Ibram X. Kendi’s Summer Reading List

Summer’s nearly here, and as an antidote to those stale—and sometimes problematic—school-suggested summer reading lists, Parents has collaborated with some of the most stellar names in book publishing to offer Alternate Summer Reading Lists, curated by authors and educators to reflect the world as kids today really see it.

Our first comes from Ibram X. Kendi, Ph.D., professor of Humanities at Boston University, and founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, as well as the New York Times bestselling author of books including How to Be Antiracist, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, and Antiracist Baby.

His latest, How to Raise an Antiracist, offers parents, caregivers, and educators solid guidance for tackling racism and systemic structures head on and creating an antiracist mindset for adults and kids alike. The book delves deep into scientific research on child development and the impact racism and societal structures have on kids, presented in the thoughtful and accessible voice we’ve come to expect from Dr. Kendi. But it also follows Dr. Kendi’s own journey as a parent trying to navigate talking to his kid about racism, offering lessons for parents of kids of all ages. Here, Dr. Kendi offers eight titles that might help start those critical conversations.