Why talk about skin color?
Why are our skin colors different? What makes skin brown? Why are grown-ups mean to each other?
Children have a lot of questions about skin color and relationships. And since they are not always easy to answer, their questions often go unanswered or are answered uncomfortably. For instance, why don’t first graders know what melanin is and what it does?
Different Differenter addresses skin color and makes related conversations easier. I use age-appropriate vocabulary, explanations, and activities to help grade-schoolers and their families discover answers to their questions about skin color, which can lead up to exploratory and keen discussions about physical, ethnic, racial, and class- or caste-based differences.
I encourage you to use the book’s creative, play-based activities and prompts to challenge colorist narratives and help your children cultivate healthy relationships with their and your unique identities.
“…a starting point for essential conversations and long-term exploration of skin color…for parents, children, educators.”
—April Kim Tonin,
Art Educator and Deputy Director-Education,
The Museum of Arts and Design, NY, NY
Select Editorial Reviews
“…engaging primer on embracing differences that deftly combines a narrative with hands-on learning.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“…creatively weaves scholarly understandings of race as a social (not biological) construction…”
— Dr. Wendy Luttrell, Professor and chief executive officer, Urban Education, The Graduate Center, CUNY
“…provocative and sensitive … variety of developmentally and culturally appropriate experiences and explanations…”
— Social Justice Books, A Teaching for Change Initiative
“… address[es] a topic that, it turns out, is critical for kids to grasp before taking on racism: colorism.”
— Kelly Glass for The New York Times Wirecutter
Student Portfolio
What caregivers are saying
“…activities that pique a child’s interest and offer teachers and parents the opportunity to use teachable moments…”
— OLGA FLORES CHEN, LCSW, mom of two boys
“…between art activities and the theatrical prompts…a book our family refers to often to kick off authentic conversations that are both warm and thoughtful.”
—KELLY GLASS, Journalist, mom of two boys
“…the content is profound and through the activities children can think and learn by themselves…
— FUMIKO MATSUYAMA, Mom of twin girls
“…understand the science of melanin (or "lemonin" like my daughter calls it) but also notice intersectional differences… and what to do when someone speaks to you wrongly…”
—SHULI DE LA FUENTE-LAU, Founder, Asian Lit for Kids, mom of a girl
What educators are saying
“…designed to help parents talk candidly about colorism… a culturally relevant discussion guide.”
— KRISTI RANGEL, Administrator, former school principal
“rare publication… [offers] variety of developmentally and culturally appropriate experiences and explanations.”
— ED GREENE, Child development and early learning expert, former Director of Global Outreach, Sesame Workshop
“I’m getting so much interest, I’m going to make another round. I’ve never done that before!”
— SHELBY KRETZ, Founder, Little Justice Leaders Subscription Box
My self-published book is selling in select stores worldwide!
Available at mainstream bookstores in the U.S. (Powell’s Books, Bookshop, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, Amazon) libraries and independent bookstores; Canada (Indigo, Amazon) and U.K. (Amazon.co.uk and The National Gallery) Japan and Malaysia (thechildrensbookstore. co) including shipping to Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Sales in India underway!
Buy your own paperback, hardcover or e-book copy of Different Differenter!