Using Diverse Books

in Meaningful Ways
Holly Reichert, Chloe Bellcourt, & Kat Gross
 Defining Diversity in Children’s Literature
Diversity is often mistaken for just its cultural element when, in fact, “diversity” is a wide umbrella
that casts many different shadows. Diverse texts include any topic that children may experience that
separates them from the majority of their peers. These topics include but are not limited to:

● Socio-Economic Status
● Race
● Gender
● Sexuality
● Disability
● Religion
● Body Image

Together and on their own, each of these topics explore avenues of diversity that children in our
country deal with everyday. It is important to acknowledge all of these aspects and more to be a
culturally responsive teacher.
Why is using diverse books so important?
The key to an effective classroom library is not only to feature diverse texts, but to
reflect the diverse experiences represented in your class and those not in your class.
Diverse books are so crucial to a child’s social and emotional development. Children of
all backgrounds should be exposed to diverse text beginning in their first years of
school as a means of opening up their minds to diversity and mitigating potential
prejudice. As a child from a minority background, seeing books that represent your
culture, status, gender, sexuality, disability, etc. are proven to improve self-confidence
as well as efficacy in the classroom. Teachers must stay vigilant to make sure that
diverse books are not just being used around holidays or only at certain times in the
year, but all throughout the year during every unit to maintain a culturally responsive
atmosphere. Diverse books can be used to meet academic standards.
Windows and mirrors
Discussion
With the people around you, discuss some or all of the following:

What are some instances in your classroom or in your life where a child benefitted
from a window or mirror book?

What is the danger of not having mirror books? Of not having window books?

What are the benefits of both?

What about glass door books?

 How to determine whether a diverse text is high quality
Determine the author’s perspective and expertise ● Is she writing from an “insider” perspective?
● What source materials/expertise is the author drawing upon?

Watch out for stereotypes in characters or cultures ● Does the author use condescending tones toward minority characters?
● Are traditional costumes and customs depicted in a way that shows
respect for culture and not in a way that perpetuates negative
stereotypes?

Assess illustrations for authenticity and accuracy ● Do characters have recognizable features of their culture?
● Are ethnic features exaggerated?

Check that cultural details are accurate and current ● Is historical information correct?
● Are language specific words spelled correctly?

Analyze the storyline and characters for tokenism or ● Are majority characters dominant while minority characters are
typecasting submissive?
● Do majority characters “save” minority characters?
● Is diversity within a cultural group presented?

Look for multidimensionality and interconnections between ● Does the storyline bring together diverse characters in a realistic way?
characters ● Does the author encourage noticing similarities and differences between
cultures?

Consider multicultural book awards and honors ● Corretta Scott King Award
● Pura Belpre Award
 Guiding Questions

1. How are characters depicted in the

story? How do they relate to other

Let’s practice
characters in the story? Who has the
power?

evaluating a 2. What elements of the culture are

depicted in the text? Are they presented
in ways that are respectful of the culture

diverse book! or are they perpetuating negative

stereotypes?

3. What level of experience/expertise do you

think the author has with the culture
depicted in the book?
What do you think?
How can we use these
books with current
standards?
TN State Literacy Standards- Elementary
3.FL.F.5 Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
a. Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.
b. Read grade-level prose and poetry orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings.
c. Use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and understanding of words; reread as necessary.

2.RL.KID.1 Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details
in a text

K.RL.KID.3 With prompting and support, orally identify characters, setting, and major events in a story.

5.RI.CS.5 Compare and contrast the overall structure of events, ideas, and concepts of information in two or more texts.
 Nonfiction Compare and Contrast-Example

5.RI.CS.5 Compare and contrast the overall structure of events, ideas, and concepts of information in two or more texts.
Where to find high
quality diverse books?
General Resources for Finding Diverse Books
1. http://weneeddiversebooks.org/where-to-find-diverse-books/
2. https://www.leeandlow.com
3. http://www.cbcbooks.org/diverse-kids-and-ya-lit/
4. http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/multicultural-reading-resources/diversit
y-book-lists-for-kids/
Diverse SES Depictions
http://www.doinggoodtogether.org/bhf-book-lists/picture-books-hunger-poverty-homelessness
Racially/Ethnically Diverse Books
Multicultural:
http://diversityinya.tumblr.com/
http://richincolor.com/
http://www.slj.com/2014/05/diversity/culturally-diverse-books-s
elected-by-sljs-review-editors/#_

African American:
https://thebrownbookshelf.com/
http://thedarkfantastic.blogspot.com/
http://africaaccessreview.org/

Asian:
http://smithsonianapa.org/bookdragon/

American Indian:
http://anthropology.si.edu/outreach/Indbibl/index.html
https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/

Hispanic:
https://teachinglatinamericathroughliterature.wordpress.com/
http://www.colorincolorado.org/ And many more!
Gender and Sexual Diversity in Books
LGBTQIA+:

http://glbtrt.ala.org/rainbowbooks/archives/1103

http://www.leewind.org/

http://www.slj.com/2013/11/collection-development/lgbtq-diversity-bui
lding-a-collection-for-independent-readers/
Disability in Books
http://disabilityinkidlit.com
Religious Diversity in Books
https://pjlibrary.org/beyond-books/pjblog/january-2017/multicultural-jewish-childrens-books

http://www.slj.com/2013/05/resources/islam-in-the-classroom/
 Body Positivity in Books
https://www.bustle.com/articles/105110-11-body-positive-childrens-books-because-kids-should-know-that-every-body
-is-beautiful
Now go and evaluate your own library!
 Using Diverse Books
in Meaningful Ways
Holly Reichert, Chloe Bellcourt, & Kat Gross