Statement: Diverse literature is important for young readers because every child deserves to feel represented and connected to a story. Providing mirrors and windows through literature for students allows for a classroom environment that creates growth and aides in creating community connections. Not making a big show out of diversity, allowing it to be celebrated through normal day to day life.
Resources:
Choosing Quality Texts:
We Need Diverse Books wants to create a world in which all children can see themselves in books. They support diverse publishing professionals, mentor authors, mentor illustrators, and provide books to classrooms nationwide. https://diversebooks.org
This video teaches about our implicit bias and the effects of our subconscious. This is important to remember when we are choosing literature, especially for those who are younger than us. https://www.nytimes.com/video/who-me-biased
An organization that supports families and educators in disrupting racism, inequality, and bias. Contains many different helpful resources including a book list and read alouds. https://www.theconsciouskid.org
Organization that is dedicated to talking about the portrayal of disabled people and disability in middle grade and young adult literature. Provide many different resources about this conversation. http://disabilityinkidlit.com
This article talks about the debate of reading classic texts that have problematic themes or language. If we do use them do we use them for teaching or do we avoid them all together? https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2018/10/29/many-classic-childrens-books-have-troubling-themes-or-language-should-we-read-them-anyway/
LGBTQIA+:
This article gives a list of 30 LGBTQIA-Positive Childrens books. These books help to promote accepting, inclusive, tolerant, and loving children. https://www.bustle.com/articles/87976-30-lgbtqia-positive-childrens-books-thatll-teach-kids-how-beautifully-diverse-the-world-is
This article confronts heterosexism in children’s literature. It talks about how all of the heteronormacy in literature makes it harder for children to accept themselves as any other orientation. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J367v04n02_05
Disabilities:
This article talks about mental health & wellness in YA literature. It focuses on characters who develop coping mechanisms throughout the course of the story. http://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/2016/02/02/reality-scoop-january-is-mental-wellness-month/
This website has curated a list of many different books that deal with disability. It then broke them up and categorized them by disability. https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/resources/books/
This article speaks to evaluating children’s books about disability. It talks about what to avoid and how to choose a good book that accurately depicts disability. https://www.adl.org/sites/default/files/documents/assets/pdf/education-outreach/evaluating-children-s-books-that-address-disability.pdf
Children's Literature Resource 