Family Conversation Kits: Latinx Kit: Early Childhood Edition

The idea for Family Conversation Kits came about as a way to build understanding and empathy, and ultimately pave the way for more equitable communities. Research shows that children begin to notice race and other differences at an early age and that they often internalize biases and stereotypes by the time they start school. However, research also shows that exposure to other racial groups, even through children's literature, helps to counteract bias and discrimination (Aronson, 2014; Crisp & Turner, 2009). Despite the known benefits, families often feel ill-equipped to engage in conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are hopeful that these kits will allow families to begin these important lifelong conversations with confidence. 

Each Family Conversation Kit focuses on one facet of diversity and caters to a specific age range of children. Each kit includes age-appropriate books and a guide for families.

This is an Early Childhood Kit. These kits contain three picture books: one general diversity book and two books specifically related to the group of people the kit focuses on.

This is a Latinx Kit. Gaining popularity in recent years, Latinx (la-teen-ex) is a gender-inclusive way to refer to people of Latin American descent. Many prefer this term because it is more gender inclusive as it does not use the male ending (or female, for that matter) as gender-neutral. The accepted plural is Latinxs. This includes people from Central America, South America, and The Caribbean (Puerto Rico, The Dominican Republic), but not people from Spain. 

When you purchase this Kit you will receive a Family Conversation Kit Booklet and ONE copy of each of the following books:

Kitchen Dance by Maurie J. Manning

This title was chosen because its simple story and beautiful pictures share the story of a loving family. This book features a Black family, which encourages children to expand their mental image of Latinxs beyond the stereotype many Americans have. Finally, this book was selected because it has aspects that children of all races and ethnicities can relate to. A great way to overcome the us/them mentality is to find similarities between ourselves and others. 

Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin by Duncan Tonatiuh

This title was chosen because it provides a comparison between the daily lives of two cousins, one in rural Mexico, and the other in the urban United States. Life in the Chippewa Valley differs from that of the cousin in the US, so Dear Primo can be helpful in challenging the stereotype that all Mexicans are the same. To help you follow the story better, you might point out to your child that Carlitos wears a red shirt, while Charlies wears a blue shirt, and each cousin has his own unique font in this book as well.

All the Colors We Are by Katie Kissinger

This title was chosen as our "general diversity" book for this kit because it's a wonderful factual resource parents can use to discuss and explain skin color. This book was chosen for this kit specifically because it is a bilingual book written in English and Spanish and families can use it to expose their children to the Spanish language. The photos are beautifully done and they provide many opportunities to see and discuss different skin colors.