On the Playground: Our First Talk About Prejudice

On the Playground: Our First Talk about Prejudice>/i> is a new book in “The World Around Us” series, following On Our Street: Our First Talk about Poverty (http://www.umanitoba.ca/outreach/cm/vol24/no9/onourstreet.html) and On the News: Our First Talk about Tragedy. (https://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/vol24/no39/onthenews.html) As in the previous titles, this nonfiction picture book encourages and facilitates a conversation about complex subjects. The preface sets the tone for the discussions: “Sometimes people are teased or made fun of because they’re different. … It’s good to question what you hear other people say and how other people act, especially when it feels hurtful.”

Seven questions are posed, all from the point of view of a child bystander, including, “Why would someone pick on a person just for being different?”, “What is it called when something like this happens?”, and “How did that boy feel when those kids were so mean to him?”. Dr. Jillian Roberts, a child psychologist, professor and parent, provides answers that are reassuring (“I understand how you feel”), albeit very simplified (“We call this kind of behavior harassment. And when someone is harassed because they are different, it’s often due to a prejudice held by the person who is being mean”). Sidebars provide brief definitions of terms used, as well as information about the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Pink Shirt Day, and different types of prejudiced behaviour. The second half of the book digs a little deeper and offers up concrete examples to answer the question, “What can I do to help?” Empathy, education and being an engaged ally are suggested as ways to make a difference. A note from the author concludes with a call to action: “You have the power to make your corner of the world a better place!”

Full-colour, stock photographs of relatable playground and classroom scenes support the narrative for the most part. However, the stock photos of a child cowering in fear before the shadow of an angry adult, and a little boy covering his ears while his parents argue in the background, don’t quite convey the same message as the accompanying statement of “Children who say unkind things probably heard important adults in their lives saying similar things. And those adults may believe that being different is bad.” Jane Heinrichs’ watercolour illustrations are scattered throughout the pages and show a diverse group of children, including a character inspired by Sophie Kamlish, a Paralympic athlete from Bath, UK, who runs using a prosthetic blade.

On the Playground: Our First Talk about Prejudice is a useful discussion starter about combating intolerance.