Diverse reading

Originally published in the Ketchikan Daily News, February 2020; written by Amie Toepfer.

The world is a diverse place, where experiences, cultures, neighborhoods, and/or classrooms will vary dramatically from person to person and place to place. In order for our children to grow in this world, we have to ensure that they are exposed to people outside of their immediate circle. We also have to ensure there are books that represent them. Finding the perfect mix of books that reflect ourselves and show the world outside of ourselves can be a daunting task. This is where children’s picture books come in. In recent years, there has been a large push for more diverse books in publishing, which means more diverse books in your library! Trust me when I tell you this booklist is for you. Whether you’re a parent trying to find a picture book that reflects your child, a teacher trying to create a more inclusive classroom, or a grandparent trying to show your grandchild a different world view, this booklist has something for you. Heck, even if you don’t have a child in your life, you’ll love these books.

When I started this article, I quickly realized my list was much longer than my allotted column space, so I had to put in some strict parameters: these are all picture books geared toward children between the ages of 1 to 8. All are recently published, have a diverse cast and allow us to recognize the humanity of other people.

"Dreamers" by Yuyi Morales is a beautifully illustrated autobiographical story of the author’s own experience immigrating to America. This book is touching, gripping and moving. For me it was a “must buy.” It took a real issue and made it accessible to even our youngest readers.

"Lovely" by Jess Hong explores the world of differences though the lens of people and opposites, showing that we are all different but lovely. I personally loved the illustration of the people wearing different shoes: it spoke to my shoe-loving heart and my son found it quite entertaining. Fun, simple, and great for both babies and older children, this book imparts the important message that different is lovely.

"In Baby Goes to Market" by Atinuke, Baby joins her mother for a trip to a busy Nigerian market. Along the way, Baby collects unexpected items in the grocery basket, which Mother finds at the very end of the trip. This is a fun, bright, and colorful introduction to numbers. I loved reading about the different things that are found at this market, especially the food.

"All are Welcome" by Alexandra Penfold illustrates the way we hope every school is: full of diversity, talent, songs, sharing, and love for each other and our unique talents. Simple rhyming text makes this a perfect read-aloud story that will draw in even the pickiest of listeners. This would make a great book to share at the end of summer as a reminder for the start of the school year.

For my final recommendation, I want to call attention to one of the most fun picture books published in the past year: "Julian is a Mermaid" by Jessica Love is the story of a young boy who sees women dressed as mermaids on a bus and decides that he wants to dress just like them (and who wouldn’t?). Love explores concepts of gender nonconformity, acceptance, and individuality in a fun and fabulous way. This book will make you want to grab an old curtain and some palm fronds so that you can be a mermaid just like Julian.

No matter what is on your summer to-do list, please make time for reading. Reading strengthens every aspect of our lives and reading diversely allows us to understand, empathize, and connect with others we might not otherwise. If you want help finding these or any other books, please stop by your local library, where a librarian can help you find the perfect book. Enjoy your summer reading adventures.