The Talk is an amazing read! This is a powerful collection of short reads - or talks - written by various authors. Each 'talk' has a powerful message and prompts a pause for reflection from the reader. This is a great book to read with your children and a definite addition to classroom libraries! I found two 'talks' that stood out for me - "Why are there racist people" by Duncan Tonatiuh and "Our Inheritance" by Adam Gidwitz, illustrated by Peter Reynolds. All of the stories are important and share a message but I found myself reflecting on these two the most. This will be definite addition to my office shelf and will be recommended widely. I will use this and recommend this title to high school students and I think they will appreciate the stories just as much as I did. This is also appropriate for middle schoolers. If I could add more stars I would award them to this book! Thank you to NetGalley and RandomHouse Kids (Crown Books for Young Readers) for advance copy in exchange for honest review.

The Talk is a collection of stories, letters, and poems, written by parents for their children, talking about their experiences of racism, segregation, discrimination, and love. They encourage their children to be proud of who they are and where they came from. It is eye opening for white people, and empowering for people of color. It’s a must read for everyone, and can help open the doors for difficult and necessary conversations.

Wow! Wow! Wow! An amazing and powerful read! The Talk is a compilation of poetry, short stories, letters and words of advice written with love by various diverse authors to their children. They share their truths about racism and prejudice. Each piece in the compilation is accompanied by an illustration. Thank you Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for digital ARC.










Thank you Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this E-ARC.

The Talk is a compilation of stories, poetry, short stories, letters, words of advice, and illustrations from brilliant writers and illustrators. It is obvious that these writers and illustrators filled this book with their hearts. They reflect on their life experiences to open the door for readers to have similar conversations about racism and prejudice. I am grateful for these authors and illustrators for sharing their truth.

Thank you to the authors, illustrators, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this E-ARC. A powerful compilation of poems, stories, reflections, and letters to their children from various authors written with love and addressing the truth about race. Each author shares a unique “talk” that gives the reader a glimpse into their personal experience and truth. I am grateful to each author and illustrator who contributed to this beautiful collection of pieces from their hearts.

Amazing book! Conversations about race, love and truth is packed with short stories, letters, poems and essays to the next generation. Filled with writing from many well known middle grade writers-stories to their children and young kids everywhere! Many stories will leave you with a heart print. Be sure to pre-order lots of copies for your classroom as I suspect that it'll sell out quickly!

The Talk is a collection of stories by diverse authors discussing racism in its many, many forms. As national conversation remains focused on the BLM movement, this text is a critical read to "see" (there are images with each contribution) how we each have benefited from institutional racism even if you yourself are "not racist" and how we teach our children to be proud of who we are and be safe. Written for children, I believe this has enormous crossover appeal.

This heartfelt compilation of short stories and poems provide great backdrops for discussions on race, family relationships , and the truths that exist in life. Dad and daughter, moms and sons, just conversations. Somewhere on the path of living life, comes the many questions. What will your response be? Grab this book and see how it can become favorite bedtime stories...

A great moving book about have various types of talks with children. I loved how some were humorous or heartbreaking or thoughtful. All the ideas touched upon were presented in a clear, relatable way for children. Some stories will be like ones families have already/will have with their own children and others will be entry points for others to learn about different experiences.

This anthology of “Talks” around race that well-known children’s and YA authors might share with their own children covers a multitude of perspectives. Derrick Barnes, Grace Lin, Traci Sorrell, Duncan Tonatiuh, Minh Le... such a diverse and engaging collection of shared wisdom. There is so much power in the contributions from Tracy Baptiste, Meg Medina, and Adam Gidwitz. The fact that many of the authors’ entries are complemented by illustrations from some of today’s most talented illustrators rounds the collection out beautifully.
Editors Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson have outdone themselves.

Thanks to Crown Books for Young Readers and to NetGalley for the digital arc.

This is a powerful anthology that includes stories, poems, letters, and other writing pieces by authors sharing their personal experiences related to systemic racism and the lessons they have learned. It's personal, honest, and empowering. The list of authors and illustrators who have contributed to this book is amazing. This is a book that should be shared and discussed widely.

An amazing mix of authors and illustrators contribute immensely personal poems, drawings, essays about racism in the US. Black authors such as Derrick Barnes and Renee Watson tell Black kids to embrace their inner-strength and beauty even when the world fails to treat them with respect and peace. Grace Lin and Adam Gidwitz and Meg Medina also appear with deeply personal pieces of their own. This is a powerful and effective collection. A mere capsule doesn’t do it justice.

Thank you to the publisher & Netgalley for this eARC of The Talk. The Hudsons are a favorite of mine, so I was pleased to see them tackle “The Talk” with the help of several amazing authors and illustrators. This book will open the eyes of white readers, while giving other readers a chance to see themselves in these essays. Favorite essays were: I’m A Dancer by Sharon Dennis Wyeth and Tough Tuesday by Nikki Grimes.

A great collection of personal essays of several authors talking to their children about systemic racism and giving them the skills to operate within that system while still giving them hope.

Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson have blessed us with another stellar anthology!
"The Talk" is a beautiful collection of powerful, truthful, and heart-wrenching short stories, letters, poems, and essays! These amazing writers reflect upon their own personal experiences with racism, segregation, discrimination and prejudice as well as sharing the life lessons they have passed down to their own children.
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Reading these writings made me realize that as a parent you are always having, "The Talk", with your child. "The Talk" is not an event that just happens around the kitchen table one day. "The Talk" is a presence in our everyday lives.
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When we encourage our children to acknowledge, express, and release their feelings. When we teach our children to be proud of our history, culture, and language. When we instill pride, respect and honor of our ancestors within our children. When we explain to our children how systematic racism and prejudice has been used to divide us, how alike we are, and how much we stronger we are together. When we plant the seeds of education and literacy within our children. When we model to our children how to be mindful and AntiRacist...we are having, "The Talk."
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Here are some of the amazing contributors in this book:
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✒Authors: Renée Watson, Derrick Barnes, Grace Lin, Traci Sorell, Duncan Tonatiuh, Valerie Wilson Wesley, Selina Alko, Tracey Baptiste, Meg Medina, Nikki Grimes, Christopher Myers✒
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🎨Illustrators: Shandra Strickland, Gordon C. James, Zeke Peña, Don Tate, Raul Colón, Peter H. Reynolds, Cozbi A. Cabrera🎨

I read it in one sitting (as in staying up late into the night). Absolutely necessary, powerful, hopeful, accessible, & powerful. And just look at the list of authors in this collection! I wish this book was published right now. It would absolutely be the book I'd hand to caregivers and young people.

The Talk was a collection of short stories from differing backgrounds with a common Element. This book is for middle school children and should be read and discussed. The stories were well written and thought provoking.