Customer Reviews

The Skin I'm In: A First Look at Racism

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is an excellent addition to a child's library. I have a different perspective from the previous reviewers, in that I think it is correct to say that although all people can express prejudice - "racism" is an oppressive act committed within a dominant culture and creates real barriers our institutions as well as our personal lives - and has a very different effect on peoples lives than hurtful personal expressions of prejudice from members of minority communities. Although prejudice and racial teasing and bullying are certainly hurtful and destructive - I think the book, and its direct questions to the readers, and its illustrations do an excellent job describing such complicated subjects to young children.

There are illustrations of kids of color looking at magazines of blond-haired, blue eyed princesses, there are images which show an Islamic man uncomfortable with his grandson playing with children of Euro-american children, there are illustrations which depict subtler forms of racism other than explicit racist bullying (a man giving more ice cream to a child of the same race)

I am a clinical social worker who works with adoptees, and a white adoptive mother to Korean American children, and my kids found this book extremely helpful through pre K and kindergarten, when awareness of difference and race begins to be experienced on the playgrounds. They often asked to read it, and both asked for help from a grown up right away when they were teased about their race in pre-school. Our family has been very grateful for this book and I highly recommend it.

I like the fact that this book gives an example of how to address a hiden racist behavior while at the same time teaching how to seek for advice and help. My 4 year old loves this book.

While I happen to work with Black students (only 1 white student) I know that Black children go through racism on a daily basis, more than any other racial group. However, even my 8yr. old Black students are aware and have said aloud there ARE Black, Latino, etc. racists. I was disappointed again to see a book where only white males are the racists, not a Latino man or a Black female. It was nice the text said any1 can be racist, but the illustrations did not support this.

The book was a straightforward, easy read. But it pointed out, pictured and labeled certain people as being a "racist". Any one is susceptible to dealing with racist attitudes. I would like to see the attitude of racism being dealt with rather than labeling another human. This seems to promote the very exclusionary attitude the book is supposedly trying to deal with.

The artwork is really nice. However, for a book about racism I expected to see someone other than a white male showing prejudice. I, personally, have had to work with very prejudiced non-white people. I know the prejudice is real.

There is one complete white family checking out a man with a spiked hairstyle and his family. Of course, they are looking at this family with disdain.

The one and only example of relgious predjudice is someone from the middle east

It shows we are all different but yet all alike and can get along.