Diversity in Children's Literature

(Diversity in Children’s Books Presentation)

Diversity
In
Children’s Books

Mirrors &
Windows
Mirrors let readers see reflections of their own lives:
windows let them see others' lives.

Nancy Larrick
“The All White World
Of
Children’s Books”
1965

School Library Journal May, 2014

When children …
~ cannot find themselves reflected in the books they read
~ or when the images they see are distorted, negative, or laughable
… they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued
in the society of which they are a part.
Our classrooms need to be places where all the children from all the
cultures that make up the salad bowl of American society
can find their mirrors.
Reading is Fundamental

Mem Fox
“Everything we read, from sexist
advertisements and women’s
magazines to romance novels and
children’s books,
constructs us, makes us who we are, by
presenting our image of ourselves as girls
and women, as boys and men.
We who write children’s books, and we who
teach through literature, need to be sure we
are opening doors to full human potential,
not closing them.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA0Gl_wjgRQ

http://choosekind.tumblr.com/resources http://choosekind.tumblr.com/

Let’s look at some multicultural
children’s literature history …
1962

http://weneeddiversebooks.org/

Flying Lessons & Other Stories

http://www.cbcbooks.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/rww_challenge_flyer_final.pdf

http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/

http://clrsig.org/nbgs.php
Notable Books for a Global Society

www.leeandlow.com/uploads/loaded_document/429/summer-reading-list_6-21-17_print.pdf

http://www.cbcbooks.org/reading-beyond/

http://blog.leeandlow.com
The Open Book: Lee and Low Blog

•Acknowledge that every story has mirror and window
possibilities
•Emphasize that we live in a diverse society
•Arm students with stories where their background is
represented in a positive light and where their life
experiences are validated

•Discuss themes in stories to unpack mirror
possibilities for all children
•Read aloud stories that represent positive aspects
of the human spirit and where characters rally
together for collective action
•Be open to discussions of inequality that you see in
stories and in life; discuss with children a vision
for a better world
•Look for links to literacy standards such as the CCSS
•Reading Literature Standard 6 across grade levels;
this is a strand of standards that emphasizes
point of view

A Nationwide Program Celebrating Reading and Diversity

http://www.cbcbooks.org/meet-gene-luen-yang-the-5th-
national-ambassador-for-young-peoples-literature/#.WXTjkBPyvVo

http://www.lambdaliterary.org/awards/
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/glbtrt/stonewall/index.cfm
The first and most enduring award for GLBT
books is the Stonewall Book Awards,
sponsored by the American Library
Association's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and
Transgender Round Table.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** *

The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that
embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent
audiences. Three annual awards each consisting of $5000 and a framed plaque, will be
given annually in each of the following categories: birth through grade school (age 0–
8), middle school (age 9–13) and teens (age 14–18). (Age groupings are
approximations).
The book must emphasize the artistic expression of the disability experience for
children and or adolescent audiences. The book must portray some aspect of living
with a disability or that of a friend or family member, whether the disability is
physical, mental or emotional.
Schneider Family Book Awards

On April 30, 1997,
the first annual
El Día de los ninos/
El Día de los libros,
was celebrated.
Pat Mora Author, poet, storyteller

Join Nellie and Gus and their
family — plus all manner of
other families — for a day at the
zoo, where they see animal
families galore! To top off their
day, Nellie and Gus invite friends
and relatives for a fun dinner at
home.
Accessible, humorous, and full of
charming illustrations depicting
families of many configurations,
this engaging story interweaves
conversations between the
siblings and a matter-of-fact
text, making it clear to every
child that whoever makes up
your family, it is perfectly normal
— and totally wonderful.
K-3
By Robie H. Harris

Author Mary Hoffman
Illustrator Ros Asquith

https://archive.org/details/WeRFamily

A young girl who was
born in Russia and
adopted by
Americans describes
how her parents help
her learn about her
Russian heritage and
what it means to be
a family.
Includes activities
and information
about adoption as
well as tips for
talking to children
about adoption.
K-3
By Jennifer Moore-Mallinos

It's bedtime, but before
Felicia goes to sleep she
wants to hear her
favorite story, the story
of how she was adopted
by Mama Nessa and
Mama Linda.
And so Felicia's parents
tell her how they flew
off in a big silver
airplane to meet the
baby girl who was
waiting for them, and
how they loved her from
the very first moment
they saw her.

When her favorite uncle, Bobby,
announces that he is getting married to
his boyfriend, Jamie, Chloe worries that
he won’t have time for her anymore. The
characters are all guinea pigs in human
dress.
When Molly draws a picture of
her family for Open School Night,
one of her classmates makes her
feel bad because he says she
cannot have a mommy and a
momma.

When his uncle, Michael, dies of AIDS,
Joel's dreams and thoughts of Michael
keep his memory alive.

http://www.aidsquilt.org/
A family
reminisces
while
gathered
together to
make a
panel for
the AIDS
Memorial
Quilt in
memory of
a beloved
uncle.

Patricia Polacco:
“One year I was visiting a
fourth grade class and the
teacher had arranged for me
to hear essays that her
students had written
entitled: “My Family."
I heard one after another
and was moved by their
perspectives and the love
they held for their families.
Then, one little girl stood up
and began to read. She was
immediately asked to take
her seat by an aide. The aide
said scornfully, "No
dear...you don't come from a
real family...sit down!"

YouTube Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjxwPzOXfjI

https://childrenslit-socialstudies.wikispaces.com/
In+Our+Mothers%27+House+Reinforcing+Activity
Lesson Plans for IN OUR MOTHERS’ HOUSE
Social Studies > Support Services for LGBT students >
Social Justice > Families, Teaching Tolerance
http://www.healthiersf.org/LGBTQ/InTheClassroom/docs/curriculum/
In%20Our%20Mothers%20House.pdf
http://6elementssje.blogspot.com/2014/09/in-our-mothers-house.html
http://www.tolerance.org/lesson/talking-about-our-families

Stella's class is having a
Mother's Day
celebration, but what's a
girl with two daddies to
do?
It's not that she doesn't have
someone who helps her with her
homework, or tucks her in at
night. Stella has her Papa and
Daddy who take care of her, and
a whole gaggle of other loved
ones who make her feel special
and supported every day.
She just doesn't have a mom to
invite to the party. Fortunately,
Stella finds a unique solution to
her party problem.

www.adl.org/sites/default/files/documents/assets/pdf/education-outreach/
book-of-the-month-stella-brings-the-family-parent-guide.pdf

Themes
Breaking Gender Barriers,
Bullying,
Childhood Experiences and
Memories,
Courage, Cultural diversity,
Empathy/Compassion,
Families,
Identity/Self
Esteem/Confidence,
Kindness/Caring,
Latino/Hispanic/Mexican
Interest,
LGBT,
Multiethnic interest,
Overcoming Obstacles,
Pride, Siblings,
Tolerance/Acceptance,
Biracial/Multiracial Interest

Elizabeth
is a girl
who likes things just so. When she
spends the day with Dad,
sometimes things are a little bit
different.
She and her little sister, Lulu, take us
through a day with Dad; and while
everything may not be to Elizabeth's
taste, it's about being with the person
who loves you more than anything in
the world. Learning to accept each
other's differences is all part of being
in a family!
Kimball Crossley is a professional
baseball scout, a high school basketball
coach, and a father to two young girls.

Cinco Puntos Press
George Ella Lyon

“Come all you good workers /
Good news to you I’ll tell / of
how the good ol’ union / has
come here to dwell.”
Florence
Reece, 1931
“In a rain
of bullets.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SB0fc9CobQ&feature=related

The book is wonderfully illustrated
with photos of over a hundred hand
carved and painted works by Minnie
Adkins who has permanent collections
in the Smithsonian American Art
Museum, the National Gallery of Art,
and the Kentucky Folk Art Center.
The book is filled with 50 original
rhymes written by Mike Norris himself.

Lee and Low
Earth Day Idea Dr. Gordon Sato

Proceeds from the book benefitsthe Manzanar Project.
Lee
and
Low
Publisher
Susan
Roth
&
Cindy
Trumbore

http://themanzanarproject.com/
Dr. Gordon Sato

http://mangroveactionproject.org/

https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2017/01/11/book-giveaway-rainbow-weaver/
Linda
Elovitz
Marshall

https://www.leeandlow.com/uploads/loaded_document/381/
Rainbow_Weaver_Teacher_s_Guide_2017_PDF_FINAL.pdf

One sad day, Grandmother died. "You cannot stay here," said the man who owned
the land. "I have a family ready to move in." Young Concepcion has no choice but to
move to the barrio of the nearby city. There she meets children who, in order to
survive, must steal the food they eat. But Concepcion has a plan. With back-breaking
work she plants a garden and ...more.

November is
Hunger and
Homeless
Awareness Month

www.theguardian.com/world/video/2016/feb/19/
refugee-family-who-fled-iraq-are-reunited-with-cat-video

https://www.thecut.com/2017/02/best-kids-books-about-immigration-and-refugees.html

Jeanne
Walker
Harvey
As a child, Maya Lin loved to study the spaces around her. She explored the forest in her
backyard, observing woodland creatures, and used her house as a model to build tiny towns
out of paper and scraps. The daughter of a clay artist and a poet, Maya grew up with art and
learned to think with her hands as well as her mind. From her first experiments with light
and lines to the height of her success nationwide, this is the story of an inspiring American
artist: the visionary artist-architect who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Biographical poems include:
Aida de Acosta, Arnold Rojas, Baruj Benacerraf, César Chávez, Fabiola Cabeza de Baca,
Félix Varela, George Meléndez, José Martí, Juan de Miralles, Juana Briones, Julia de
Burgos, Louis Agassiz Fuertes, Paulina Pedroso, Pura Belpré, Roberto Clemente, Tito
Puente, Ynes Mexia, and Tomás Rivera.

� Publisher’s Weekly
� School Library Journal
� Booklist
� Kirkus Reviews
Emma Otheguy

Ballerina Dreams; a true story by Lauren Thompson
Feiwel and Friends 2007

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KrBKxvnzjg

http://kidlit.tv/category/literacy-rocks-lit-art/library-love/

Abrams Publisher
Duncan Tonatiuh

April 21, 2017
7:00 – 9:00 PM
University Hall –
Gray Chapel
~ Lecture with Q&A
~ Book signing
Summit of Ohio Latinx
Conference
Ohio Wesleyan University –
Minority Student Affairs

What does Latinx mean?
Latinx is the gender-neutral alternative to Latino, Latina
and even Latin@.
Used by scholars, activists and an increasing number of journalists,
Latinx is quickly gaining popularity among the general public.
It’s part of a “linguistic revolution“ that aims to move beyond
gender binaries and is inclusive of the intersecting identities of
Latin American descendants.
In addition to men and women from all racial backgrounds, Latinx
also makes room for people who are trans, queer, agender, non-
binary, gender non-conforming or gender fluid.
(pronounced “La-teen-ex”)

Javaka Steptoe
2017 Caldecott Winner

https://www.nytimes.com/video/books/100000004950938/
live-illustration-with-javaka-steptoe.html

https://kidlit.tv/2017/06/storymakers-location-javaka-steptoe-txla/

American Indians in Children’s Literature

IF
Where the
Wild
Things Are
had been written
with
Native American
Characters …

Red Cloud:
A Lakota Story of
War and Surrender
S. D. Nelson is a
member of the Standing
Rock Sioux Tribe in the
Dakotas. “My people are
known as the Sioux or
Lakota. During the 19th
century they were
renowned as the Horse
People of the Great Plains.”

Spare,
poetic, and
moving, this
Cree
heritage
story makes
a powerful
impression.
March 2017

Rochelle Strauss
"The fact that I
found had the most
impact on me was
that in North
America, we use an
average of more
than 140 gallons
(550 liters) of water
per person, per day.”

Plan has only one agenda:
To improve
the lives of children.

http://www.louiseborden.com/travel-ships.php

www.readbrightly.com/brightly-storytime-how-to-get-your-teacher
ready/

This Powerpoint Is available
online at:
https://www.slideshare.net/hildebka/diversity-in-childrens-books

Out of gratitude for the
poet’s art form, Newbery
Award–winning author
and poet Kwame
Alexander, along with Chris
Colderley and Marjory
Wentworth, present
original poems that pay
homage to twenty famed
poets who have made the
authors’ hearts sing and
their minds wonder.
Stunning mixed-media
images by Ekua Holmes.

Released May 2.
Goldfish Ghost was born on the
surface of the water in the bowl on a
dresser in a boy’s room. The boy’s
room was pleasant and familiar, but
Goldfish Ghost wanted company, so
he set out to find a friend.
He floats over the neighborhood, past
the pier, and let the breeze carry him
into town where he discovers that not
many people pay attention to goldfish
ghosts.
Off he floats, searching for the perfect
home and the perfect friend
and then he hears a voice. . .
Lemony
Snicket

Coming Sept. 26 …
Red is an oak tree who is many
rings old. Red is the neighborhood
"wishtree"—people write their
wishes on pieces of cloth and tie
them to Red's branches.
Along with her crow friend Bongo
and other animals who seek refuge
in Red's hollows, this "wishtree"
watches over the neighborhood.
You might say Red has seen it all.
Until a new family moves in. Not
everyone is welcoming, and Red's
experiences as a wishtree are more
important than ever.
Katherine Applegate

Coming October 9 …
Nikki Grimes

•Take a line (or lines) from a poem you admire.
•Use each word in the line (or lines) as an end word in
your poem.
•Keep the end words in order.
•Give credit to the poet who originally wrote the line (or
lines).
•The new poem does not have to be about the same
subject as the poem that offers the end words.
If you pull a line with six words, your poem would be six
lines long. If you pull a stanza with 24 words, your poem
would be 24 lines long. And so on.
Golden Shovel Poetry Form:

Coming August 29 …
Meet Mary McScary. Mary likes
to be scary. She scares her
mom, her dad, her pets, and
even a balloon! But there's just
one person Mary can't scare --
her cousin, Harry McScary. He's
not afraid of the usual things,
like spiders, snakes, and other
creepy crawlies.
But Mary doesn't give up that
easily, and one way or another
she'll find a way to give Harry
the scare of his life. . .
Beware of Mary McScary!
R.L. Stine &
Marc Brown

Coming September 26 …
A boy who loves adventure.
A mysterious solo journey.
A remote island wilderness.
Cast away in this beautiful
dreamlike story and discover what
surprises await.
Peter Sís blends a true story from his
Childhood with the fictional
adventure of Robinson Crusoe to
Create a magical picture book filled
with heart and imagination that
readers will want to return to
again and again.
Peter Sis

Lizzie is the busiest, buzziest bee in
Hivetown!
David Shannon's vivid artwork and
Lizzie's endearing efforts to "do it all"
will make children laugh aloud at her
frantic antics as she juggles school,
multiple sports, dance, violin, and art.
With charm and determination, she
longs to impress the Queen by
winning a spelling contest, but she
studies to the point of exhaustion.
When she dozes off in the middle of
the competition, the only solution is
rest -- and her refreshing visit to the
local Garden finally teaches Lizzie to
stop and smell the flowers, "which...is
exactly what bees are supposed to
do."
David Shannon

James Castle was born two
months premature on
September 25, 1899, on a
farm in Garden Valley, Idaho.
He was deaf, mute, autistic
and probably dyslexic. He
didn't walk until he was four;
he would never learn to
speak, write, read or use sign
language.
Yet, today Castle's artwork
hangs in major museums
throughout the world. The
Philadelphia Museum of Art
opened "James Castle: A
Retrospective in 2008."
And his reputation continues
to grow.

The following items were not
used in the Fundamentals
Back to School Presentation
On July 17th.
They are just extra slides.

Reaffirm its core value of diversity by
helping educators create classrooms
where students develop voices that make
them effective participants in academic
and public discourses, where multiple
forms of literacy are explored, where
censorship is abhorred, and where
difference is valued in pursuit of an
education befitting a democracy;

Hapa , a term originates in Hawaii,
is used to describe a person of
partial Asian or Pacific Islander
descent.
Today, the multiracial population in the
United States is growing faster than at
any other time in history. As many as 17
million Americans identify themselves as
of more than one race. Many children are
confronted with their identities,
especially when questioned about being
different.
With photographs, I am Hapa
encourages children to look within
themselves and appreciate the diverse
cultures and ethnicities that make each
person special.
I am Hapa is the first trilingual children’s
book celebrating the multiracial and
multicultural experience. Award winners of
the Skipping Stones Honor Award and the
Creative Child Magazine Book of the Year.

Diversity in Children's Literature

Diversity in Children's Literature

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