As anyone who has ever read Goodnight Moon to a toddler knows, shared reading is a magical activity. It helps develop strong parent-child bonds, builds resiliency, and buffers toxic stress in children and families. According to a policy statement, “The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health,” released July 29 by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), experiences with racism in society can be a factor of stress in children and their families.

The AAP, an organization of 67,000 pediatricians founded in 1930, periodically releases policy statements addressing child well-being. It has taken bold steps in the past decade to connect the dots between child poverty and health.

The AAP’s latest report, however, is the first ever to explicitly call out racism. And here is the good news: There are some simple, actionable things that health care professionals — and all of us — can do to address this challenge, starting with books. Read more >>