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Childrens Books on Diversity

Ramona Torres-Martinez
November 2, 2016
Fresno Pacific University

Childrens Book on Diversity

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Beaumont, K. (2004). I Like Myself. Boston, Massachusetts: HMH Books, an imprint of

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. This book about a little girl that loves
herself just the way that she is and does not care what others think of her because she is
proud of herself. All children are different and should like themselves just the way they
are no matter if they have a knobby knees, stinky toes or hair like a porcupine.
Illustrations: The illustrations in this book are drawn in a colorful and silly way. They
relate the story in an exciting and creative way that makes the makes the book appealing
for young children.

Relationship to ECD: This book is related to Early Childhood Education because it

discusses and promotes self-awareness in a positive way for children. It also encourages
children to appreciate themselves like the way they no matter what.

Foundations: 1.1 & 1.2 Self-Awareness: Being able to describe and compare their
characteristics, emotions, ideas, attitude, and skills with those of others in a constructive
way. 3.1 Social and Emotional Understanding: Being interested and observing the
similarities and difference in others and understanding the feelings of others.

Diversity Area of your Lesson: Classroom Diversity/ Cultural Diversity

Preschool Foundation or Curriculum Standard to be addressed:

Include the official document, topic area, and the actual wording from your district, state
or national document.
Document: California Preschool Learning Foundations
Topic Area: Social-Emotional
Foundation/Standard: Self-awareness 1.1 and Social and Emotional
Understanding 3.1

Group Grade Level/ Age/Size: Grade: Preschoolers, Age: 3-5 years old, Group size:
4-5 children

Title of Book: I Like Myself. Karen Beaumont

Objective: For children to be able to identify their strengths and describe their physical
characteristics in a positive way. Along with the children being able to compare and
contrast themselves to other children in the classroom in a respectful manner.
Vocabulary:
Glad: To feel pleasure, joy, or delight
Bother: To cause someone to feel troubled, worried, or concerned
Protruding: To stick out
Tame: not wild: not afraid of people
Different: not of the same kind: partly or totally unlike
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Materials: I Like Myself Book, child safe mirrors, multicultural skin tone paper dolls,
half sheets of white construction paper, crayons, markers, glue bottles Optional: small
collage materials like colored googly eyes, buttons, jewels, foam shapes

Background: Children need to have a basic understanding of their body parts and facial
features. Children must also be able to use expressive language to communicate their
ideas.

Procedure:
Overview (Set) - The book (front cover) and a sample finished self-portrait paper
doll along with all the materials available will be displayed. The objective of the lesson
will then be stated and explained to the children.

Presentation
1. Read I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont to the small group of children

2. After reading the book refer back to the page with the pictures of the body parts and
ask the children why they think she liked them. Provide the children with small mirrors
and allow them to examine their facial features. Then children will be encouraged to
discuss the similarities and difference of their features with the other children in the
group.

3. Explain to the children that they will need to choose a skin tone paper doll that
resembles their skin color (or the closest color) and encourage them to help the other
children in the group choose their paper doll. After everyone has their paper doll
encourage the children to examine and discuss if other children in the group have the
same or different skin tone as theirs.

4. Children will then use glue to glue their paper doll onto the half sheet of white
construction paper. Then they will use the mirrors once again to examine their eyes, nose,
mouth, ear, and hair. Children will then use the crayons or markers to draw their eyes,
nose, mouth, ears and hair. Children may also use the crayons or markers to draw clothes
on their paper doll to resemble the clothing they like to wear.

5. Ask each child what is something they like about themselves and why. Write the
childs response on their construction (with childs permission). After all the children
have finished their self-portrait paper doll encourage the children to compare and contrast
their doll with the others in the group.

Discussion Questions:
1. What is something about yourself that makes you feel glad?
2. Do you care what others think or say about you?
3. What is something you like about yourself and why?
4. How do others feel when people say unkind words to them?
5. How can you make others feel glad and proud of themselves?
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Evidence of Learning: Children will discuss what they like about themselves as they
make references to the pictures in the book. They will be able to compare and contrast
their similarities and differences with the other children in the group using their paper
dolls as visual aid.

References
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De la Pena, M. (2015). Last Stop on Market Street. New, York, New York: G.P. Putnams
Sons
This book illustrates the story of a young boy CJ, who accompanies his grandmother to
Church and then on a bus ride to last stop every Sunday to volunteer in a soup kitchen.
On this particular day it is raining and CJ questions his grandmother why they do not own
a car like the rest of his friends families and why they have to go to the soup kitchen
instead of going home like his friends. His grandmother explains that his friends have
not had the opportunity to meet all the nice and interesting people that he has meet at the
soup kitchen. As they travel on the bus they encounter a musician, a blind man with a
service dad, and few more interesting passengers before arriving to their stop on Market
Street.

I would recommend this book because the story line presents cultural diversity in a
favorable manner. This book shows children the different kinds of people that use public
transportation and how to interact with other in a respectful way. I also recommend this
book because it conveys the message of helping other in need and seeing the beauty of
the world around us every day.

Foundations: Social and Emotional Understanding 3.1. Understanding peoples feelings

and behavior and demonstrating interest in diversity in other people.

Dorros, A. (2008). Papa and Me. New York, New York: Rayo, an imprint of Harper
Collins Publishers
This book is about the relationship between a son and his father. The story line describes
the activities that the son and his papa engage in during the day as they prepare breakfast
take a walk, and ride the bus to visit his grandparents. The illustrations in the book are
bright drawn and resemble chalk mural painting.

I would recommend this book because it celebrates the relationship between the father
and his son. Another reason why I recommend this book is because it is bilingual and
incorporates Spanish words into the story.
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Foundations: Self-Awareness 1.1. Comparing their characteristics with others and

becoming aware of their feeling and emotions. Social and Emotional Understanding 3.1.
Understanding peoples feelings and behavior and demonstrating interest in diversity in
other people.

Fox, Mem. (2003). Whoever You Are. Topeka, United States: HMH Books for Young
Readers.
Joys are the same, and love is the same. Pain is the same, and blood is the sameis the
message expressed by the words in this book and the lyrics of the song of the
same title. This book takes young children on a journey around the world to meet
children and their families living in other countries. It uses beautiful colorful
illustrations of childrens lifestyles all around world with the message that
everyone is different in our unique way but yet in some way we are all the same.

I would recommend this book because it is a good book to use to teach children about the
different cultures in the world using the colorful illustrations. I also recommend this
book because it teaches children that despite the difference in people we are all the same
when it comes to feelings and emotions.

Foundations: Self-Awareness 1.1. Comparing their characteristics with others and

becoming aware of their feeling and emotions. Empathy and caring 4.1.
Demonstrating understanding and interest for the feelings and needs of others

Katz, Karen. (2002). The Colors of Us. New York, New York: Henry Holt and Co.
Honey, peanut butter, peaches, and chocolateare a few of the fun and delicious food
names that are given to the different shades of brown skin that a little girl and her mother
encounter on a walk through their neighborhood. This book depicts the story of a young
girl that wants to paint a self-portrait but is not able to find the right shade of brown
among her paints. Her mother explains to her that there are many shades of brown and
takes her on a walk to meet the people in their neighborhood with different brown skin
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tones. The illustrations in the book are bright and colorful but represent the shades of
brown skin in a beautiful color.

I would recommend this book because it presents skin diversity in a positive and
respectful manner. I also recommend this book because it explains that the different
shades of brown skin tones can be achieved by mixing the colors red, yellow, black, and
white paint.
Foundations: Self-Awareness 1.1. Comparing their characteristics with others and
becoming aware of their feeling and emotions.

Parton, D. (2016). Coats of Many Colors. New York, New York: Grosset and Dunlap
This book is written by the country singer Dolly Parton and it is inspired by the song of
the same title. The book relates the story of a little whose mother made her a winter coat
from different pieces of rags. She was so proud of her coat of many colors because her
mother had made it with her own hands and kissed it for good luck but the children at
school teased her about it. She tried explaining to them that her coat was special and
worth more than their fancy clothes because it was made with love from her mother but
the children continued to make fun of her. The little girl realized that they were not going
to understand the value of her coat of many colors and that one is poor only if they
choose to be. The illustrations in the book are drawn realistically in soft colors that
reflect the skin tones and hair color of the characters.

I would recommend this book because it can be used to teach young children about the
importance of not judging other on their appearance and being careful with our words
because they can hurt the feelings of others.

Foundations: Self-Awareness 1.1. Comparing their characteristics with others and

becoming aware of their feeling and emotions. Empathy and caring 4.1
Demonstrating understanding and interest for the feelings and needs of others