Books For Keeps
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Articles
  • Past Issues
  • Latest Issue
  • Authors and Artists
  • Latest News
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
July 25, 2021/in Picture Book 5-8 Infant/Junior /by Ellie
BfK Rating:
BfK 249 July 2021
Reviewer: Sue McGonigle
ISBN: 978-0711262898
Price: £11.99
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Genre: Picture Book
Age Range: 5-8 Infant/Junior
Length: 40pp
Buy the Book

Race Cars

Author: Jenny DevennyIllustrator: Charnaie Gordon

Chase is a black racing car, Ace is a white racing car and they are best friends, training together and looking forward to taking part in the world-famous annual car race. When the time comes for them to enter trouble occurs; white cars have won the race as long as anyone can remember but when Chase takes part he unexpectedly wins. The race committee are not happy about this, they do not like change. They decide to include a diversion in the race for black cars thereby giving white cars the advantage. Despite this Chase still comes second causing more consternation among the committee and further impediments and eventually a total ban from taking part.  There are dissenting voices on the committee, but no one is brave enough to speak up. When Chase’s friend Ace investigates, he begins to realise what has been happening, and the book ends on a hopeful note suggesting that together they can make a stand to show unfair treatment will not be tolerated.

Written by a clinical social worker and child therapist specialising in talking to children about race the author aims to challenge unfairness and messages of racial inferiority aimed at BIPOC (Black indigenous and people of colour) communities and help white children develop a positive self-image that does not involve feelings of superiority. The editor, an expert in diversity and inclusion, points out that the book is intended to encourage conversations about racial justice, white privilege and prejudice. There are tips included for prompting conversations at the beginning and end of the book and notes about real life situations linked to two high profile individuals, Lewis Hamilton and Darrell (Bubba) Wallace.

The simple text and bold graphic design help to convey the allegory clearly and are ideal to stimulate discussion about the story itself and the issues it raises. Race Cars would be a useful addition to classroom and library collections of diverse books promoting equality of opportunity and challenging prejudice and unfair privilege.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Race.jpg 499 387 Ellie http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png Ellie2021-07-25 16:00:412021-07-25 16:00:41Race Cars

Search for a specific review

Author Search

Search







Generic filters




Filter by Member Types


Book Author

BfK 254 May 2022 Download BfK Issue BfK 254 May 2022
Skip to an Issue:

About Us

Launched in 1980, we’ve reviewed hundreds of new children’s books each year and published articles on every aspect of writing for children.

Read More

Follow Us

Latest News

Peter Bently and Steven Lenton named winners of The Children’s Book Award 2022

June 27, 2022

Shortlist for the 2022 SLA Information Book Award

June 23, 2022

2022 Yoto Carnegie Greenaway Winners Announced

June 16, 2022

Contact Us

Books for Keeps,
30 Winton Avenue,
London,
N11 2AT

Telephone: 0780 789 3369

ISSN: 0143-909X (this is our International Standard Serial Number).

© Copyright 2022 - Books For Keeps | Proudly Built by Lemongrass Media - Web Design Buckinghamshire
Be a Tree! Pip and Egg
Scroll to top