Wish We Knew What to Say

Talking with Children About Race

By: Dr Pragya Agarwal

Narrated by: Rita Sharma

We want our children to thrive and flourish in a diverse, multi-cultural world, and we owe it to them to help them make sense of the confusing and emotionally charged messages they receive about themselves and others. These early years are the most crucial when children are curious about the world around them but are also quick to form stereotypes and biases that can become deeply ingrained as they grow older. These are the people who are going to inherit this world, and we owe it to them to lay a strong foundation for the next phases of their lives. 

Wish We Knew What to Say is a timely and urgent book that gives scenarios, questions, thought starters, resources and advice in an accessible manner on how to tackle tricky conversations around race and racism with confidence and awareness. It brings in the science of how children perceive race and form racial identity, combining it with personal stories and experiences to create a handy guide that every parent would refer to again and again. 

Written by behavioural and data scientist Dr Pragya Agarwal, Wish We Knew What to Say will help all parents, carers and educators give children the tools and vocabulary to talk about people's differences and similarities in an open, non-judgemental, curious way and help them address any unfairness they might see or encounter.

©2021 Pragya Agarwal (P)2021 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"A thoughtful, prescient read for any mother or father parenting through the unique challenges of this racially polarised year, decade and beyond." (Kenya Hunt)

"A vital book that equips us to have conversations about race and racism with young people, ensuring we are all playing our part to raise the next generations as anti-racist. With excellent, clear advice from Dr Agarwal I Wish We Knew What to Say is a quick, engaging and easily digestible read." (Nikesh Shukla)

"Comprehensive, readable, and so very important. The next generation needs you to read this book." (Clare Mackintosh, Sunday Times best-selling author)