Common Sense Media Review
By Diondra K. Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Well-done picture book gives kids tools for discussing race.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
OUR SKIN: A FIRST CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE shares the history of race and how it is a social construct created centuries ago by White people who wanted to keep power for themselves. Today, we are still dealing with the effects of this division, like prejudice and stereotypes. But we can embrace diversity and activism, because skin color makes us special, and people of all skin colors should be treated equally. Racism is never fair and needs to be changed. That change starts with us.
Is It Any Good?
A good tool to use with young children to spark conversations about race and racism. Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race overall does a great job setting the foundation for an appropriate discussion about important and pressing topics. However, some of the illustrations and text about racism occurring "by mistake" are oversimplified and may cause some readers to feel unseen or, worse, to think that harmful stereotypes are just an accident. These small issues can be overcome with further discussion and don't take away from the overall helpfulness of the book.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how in Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race, our skin color makes us special and should not divide us. What skin color do you see in your family? In your neighborhood?
Do people in your life talk about skin color or racism? What ideas have you heard about the meaning of skin color? Are they positive or negative? Where do you think these messages come from?
What does it mean to be an activist? What have you done, or do you want to do, to make positive change?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Illustrator : Isabel Roxas
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Activism , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Rise x Penguin Workshop
- Publication date : March 6, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 2 - 5
- Number of pages : 38
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : June 9, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
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