'Antiracist Baby' by Ibram X. Kendi to be released as a picture book due to high demand

Mary Cadden, USA TODAY
·2 min read
. A picture book edition of Ibram X. Kendi’s “Antiracist Baby,” one of the country’s top-selling books since the death last month of George Floyd, is coming out July 14.
. A picture book edition of Ibram X. Kendi’s “Antiracist Baby,” one of the country’s top-selling books since the death last month of George Floyd, is coming out July 14.

Ibram X. Kendi’s latest book, “Antiracist Baby,” a board book for children that has seen unprecedented demand, will be offered as a picture book July 14.

“Antiracist Baby,” went on sale on June 16 as a board book. Because of demand, the board book's first print run of 50,000 was increased by another 100,000 before the board book was even out. The picture book version will have an initial printing of 200,000.

The demand for books on race and antiracism has skyrocketed since the death of George Floyd on May 25. Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died after a white police officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd pleaded that he could not breathe.

Author Ibram X. Kendi
Author Ibram X. Kendi

Three other Kendi books are current USA TODAY bestsellers, “How To Be an Antiracist”, at No. 2; “Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America,” at No. 8 and winner of the National Book Award in 2016, and the young adult version of "Stamped," Kendi co-wrote with Jason Reynolds at No. 80.

The picture book of “Antiracist Baby” will feature illustrations by Ashley Lukashevsky, and will be identical to the board book with one exception. According to the publisher, the picture book will contain a letter from Kendi to parents and caregivers "outlining questions and discussion starters to encourage conversations about race and racism with young children."

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"We’re so delighted to bring Ibram X. Kendi and Ashley Lukashevsky’s work to a new audience” says Namrata Tripathi, vice president and publisher of Kokila, the book's publisher. “It’s been encouraging to see the growing understanding among parents and caregivers that just as we want to raise children who are kind or empathetic, it is our responsibility to raise them to be antiracist. I hope that this picture book edition, with its added resource of conversation starters for caregivers and kids about race and racism, can be a helpful tool in the lifelong work of being an antiracist.”

Contributing: Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Antiracist Baby' by Ibram X. Kendi to be released as a picture book