I’ve been grappling with what I can do personally in response to the overwhelming racism and bigotry that has always been here, but is now being filmed in real time, discussed on timelines and Tik Tok’s and heatedly debated at dinner tables. I say this, clearly, as someone who has not had to deal with racism on a daily basis. Systemic racism is not new – the widespread realization of it is.

So, what can we do?

One thing we can do right now, today, is introduce our children to books with a diverse cast of characters. Mamas, Caretakers, Teachers – it’s our job to introduce children to people that do not look like them. I’m not talking about a passing mention of Chinese New Year or a quick read of a Martin Luther King book in February. It should be a completely  normal, everyday experience for your child to see children of different ethnicities doing everyday activities in books. Children need repeated exposure to people of color in everyday situations.

So here are ten books we love with diverse characters (and that I personally have at home):

1. My Friends
2. Global Babies
3. A Fish to Feed
4. The Snowy Day
5. I Can Do It Too
6. Rain Feet
7. Love Is
8. A is for Activist
9. America
10. Always In Trouble