So, what I love most on this earth would probably be these two guys:
And it's no secret that another thing right at the top of my list is BOOKS.
Of course, this means that sharing books that I love with the kiddos that I love is probably the closest thing to heaven on earth for me.
Except... that it's pretty painful to realize that precious few of the children in the books I've shared with them feature children that look like them. Almost none of the characters in the books they read have families like ours. And even when there are characters who look like them, or their Daddy, those characters are often in the background. They don't often get to do the exciting things. Those characters are rarely telling the story. Those stories told are rarely as wacky or hilarious as my boys. I think that needs to change.
I think it's time for the books that children read to reflect the beautiful diversity I see in their faces, and in the faces of Kiddo's classmates and friends. They've spent the majority of their lives in the least diverse states in America, although we've generally lived in those towns which are more diverse than the rest of those states (gotta love college towns!). For the last two years, I've read to children at Kiddo's school twice a month. These children arrive early to school, either because they ride the bus to school and/or eat breakfast at school. At least a third to a half of these children are not Caucasian. Some are black, some are Native American, some are Hispanic, some are Asian, some have multi-ethnic backgrounds, some are from immigrant families. A few little girls wear head coverings. At least one child has Down's Syndrome. I soon realized that the children in my audience loved the books I brought, but that those books more often featured bunnies or pigs than characters who looked like them. I've tried really, really hard to share books with them that will make them laugh, or inspire them, or spark their creativity. I've never brought a sad story, or one that I thought would require a history lesson-- although I think those stories are absolutely necessary and worthwhile. They just aren't well-suited to a light-hearted start to their day from a lady most of them only know as Kiddo's Mom. And I have to say, it's disheartening and difficult to find books that both fit that criteria and also feature diverse casts of human characters. I just don't think it should be that way.
We need diverse books because all children should see themselves in a book.
We need diverse books because these guys deserve to be the heroes, and not just the sidekick!
We need diverse books because I've been collecting bookcases full of stories for my children, since long before they were born, and I now realize that we could most likely fit the books prominently featuring children of color as protagonists on ONE SHELF. Although I think the books we have accumulated are wonderful, quality books, I clearly have not done a great job of purchasing books that reflect how much I value diversity. But that's at least partly because those books are harder to find, especially when one mainly shops for books second-hand at thrift stores, garage sales, or library book sales.
So I've resolved to do MY part. I want our bookshelves to not just provide windows to another world, but also mirrors of the beauty in these guys' lives. Please join me, and do your part to support diversity in children's literature. Because, truly, we all need diverse books.
