Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You adapted by Sonja Cherry-Paul

 

The past couple days, I read Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You adapted by Sonja Cherry-Paul from the best-seller Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You. This nonfiction book is about the history of racist ideas, how they still impact America in the present, and those who have fought racism with antiracism. It also explains the importance of talking about race and the difference between racist, assimilationist, and antiracist thoughts.

I've been looking forward to reading one of the three versions of Stamped, so I was excited that the kids version was on the Rebecca Caudill list for this school year. Although this book covers a tough topic to talk about, it is written in a way that is accessible for students in middle and elementary school. I especially liked how the chapters were organized like a timeline going from the 1400s to the present because it made it easy to see how the present is connected to the past and how sometimes the past repeats itself. The information was definitely enlightening, and I was encouraged by the messages that people can change and it's important to actively participate to make a difference instead of taking performative actions on social media. I also enjoyed the illustrations by Rachelle Baker. Additionally, the back matter includes a timeline, a glossary, and further reading. Everyone should read this book whether it's the kids version reviewed in this blog entry, the remix version for young adults (Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi), or the original version Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi.