Differences
Suess, Dr.
The Sneetches
. New York: Random House, 1904.
Some of the Sneetches have stars on their tummies and some do not. They spend time and money fighting over which kind of Sneetch is better. By the end of the story, the Sneetches learns they were silly to fight over such a thing.
Slavery
Picture Books:
Ringgold, Faith.
Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky
. New York: Crown Publishers, 1995.
A girl reenacts a slave’s escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad.
Artwork:
Johnson, Eastman.
A Ride for Liberty - The Fugitive Slaves,
c. 1862
Kaufmann, Theodor.
On to Liberty
,
1867
Kuhn, Justus Englehardt.
Henry Darnall III as a Child
, c. 1710
Matthew, William.
Three Sisters of the Coplan Family
, 1854
Desegregation; General
Picture Books:
Mitchell, Margaree King.
Uncle Jed’s Barbershop
. New York: Scholastic Inc., 1994.
This story is about a little girl named Sarah Jean who becomes very ill and her Uncle Jed who dreams of opening a barbershop. Because blacks and whites were segregated, when Sarah Jean became ill, she had to wait in the “colored” waiting room. When she learned she needed a very expensive operation, her Uncles Jed proceded her family with the money to cover the cost of the operation. Despite the cost and the hard time during the Great Depression, Uncles Jed saves up enough money to open his barbershop on his 79th birthday.
Pinkney, Andrea Davis.
Fishing Day
. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2003.
This story draws on the Jim Crow laws of the South. It is about a poor white family and a middle class black family. While their parents try to keep their distance, their children learn to get along.
Artwork:
Decker, Joseph.
Our Gang
, 1886
Brown, John George.
The Card Trick
, 1880s
Desegregation; Libraries
Picture Books:
Bradby, Marie.
More Than Anything Else
. New York: Scholastic Inc., 1997.
This story portrays Booker T. Washington as a child. It is about his desire to learn to read.
Miller, William.
Richard Wright and the Library Card
. New York: Scholastic Inc., 1998.
As an adolescent, Richard wanted to learn to read. At a time when libraries were segregated, Richard used his employer’s library card to borrow books.
Artwork:
Lawrence, Jacob.
The Library
, 1960
Desegregation; Schools
Picture Books:
Coles, Robert.
The Story of Ruby Bridges
. New York: Scholastic Inc., 1995.
This story retells the life of Ruby Bridges. Ruby was the first black child to attend an all-white school.
Myers, Christopher.
Wings
. New York: Scholastic Inc., 2002.
Ikarus Jackson is the center of ridicule because he literally has wings. He is mocked by all until a girl in his class stands up for him.
Polacco, Patricia.
Mr
.
Lincoln’s Way
. New York: Philomel Books, 2001.
This story is about a prejudiced white boy in an integrated school. The boy’s views have been tainted by the views on his father. Mr. Lincoln, the black principal, finds a way to get the boy to see beyond color.
Artwork:
Rockwell, Norman.
The Problem We All Live With
, 1964
Rockwell, Norman.
The Golden Rule
, 1961
Celebrating Diversity
Picture Books:
Fresh, Doug E.
Think Again
. New York: Scholastic Inc., 2002.
A black boy and a white boy struggle to get along. Despite their differences, they eventually become best friends.
Katz, Karen.
The Color of Us
. New York: Scholastic Inc., 2001.
This story paints a vivid picture of all the beautiful skin colors that exists.
Grammar, Kathy and Red.
The Teaching Peace Songbook
&
Teacher’s Guide
. New York: Smilin’ Atcha Music, 1993.
The song “Listen” can be found in this book as well as many other wonderful songs about peace.