SJPL Recommends: Antiracist Books for Grades 3-5 | San José Public Library

Not My Idea

A Book About Whiteness

by Higginbotham, Anastasia

Book - 2018

A necessary children's book about whiteness, white supremacy, and resistance. Important, accessible, needed. A necessary children's book about whiteness, white supremacy, and resistance. Important, accessible, needed. Show less

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A Good Kind of Trouble

by Ramée, Lisa Moore

Book - 2019

After attending a powerful protest, Shayla starts wearing an armband to school to support the Black Lives Matter movement, but when the school gives her an ultimatum, she is forced to choose between her education and her identity. After attending a powerful protest, Shayla starts wearing an armband to school to support the Black Lives Matter movement, but when the school gives her an ultimatum, she is forced to choose between her education and her identity. Show less

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Ghost Boys

by Rhodes, Jewell Parker

Book - 2019

After seventh-grader Jerome is shot by a white police officer, he observes the aftermath of his death and meets the ghosts of other fallen black boys including historical figure Emmett Till. After seventh-grader Jerome is shot by a white police officer, he observes the aftermath of his death and meets the ghosts of other fallen black boys including historical figure Emmett Till. Show less

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We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices

Book - 2018

A collection of art, essays, letters, poems, and stories celebrates standing up against prejudice and racism. A collection of art, essays, letters, poems, and stories celebrates standing up against prejudice and racism. Show less

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The Undefeated

by Alexander, Kwame

Book - 2019

The Newbery Award-winning author of The Crossover pens an ode to black American triumph and tribulation, with art from a two-time Caldecott Honoree. The Newbery Award-winning author of The Crossover pens an ode to black American triumph and tribulation, with art from a two-time Caldecott Honoree. Show less

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Flying Lessons & Other Stories

Book - 2018

From basketball dreams and family fiascoes to first crushes and new neighborhoods, this anthology, written by award-winning children's authors, celebrates the uniqueness and universality in all of us. From basketball dreams and family fiascoes to first crushes and new neighborhoods, this anthology, written by award-winning children's authors, celebrates the uniqueness and universality in all of us. Show less

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New Kid

by Craft, Jerry

Book - 2019

After his parents send him to a prestigious private school known for its academics, Jordan Banks finds himself torn between two worlds. After his parents send him to a prestigious private school known for its academics, Jordan Banks finds himself torn between two worlds. Show less

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The Talk

Conversations About Race, Love & Truth

Book - 2020

Thirty diverse and award-winning authors and illustrators capture frank discussions about racism, identity, and self-esteem. Thirty diverse and award-winning authors and illustrators capture frank discussions about racism, identity, and self-esteem. Show less

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Have I Ever Told You Black Lives Matter

by King, Shani M.

Book - 2021

Celebrating Black accomplishments in music, art, literature, journalism, politics, law, science, medicine, entertainment, and sports, Shani King summons a...Show more Celebrating Black accomplishments in music, art, literature, journalism, politics, law, science, medicine, entertainment, and sports, Shani King summons a magnificent historical and contemporary context for honoring the fortitude of Black role models, women and men, who have achieved greatness despite the grinding political and social constraints on Black life. Show less

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Can I Touch your Hair?

Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship

by Latham, Irene

Book - 2018

Poems from the alternating perspectives of two students explore such topics as hair, hobbies, and family dinners. Poems from the alternating perspectives of two students explore such topics as hair, hobbies, and family dinners. Show less

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Resist

35 Profiles of Ordinary People Who Rose up Against Tyranny and Injustice

by Chambers, Veronica

Book - 2018

A nonfiction collection of profiles of prominent activists for young readers. A nonfiction collection of profiles of prominent activists for young readers. Show less

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Ancestor Approved

Intertribal Stories for Kids

Book - 2021

This collection of intersecting stories by both new and veteran Native writers bursts with hope, joy, resilience, the strength of community, and Native pride. This collection of intersecting stories by both new and veteran Native writers bursts with hope, joy, resilience, the strength of community, and Native pride. Show less

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Other Words for Home

by Warga, Jasmine

Book - 2019

Sent with her mother to the safety of a relative's home in Cincinnati when her Syrian hometown is overshadowed by violence, Jude worries for the family members who were left behind as she adjusts to a new life with unexpected surprises. Sent with her mother to the safety of a relative's home in Cincinnati when her Syrian hometown is overshadowed by violence, Jude worries for the family members who were left behind as she adjusts to a new life with unexpected surprises. Show less

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Black Brother, Black Brother

by Rhodes, Jewell Parker

Book - 2020

Suspended unjustly from elite Middlefield Prep, Donte Ellison studies fencing with a former champion, hoping to put the racist fencing team captain in his place. Suspended unjustly from elite Middlefield Prep, Donte Ellison studies fencing with a former champion, hoping to put the racist fencing team captain in his place. Show less

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One Crazy Summer

by Williams-Garcia, Rita

Book - 2010

In the summer of 1968, after traveling from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to spend a month with the mother they barely know, eleven-year-old Delphine a...Show more In the summer of 1968, after traveling from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to spend a month with the mother they barely know, eleven-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters arrive to a cold welcome as they discover that their mother, a dedicated poet and printer, is resentful of the intrusion of their visit and wants them to attend a nearby Black Panther summer camp. Show less

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American as Paneer Pie

by Kelkar, Supriya

Book - 2020

When a racist incident rocks her small Michigan town, eleven-year-old Lekha must decide whether to speak up or stay silent, even as she struggles to navig...Show more When a racist incident rocks her small Michigan town, eleven-year-old Lekha must decide whether to speak up or stay silent, even as she struggles to navigate her life at home, where she can be herself, and at school, where she is teased about her culture. Show less

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Separate Is Never Equal

Sylvia Mendez & Her Family's Fight for Desegregation

by Tonatiuh, Duncan

Book - 2014

Years before the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling Brown v. Board of Education, Sylvia Mendez, an eight-year-old girl of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritag...Show more Years before the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling Brown v. Board of Education, Sylvia Mendez, an eight-year-old girl of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage, played an instrumental role in Mendez v. Westminster, the landmark desegregation case of 1946 in California. Show less

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Brown Girl Dreaming

by Woodson, Jacqueline

Book - 2014

Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an Africa...Show more Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Show less

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The Crossover

by Alexander, Kwame

Book - 2014

Thirteen-year-old twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court as their father ignores his declining health. Thirteen-year-old twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court as their father ignores his declining health. Show less

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Stella by Starlight

by Draper, Sharon M.

Book - 2015

When a burning cross set by the Klan causes panic and fear in 1932 Bumblebee, North Carolina, fifth-grader Stella must face prejudice and find the strength to demand change in her segregated town. When a burning cross set by the Klan causes panic and fear in 1932 Bumblebee, North Carolina, fifth-grader Stella must face prejudice and find the strength to demand change in her segregated town. Show less

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The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963

by Curtis, Christopher Paul

Book - 2013

The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons, an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963. The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons, an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963. Show less

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Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

by Taylor, Mildred D.

Book - 2004

Young Cassie Logan endures humiliation and witnesses the racism of the KKK as they embark on a cross-burning rampage, before she fully understands the importance her family attributes to having land of their own. Young Cassie Logan endures humiliation and witnesses the racism of the KKK as they embark on a cross-burning rampage, before she fully understands the importance her family attributes to having land of their own. Show less

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Hidden

A Child's Story of the Holocaust

by Dauvillier, Loïc

Book - 2014

A grandmother shares the story of her experiences in WWII with her grandchild in this graphic novel for young readers. A grandmother shares the story of her experiences in WWII with her grandchild in this graphic novel for young readers. Show less

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Amina's Voice

by Khan, Hena

Book - 2018

Amina, a Pakistani-American Muslim girl, struggles to stay true to her family's culture while dealing with the vandalism of the local Islamic Center and mosque and her best friend Soojin's new friendship with their former nemesis. Amina, a Pakistani-American Muslim girl, struggles to stay true to her family's culture while dealing with the vandalism of the local Islamic Center and mosque and her best friend Soojin's new friendship with their former nemesis. Show less

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Betty Before X

by Shabazz, Ilyasah

Book - 2018

Raised by her aunt until she is six, Betty, who will later marry Malcolm X, joins her mother and stepfamily in 1940s Detroit, where she learns about the civil rights movement. Raised by her aunt until she is six, Betty, who will later marry Malcolm X, joins her mother and stepfamily in 1940s Detroit, where she learns about the civil rights movement. Show less

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