Race Cars
A children's book about white privilege
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
Race Cars is a children’s book about white privilege created to help parents and educators facilitate tough conversations about race, privilege, and oppression.
Written by a clinical social worker and child therapist with experience in anti-bias training and edited by a diversity expert, Race Cars tells the story of 2 best friends, a white car and a black car, that have different experiences and face different rules while entering the same race.
Filled with bright, attention-grabbing illustrations, a notes and activities section at the back helps parents, guardians, and teachers further discuss these issues with children.
Why is this book important? As early as 6 months old, a baby’s brain can notice race-based differences; children ages 2 to 4 can internalize racial bias and start assigning meaning to race; and 5- to 8-year-olds begin to place value judgments on similarities and differences. By age 12, children have a complete set of stereotypes about every racial, ethnic, and religious group in society. Our guidance is especially crucial during this impressionable time.
Race Cars offers a simple, yet powerful, way to introduce these complicated themes to our children and is a valuable addition to classroom and home libraries.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Edited by diversity and inclusion expert Charnaie Gordon, this narrative, an extended metaphor about two race cars that's written in lengthy blocks of text, introduces white privilege and systemic prejudice to young readers. After Chase, a black car, is the first nonwhite vehicle to place first in "the world-famous, annual race-car race," the offended committee—made up entirely of older, male white autos, save for Grace, a white car who, differentiated by pink tires, is "the only girl"—adds obstacles to subsequent races for nonwhite cars, enabling Chase's best friend, Ace, a white car, to place higher. But when Ace attempts the route meant for "all other cars" and gets lost, Grace finally speaks up. Author-illustrator Devenny's prose is accessible, if sometimes didactic, as when explaining why a group of white cars don't initially speak up: "They were afraid of change and did not want to lose their space at the table." Densely spaced paragraphs paired with spare, stamplike digital art amplifies the educational feel, but this white privilege primer is an easily digestible resource that could benefit those building lesson plans on the topic. Front matter includes an author's and an editor's note; back matter includes discussion questions and notes for adults. Ages 6–9.
