Let’s Talk About Race in Storytimes

This book was developed from training sessions Bratt created to help her white colleagues “feel comfortable engaging with race and providing tools to help disrupt bias at a young age.” Balanced with research and rationale that supports why talking about race with young children is important, Bratt provides practical, easy-to-implement methods to get any storyteller started: suggested conversation starters, ways to normalize talking about race, and tips for leading positive discussions about racial differences with the very young and their caregivers. She supplements the text with callout boxes designed to foster self-reflection as well as to share example scripts, related terminology, and suggested storytime books. Drawing from her own research in antibias early education practices, Bratt’s book is about so much more than storytimes: the chapters build upon each other, leading readers through understanding racial differences and systemic racism’s negative impacts on nondominant groups, examining the negative impact on a pervasive dominant culture in library spaces, and moving beyond allyhood and becoming changemakers. She, of course, provides storytime examples and ways to cultivate craft.