The Skin I'm In: A First Look at Racism (A First Look at...Series)

Unlike other reviewers I don’t mind the “harsh” language. Because it’s the truth. When it comes to racism I am not sure that tiptoeing around the issue is working...y’all saw who got elected president right?I do agree that there should have been more discussion regarding systematic and institutionalized racism, as well as the position of power required to be racist. “Anybody if any skin color can be racist.”, is not a true statement, however, it’s placement in the book seems almost as an after thought and I plan on just crossing it out. I certainly appreciate the honest and wording as well as the pictures. They are powerful. I think if you think of this less as a story, and more of a book to help start a conversation about racism-you night have a better experience. I have a 3 year old and I don’t plan to read this word for word even all the way through at this point. I plan to read it when we have some focused time so we can have the discussions page by page. I think it’s a good resource. I have a lot of “we are different! But the same” and “the world is a rainbow” books. Those are great and serve a purpose, however, there is a real lack of books geared at the younger set that even say the words racist and racism, so for that I am grateful and eager to use this as just a part of my families discussion of racism.

I love reading stories with a life lesson to my granddaughter.

I got this book to open up discussions with my children about race and discrimination. They are both very young and are just now learning that people can really be mean for no reason other than how you look. My son was a victim of bullying- which I believed stemmed from the way he looked. )This book is a great starting point. I like that it does talk about how racism can be from any race/ religion to any race/religion and is always wrong. It helps give them a voice when they see it happening to someone else and I hope a voice when it happens to them. It does happen to ALL races, and we need to educate our children to help stop it.

I got this book because I am a strong believer that all people are beautiful and equal. I want to teach my children love and acceptance. I thought this would be a good book to teach my 5 year old about loving who you are and accepting those who are different. (we are currently in a " I want to be blond hair, blue eyed" phase). I loved the first 12 pages. Then it gets very focused on racists and how they are "cowards." The book turned very negative and while I definitely think that mentioning that racism exists, anyone can do it, and that it is wrong is awesome but I think this book goes overboard and gets really negative. So disappointed that a book I bought to teach tolerance was so negative. Also, there is a page with a clown that says that if you are afraid of someone different then you you should try to get to know them....So it is kids who are afraid of a clown (no adults present and even their dog is scared) and then they all decide to ignore that feeling and decide to play with this man they don't know. So weird for so many reasons. If my children hung out with an adult who is walking around dressed as a clown I would freak out. ALso currently in our area people are dressing up like clowns and jumping people which just makes this page worse. Good intentions for a book but poorly executed.

great little text to get children thinking and appreciating other culturesmy class thoroughly enjoyed listening to the book and many activities can beintegrated into the story

I liked it but not as much as I'd hoped I would. Got this and a few other books for my daughter during black history month and this was my least favorite. I think it's the fact that it explains things in a very black and white way when there are definite grey areas when it comes to racism. I felt it was too simplistic, even for my preschooler.

The book is very good. It is almost too advanced for preschoolers, but I think ages 4/5 and above would find it helpful.

We are white parents of an adopted biracial daughter. We were hoping for a book that would help her feel prepared to deal with people who may treat her unfairly. There were a few little gems scattered throughout the book, but overall the tone and message of this book was way off. Like other reviews have said, it's ironic that a book about accepting others is so harsh in tone. Everything is presented in absolutes, and there are MANY phrases in the book I would not want my daughter to repeat to someone. We did not read it to her and returned it.

A strange book this in its original. It states a stance against racism and yet claims white and black are races that have cultural heritages attached to them via skin colour. I have studied sociology to postgrad level and much on it on discrimination and equality as well as having worked in equality related jobs and this is not a book I would recommend without alterations. This is what we did: We re-edited the text (using a marker writing in and crossing out) We took out the word race on various pages and we took out the phrase that claims that culture is attached to skin colour. Now the text says only that people are different (rather than people have different races distinguishable by skin colour). The illustrations are good and the rest of the text is then quite OK.

I thought as this was a First Book it would be good for pre school children but it is really aimed at school age - too many words and drawn images rather than photographs - there really is a gap in the market for a similar book but much simpler, and with photos for the early years.As a book for the right age group, it was worth the money but it is not suitable for my purposes.

i bought for a young child who has suffered some rascism in their short life to the point they wish they were a different colour, I dont agree with some of the bad reviews and think this book gives a good explanation

No concerns nice pictures, and easy to read. First look at racism. I advise people to get thisbook for your children as it is entertaining. teaches about racism, having good morals and attitudes!!

Skin I'm in (First Look at BooksGreat book for children to read. Helps with understanding themselves and other people.