Guest post from patricia newman with donna rosenblum and mehrdokht amini. We need diverse books is now a nonprofit that offers awards, grants, and. Here wee read the 2018 ultimate list of diverse childrens. A rhyming book that celebrates all different skin colorsfrom butterscotch gold to cookie dough rolledit makes a point to reinforce the message that the person within is what matters, not how someone looks on the outside. An ideal first picture book by an awardwinning authorillustrator in which lenny and his dad have a game of. Dec 11, 2015 the book is more than 600 pages long, but 400 of those pages are illustrations. Storad is committed to helping students better understand and appreciate the natural world. African and african americans, american indians, asianpacific and asian pacific americans, and latinos. We need diverse books is a 501c3 nonprofit and a grassroots. We need diverse books is a grassroots organization of childrens book lovers that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people. Childrens books about diversity, different cultures to read. I think the umbrella here is the adult attitudes have to. Another great pick for childrens books about race is the skin you live in, written specifically for little kids. Frances lincoln childrens books is part of the quarto publishing group uk.
Storad is an awardwinning author and editor of more than 50 science and nature books for children, conrad j. Why children s books that teach diversity are more important than ever. Click here for resources for authors and illustrators for parents and educators. Scbwi diversity resources society of childrens book writers. All are welcome, written by alexandra penfold and illustrated by suzanne kaufman. An updated look at diversity in childrens books school.
Oct 23, 2018 just 9% of children s books published in the us in 2017 featured african or african american characters, according to the cooperative children s book center. Check out the top childrens books about diversity as suggested by our helpliners. Popular diverse authors books goodreads share book. Sep 19, 2018 finally, i tried to stick to books that dont just include a diverse cast, but actively teach about diversity and inclusion. This is the perfect book to share with a kindergartner getting ready for the step up to big kid school. Discover the best children s multicultural story books in best sellers. Free ebook my hair is beautiful author shauntay grant creative teaching, creative. These amazing female authors have written best selling childrens books that have captured the hearts of millions of children. These newish authors of color write diverse childrens books that resonate with the times, speak to the future, and show children broader perspectives. Imagine a world in which all children can see themselves in the pages of a book. You also might be interested in the numbers when it comes to book agents and diversity, since there are a lot more literary agents seeking diversity than most authors realize. If there is a book you think should be included email us. Children s books about diversity and inclusion in general 1.
This list of culturally diverse books to read, savour and recommend is a joyous celebration of the 50 most fabulous books for children of all ages living in multiracial, multicultural uk today. Jan 02, 2020 the ejk new writer award was established in 1985 to encourage and celebrate upandcoming authors of picture books written in the tradition of keatsthat is, with original, welltold stories that reflect the universal qualities of childhood and the multicultural nature of our world. Thats why its so important to highlight the diverse childrens books that do manage to be published. Children reading diverse books in a school library. Why we need diverse authors in childrens literature. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Sep 22, 2016 due to the generous donations of authors like daniel handler, rachel renee russell, and so many more, we not only met our goal, we tripled it. New multicultural picture books for kids read your world book jam 2018. Award winning books multicultural and diverse childrens. I do think that books like everywhere babies by susan meyers that include diverse families without actively teaching about diversity are also great additions to any kids library, as well as general books about celebrating difference, like its okay to be different. Rowling, these stories capture the childhood triumphs. Educato rs must go out of their way to seek out diverse.
Four authors of best selling childrens books on why they. This is in no way a complete listing but will provide a good start for building a more diverse library. The quantity of diverse books may have gone up, but thatdoesnt necessarily indicate accuracy and quality oftitles. Marisol mcdonald doesnt matchmarisol mcdonald no combina. Here wee read the 2019 ultimate list of diverse childrens. We need diverse books is now a nonprofit that offers awards, grants, and mentorships for authors, internships aimed at making the industry more inclusive, and tools for promoting diverse books. The school library journal offers resources and articles about incorporating diverse books in the classroom, as well as access to their diversity issue archives. Jul 29, 2017 literary agents looking for diversity by the numbers. Multicultural childrens book authors archives multicultural.
Jan 19, 2018 today, i have asked four of my favorite female authors an important question. Data on books by and about people of color and from firstnative nations published for children and teens compiled by the cooperative childrens book center, school of education, university of wisconsinmadison. We need diverse books is a 501c3 nonprofit and a grassroots organization of children s book lovers that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people. Dec 23, 2016 children s books that let families see themselves and others. She writes picture books and middle grade and young adult novels, and also teaches english as a second language and childrens literature. The diverse voices book list and season is supported by frances lincoln childrens books and has evolved out of the diverse voices book award, which was founded in memory of frances lincoln 1945 2001 to encourage and promote diversity in childrens literature. How to choose outstanding multicultural books scholastic. One of the best children s books about diversity, the colors of us is about a little girl named lena who wants to paint a self. Diverse picture books multicultural childrens book day. Lee and low books reports that only 7 percent of the new childrens books published in 2017 were written by black, latinx, and native authors combined.
I cant wait to give this to my own woke baby, so she. Jun 19, 2019 using numbers from the cooperative childrens book center, this infographicupdated from 2015illustratesrepresentation in childrens literature. Dec 14, 2014 coming in january multicultural childrens book day spotlight. There are more diverse books than ever but too few are. The uncomfortable truth about childrens books mother jones. Apr 24, 2020 we need diverse books is a 501c3 nonprofit and a grassroots organization of childrens book lovers that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people. The movement aims for more diverse children s books to. Nov 19, 2018 edited by national book award finalist ibi zoboi, and featuring some of the most acclaimed bestselling black authors writing for teens todayblack enough is an essential collection of captivating stories about what its like to be young and black in america. After receiving this funding, what sorts of initiatives has we need diverse books undertaken to further its goal of achieving a world in which all children can see themselves in the pages of a book. Ethnic diversity in uk children s books to be examined. This is a list of multicultural books for children picture books through elementary chapter books.
Murdered in 1993, the book looks at prejudice, injustice and a family s fight to uncover the truth. While the number of diverse books has been on the rise in recent yearsfrom 20 percent in 2015 to 31 percent in 2017the number written by diverse authors remains dismal. The 2019 ultimate list of diverse childrens books here wee read. The childrens book world has a long way to go in terms of equity for authors of color, lgbtq authors, and authors with disabilities or who are neurodiverse. Today, im sharing twelve of my favorite diverse childrens books that are by diverse authors. Literary agents seeking diversity book agents looking for. The author is a poet, and the illustrator a recipient of the john steptoe award for new talent. Jan 18, 2019 despite the demand for diverse childrens books, the publishing industry continues to lag in addressing the diversity gap in their childrens book publications.
Roughly 80 percent of the childrens book worldauthors and illustrators, editors. Books that do not meet these criteria are subject to removal from this list, as there are many books out there that feature characters of ethnicity, but are not respectful toward. Conrad visits many schools to teach and entertain children and is now approaching his visit with his millionth student. At the ccbc, we define multicultural literature as books by and about people of color and firstnative nations individuals. Sep 14, 2016 you hear about it so often these days that you just might wonder. Sep 10, 2016 there are also other diverse subscription services such as just like me box and heritage box that offer diverse books as well. Cooperative children s book center curates book lists of multicultural books and offers other articles and professional development materials. Diverse voices 50 of the best childrens books lovereading4kids. The hate u give by angie thomas, children of blood and bone by tomi adeyemi, homegoing by yaa gyasi, the fifth season b. See more ideas about books, childrens books and the lives of others. Feb 07, 2018 ethnic diversity in uk childrens books to be examined.
In todays post, dee gives some great suggestions for adding diverse children s literature to your own collection, and she also shares some of her own favorite books for the back to. How to incorporate diverse childrens literature into your. Horning, debbie reese, ebony elizabeth thomas, and madeline tyner, with statistics compiled by the cooperative childrens book center, school of education. But it is not only publishers who are responsible for the lack of diverse authors and characters in children s books. Created in consultation with edith campbell, molly beth griffin, k. Wong recommended this book for kids who are interested in art or history. Black childrens books books by black authors book authors best children books childrens books toddler books diy art preschool books childrens picture books celebrate diverse books with these picture books by black authors. Best sellers in childrens multicultural story books. Young adult scifi and fantasy author corinne duyvis certainly has.
So much by trish cooke and illustrated by helen oxenbury has made the 50 best culturally diverse books list. She started a muchwatched discussion on twitter last year about that fact that. Childrens books about diversity and multiculturalism. Nov 07, 2016 when looking for a list of childrens books about diversity, you may have a specific topic in mind. The numbers have been improving slowly, but they remain far from true representation. Ethnic diversity in uk childrens books to be examined.
Diverse books with food and recipe read your world book jam 2018. In the last several years, the publishing world has seen a surge in diverse authors, characters, and stories. I usually write about nonfiction conservation topics that empower children to act. A is for activist and counting on community, written and illustrated by innosanto nagara. This listing introduces 50 essential books and a range of authors and illustrators for children. This a perfect book for classrooms, because it depicts a. You may want books about ethnic diversity, or books that address specific social or gender issues, or perhaps you only want books which include diverse characters in everyday situations with no mention of social issues at all. Scholastic recently teamed up with we need diverse books, an organization that advocates for diversity in children s and young adult literature, to offer a reading list for libraries and. Nov 12, 2017 the 2018 ultimate list of diverse childrens books. From january 1st through the 25th, the multicultural childrens book day blog in collaboration with the childrens book council will feature interviews with 25 inclusive authors and illustrators, giving you a behindthescenes peek at their creative processes.