Today's kids are brimming with energy and questions all the time. They need the right answers to their 'whys' and 'hows'- something that satisfies their inner curiosity as well as explains to them in a convincing manner. What better than books to teach kids what's right and what's wrong?
Here is a look at famous Indian author books that teach your children all they need to know about discrimination and diversity in our culture. So whether you are trying to explain race, caste, gender or even religious differences, these books can help. Pick them up today! And for more recommendations on the best books for your kids, filtered by age and interest, join us at KSP Book Club.
Author: Mahasweta Devi and Kanyika Kini
Publisher: Tulika
The story is told from the viewpoint of 10-year old Moyna who finds some of the outright discriminations meted out to her unjust and confusing at the same time. She needs answers to them- how is she going to tackle this? Children's book author and connoisseur Richa Jha tells us why this book is one of the must-haves in your child's library. "We do not have a better book for kids in India to address the whole array of deep-rooted discrimination and marginalisation in our society – gender, caste, class – and how the only befitting leveller in all these cases can be education, apart from an unquenched thirst for answers to ‘whys’. A powerful, thought-provoking book.
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2. What Is A Girl What Is A Boy?
Authors: Kamla Bhasin, Bindia Thapar
Publisher: Jagori
A thought we drill deep into the minds of the children, right from the beginning- gender stereotyping and gender discrimination needs to stop NOW! The society comfortably tells us what's right for a girl to do, what not should a girl/boy do and to follow the rules is considered a norm. This book helps you explain to your little ones what and how discrimination is and is prevailing in the society and how we as parents, can help change that scenario.
Authors: Nina Sabnani
Publisher: Tulika
Religious discrimination is again a very, very difficult topic that parents have to explain to their children. In what might seem, like a tad ridiculous in their future (hopefully), we have to accept the fact that we live in a world that discriminates the people on all basis- religion included. Here's how you can teach your kids how people follow have different faiths, but ideologically they can be together and united. Author Richa Jha has this to say about the book- "A poignant tale of friendship and separation set against the backdrop of the 1947 partition. Full of sadness, but also of hope and the everlasting nature of deep bonds of friendship. This book lingers on in a most melancholic yet uplifting way".
Author: Kanak Shashi
Publisher: Tulika
How do we explain the concept of gender identity to kids? Why should girls wear frocks and boys wear shirts? This serious topic has been broken down into easily understandable language with this book that is winning the hearts of parents and educators.
Author: Niveditha Subramanian
Publisher: Tulika Books
What happens when young Mayil is fed up with the gender stereotyping that happens all around us? She decides she will not be quiet.
Author: Geeta Dharamarajan
Publisher: Katha
A lovely-illustrated book that teaches and inspires young minds why they need to speak up against gender discrimination.
Tanya Lemos
KSP Team
Mansi Zaveri
Rushita Sheth
Malvika Patel
Mansi Zaveri
