Read Aloud Videos: Anti-Racism & Social Justice

On Earth Peace is committed to the work of racial and social justice. Topics covered in this category include race, social activism, white privilege, and police brutality.

Nelson Mandela

The story of Nelson Mandela's childhood and his fight against apartheid and racism in South Africa read in English and Arabic.

• What do you find most interesting about Nelson Mandela's Childhood?

Eyes that Kiss in the Corners | By Joanna Ho

A story about a young girl embracing her differences from her peers.

• What makes you different and unique that you share with others you love?

Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 | By Helaine Becker

Katherine Johnson loves math and is brilliant in schools but has to overcome many obstacles because she is a girl with black skin.  Ultimately, Katherine joins NASA and is the mathematician that saves the Apollo 13 mission. 

Sulwe | By Lupita Nyong'o

Sulwe is a young girl who wishes her skin was lighter. After a journey through the night sky, Sulwe begins to look at herself differently.

• What did you learn from this story?

Ira's Shakespeare Dream | By Glenda Armand

This book is about Ira Aldridge, an African American actor who overcame racism to become one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of the 1800s.

• Have you had anything in your life that has captured your imagination?

Catching the Moon | By Crystal Hubbard

This books is based on the childhood of Marcenia Lyle Alberga, the first African American woman to play for an all-male professional baseball team.

• What sports do you like to play?

Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color | By Monique Fields

A biracial girl named Simone embarks on a journey to find her own color.

• What is your color word?

For additional resources and activities related to this book, visit this link.

Shirley Chisholm is a Verb | By Veronica Chambers

This book tells the story of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress.

•  What verbs will you choose?

For additional activities related to this book, visit the following worksheet.

Malala’s Magic Pencil | By Malala Yousafzai

This book tells the story of Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist for female education.

• What would you do with a magic pencil?
• What would you draw?
• What would you say?

The Youngest Marcher | By Cynthia Levinson

This book is about the story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a young girl who was involved in the 1963 Birmingham Campaign.

• How did segregation laws impact Audrey’s life?

For additional activities related to Cynthia Levinson's book, visit our worksheet.

A is for Activist | By Innosanto Nagara

A is for Activist is an ABC board book that covers topics about activism, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, etc.

• Can you think of a word that describes you for each letter of the alphabet?

For additional activities related to this book, visit the following link.

Let’s Talk About Race | By Julius Lester

Julius Lester's story introduces children to the topic of race.

• What are some things that are important to your story?

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark" | By Debbie Levy

This book details the achievements of the late Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

For additional activities related to Debbie Levy's book visit the following worksheet. 

Antiracist Baby | By Ibram X. Kendi

Antiracist Baby is a board book that introduces young children to the concepts of antiracism.

• How have you been battling racism in your friendships and classes?
• How can you do better to make places more safe and comfortable for your friends of different races?

Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match | By Monica Brown

Marisol is half Scottish and half Peruvian. She loves “mismatched” things. She has bright red hair, brown skin, loves to wear polka dots and stripes, having PB&J burritos for lunch, and being a complete fusion of everything.

• What makes you unique?

Love Will See You Through | By Angela Farris Watkins

Angela Farris Watkins, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s niece, reveals her uncle's six guiding principles of nonviolence.

• Which one of King’s principles is your favorite?

The Name Jar| By Yangsook Choi

Unhei moves to the U.S. from Korea and is nervous about her first day of school. On the bus, the kids tease her because of her name. When she gets to class, she tells everyone that she will be choosing a new name for herself by the end of the week. Her classmates make a name jar to give her name suggestions. In the end, Unhei decides to keep her name and explains to her classmates what her name means and why it is important to her.

• If you could choose your own name, what would you pick and why?

Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano PhD , Marietta Collins PhD , Ann Hazzard PhD

Two families, one Black and one White, discuss a police shooting of a Black man in their town to their children.

• What is something you can do to start a better pattern?

Not My Idea: A Book about Whiteness | By Anastasia Higginbotham

A young White boy sees a White police officer shoot an unarmed brown person on the news. His family refuses to talk about the matter, which leads the boy to look at the history of oppression and self-reflect. 

• How can you affect change as the person that you are?

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History | By Vashti Harrison

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History features the stories of forty trailblazing women in American history, including Rosa Parks and Ruby Bridges. 

• Can you think of a time that you were courageous?
• What was it and what did you do?