Not My Idea

ANASTASIA HIGGINBOTHAM is the author and illustrator of Divorce Is the Worst, Death Is Stupid, and Tell Me About Sex, Grandma—all part of the Ordinary Terrible Things series. She lives in Brooklyn. Librarians love her, but not as much as she loves them.

The book not only helps children become aware of racism, it also empowers them to work toward justice and cultivates activism...appropriate for younger kids as well as older ones, making it a great tool for family discussions. —THE STRATEGISTWhite families may appreciate Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness for helping children understand their personal privilege and how their choices can either contribute or dismantle white supremacy. —HUFFPOSTAn honest explanation about how power and privilege factor into the lives of white children, at the expense of other groups, and how they can help seek justice. —THENEW YORK TIMESAs someone floundering to find the right words to engage in conversation, I appreciate this book because it provides very clear and specific language to talk about white privilege. —THE CHRISTIAN CENTURYVery blunt, but not harsh. Incredible resources for a parent/caregiver to use with their children who may be having questions about race and racism. —THE MINING JOURNALThis book does a phenomenal job of explaining how power and privilege affect us from birth, and how we can educate ourselves...Not My Idea is an incredibly important book, one that we should all be using as a catalyst for our anti-racist education. —THE TINY ACTIVISTIn her brilliant square picture book “Not My Idea”, Anastasia Higginbotham skilfully argues and explains in a child-friendly way, why 'Racism is a white person’s problem and we are all caught up in it – mostly by refusing to look at it.' The author not only informs children about white supremacy and the oppression of people of colour, she also comforts them and encourages them to make a difference, no matter how small they are. —WHITE RAVEN SELECTION 2019A much-needed title that provides a strong foundation for critical discussions of white people and racism, particularly for young audiences. Recommended for all collections. —SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (*Starred Review) A necessary children's book about whiteness, white supremacy, and resistance… Important, accessible, needed. —KIRKUS REVIEWS A timely story that addresses racism, civic responsibility, and the concept of whiteness. —FOREWORD REVIEWS For white folks who aren’t sure how to talk to their kids about race, this book is the perfect beginning. —O MAGAZINE Quite frankly, the first book I’ve seen that provides an honest explanation for kids about the state of race in America today. —ELIZABETH BIRD, librarianI am in love with Not My Idea, and with Higginbotham’s direct, radical, compassionate approach to talking about whiteness, racism, and the need to tell painful but important truths. —KATE SCHATZ, NYT-bestselling author of Rad American Women A–Z, Rad Women Worldwide, and Rad Girls Can Anastasia Higginbotham is a children's book author and illustrator, not an athlete, but to teach kids to stand up against racism, she's taking a knee next to Colin Kaepernick. —FORUM Higginbotham is silently asking her readers to be more aware of everything around them...she is able to take control of the narrative and answer questions that expand on what little the child can gleam from adults. —MEL SCHUIT, blogger at Let's Talk Picture Books Anastasia’s books are works of love and urgency...She’s doing the work that few have tried. —GREG O'LOUGHLIN, founder of The Educators' Cooperative