“…kick off authentic conversations that are both warm and thoughtful.” —Kelly Glass

The amazing Kelly Glass, an incredible journalist and mom with a clear vision for Black parenting, wrote about Different Differenter.

From The New York Times Wirecutter Holiday Gift Guide.

A book about differences

Few books are able to eloquently tackle the subject of race for kids while also offering something for adults. Different Differenter by Jyoti Gupta goes a step further, addressing a topic that, it turns out, is critical for kids to grasp before taking on racism: colorism. The beautifully illustrated Different Differenter introduces children—pictured with different skin colors, body types, and physical abilities—to terms like melanin and genes, as well as cultural differences among families and family traditions. Because it’s also an activity book, it’s full of instructions on how to learn and interact with children on these topics through play. My 5-year-old son, whom we call a chef for his love of playing with food, often asks to make the book’s recipe for laddoo, a popular Indian dessert. My teen took on one of Different Differenter’s more serious activities: making a one-minute anti-bullying video. Between the art activities and the theatrical prompts, it’s a book our family refers to often to kick off authentic conversations that are both warm and thoughtful.

—Kelly Glass

#racialliteracy #artseducation #independentvoices #colorism #darkskingirls #brownmoms #elementaryteacher #dei #multiracial