Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Powerful, simple story about race and privilege.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
NOT MY IDEA: A BOOK ABOUT WHITENESS begins with TV images of a police shooting of a Black person and a little White girl asking her mom what happened. Mom doesn't want to talk about it, reinforcing what she thinks is a positive family value: "We don't see color." But the girl knows that color matters in how a person is treated. She goes to the library to get informed about the issue of race in the United States and learns about the abolitionist and civil rights movements and important activists like Colin Kaepernick. She also learns about White privilege and realizes that White supremacy isn't her idea, so she doesn't have to defend it.
Is It Any Good?
This powerful book offers a basic but clear explanation of White supremacy, White privilege, and the need for families to talk honestly about race. Mixed-media art in Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness uses archival news and magazine collages to tell the story of the struggle for civil rights and the ongoing issue of police brutality and police shootings. Having the focus be on the little girl's feelings and her quest for knowledge and understanding (then talking to her mom) makes it empowering.
The book is packed with information and context and would be an excellent jumping-off point for a family discussion of racism, protests, and police violence.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about "seeing color" in Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness. How come the little girl knows that people are treated differently because of their skin color, but her mom seems not to? Why is it important to talk about how attitudes about race can be harmful?
How do you feel when you see protests on the television or in the news? Do you understand what's going on? How could you find out more?
Have you ever participated in a protest or demonstration? What was it about? What was it like for you? Does calling out injustice help bring about positive change?
How does the main character show courage by talking about these issues? Why is that an important character strength to have?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Anastasia Higginbotham
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Activism , History
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Dottir Prress
- Publication date : September 24, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 64
- Available on : Paperback, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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