Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness

Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness follows a white child who begins to notice racial injustice in their community and media. The child asks questions about whiteness and racism while navigating conversations with family members who seem reluctant to engage with these topics. The story takes place against the backdrop of news coverage about police violence against Black people, which prompts the protagonist's journey of discovery. Through collage art and straightforward dialogue, the book presents complex concepts about race and privilege from a child's perspective. The narrative tracks the protagonist's growing awareness of systemic racism and white privilege, including their emotional responses and attempts to understand their own role in these systems. The child works to process these revelations while facing resistance from adults who prefer to avoid discussions about race. This picture book addresses themes of racial identity, social justice, and the responsibility of white people to acknowledge and confront racism. Its approach centers on empowering young readers to recognize and question racial inequity in their own lives.

Reader reviews focus heavily on the book's approach to discussing racism and white privilege with children. Readers who rated it positively appreciated: - Clear examples that children can understand - Direct confrontation of difficult topics - High-quality illustrations - Age-appropriate explanations of systemic racism Common criticisms included: - Claims it promotes guilt and shame in white children - Too complex for young readers - Potentially divisive messaging - Price point ($18.95) considered high for length Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (500+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Helped my 8-year-old understand concepts I struggled to explain" - Goodreads reviewer "Made my child feel bad about being white" - Amazon reviewer "Perfect conversation starter for families" - School Library Journal reader "Oversimplifies complex issues" - Barnes & Noble reviewer

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We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices by Wade Hudson, Cheryl Willis Hudson A collection of essays, poems, and letters from diverse authors shares messages about hope and resilience during difficult times.

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🔸 The book is part of Anastasia Higginbotham's "Ordinary Terrible Things" series, which addresses challenging topics for children including death, divorce, and sex. 🔸 The artwork in the book is created using brown paper bags, cloth, and other everyday materials, giving it a unique collage-style appearance. 🔸 Released in 2018, it was one of the first children's books to explicitly address white privilege and racial justice for elementary school-aged readers. 🔸 The author spent over 20 years working with youth-serving organizations before becoming a children's book author and illustrator. 🔸 The book received the 2019 American Library Association's Notable Children's Book Award while simultaneously becoming one of the most challenged books in U.S. school libraries.