears the story of his great-great-great-grandfather and his brother who came to the United States to make a better life for themselves helping to build the transcontinental railroad.

Apple Pie 4^th of July     A Chinese American child fears that the food her parents are preparing to sell on the Fourth of July will not be eaten.

Black is Brown is Tan    Describes in poetic form a family with a brown-skinned mother, light-skinned father, two children, and their various relatives.

Don’t Laugh at Me    Illustrated version of a song pointing out that in spite of our differences, we are all the same in God’s eyes.

Pink and Say    Say Curtis describes his meeting with Pinkus Aylee, a black soldier, during the Civil War, and their capture by Southern troops.

Something Beautiful  When a young girl goes looking for “something beautiful” in her neighborhood, she finds beauty in many different forms. 

More Than Anything Else  Nine-year-old Booker T. Washington works with his father and brother at the saltworks, but dreams of the day when he’ll be able to read.