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Your Call

Your Call: Why aren't kids' books as diverse as the kids who read them?

 

On the November 24th edition of Your Call, we’ll have a conversation about diversity in children's literature and publishing.

 Many children identify with characters in the books that they read, but what happens if these characters don't represent them? How can we promote diverse literature in the classroom? What needs to change in the publishing industry to ensure all children have access to books and protagonists they can connect with? Join the conversation on the next Your Call, with Matt Martin and you.  

Guests:

Sharon Levin, founder of the Bay Area Children's Book List and children's lit reviewer

Jason Low, publisher at Lee and Low books, the largest multicultural children's book publisher in the country

Pat Mora, author, poet, literacy advocate and founder of Children's Day and Book Day  

Web Resources:

Bay Area Children's Book List

PatMora.com

Pinterest: Lee & Low Books 

Lee & Low Books

Charlotte's Library 

Stacylwhitman 

Pinterest: Stacyl Whitman

Cane Row 

Day of Diversity from the American Library Association

Rainbow Family Collections  

The We Need Diverse Books campaign

Queer Book Club 

Books about gender nonconformity 

Books for Donor Offspring

Reading While White

Bookopolis

The Brown Bookshelf 

Leewind. org

Latinos in Kid Lit

Disability in Kid Lit

De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children

American Indian's in Children's Literature 

Sharon Draper, professional educator and writer of books for all ages, especially powerful Young Adult titles

Book Recommendations

RAD WOMEN A-Z by Kate Schatz

George by Alex Gino

The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake 

Nest by Esther Ehrlich 

More More More Said the Baby by Vera B. Williams 

Jonathan and His Mommy by Irene Smalls and illustrated by Michael Hays

Quiltmaker Gift by Jeff Brumbeau and illustrated by Gail de Marken

Double Happiness by Nancy Tupper Ling and illustrated by Alina Chau

Marvelous Cornelius by Phil Bildner and illustrated by Joh Parra

A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara

Heroes of the Environment by Harriet Rohmer and illustrated by Julie McLaughlin 

The Poetry Friday Celebrations: Holiday Poems for the Whole Year in English and Spanish by Sylvia Vardell and illustrated by Janet Wong

Giving Thanks by Chief Jake Swamp and illustrated by Erwin Pintup, Jr. 

It's Time for Holi by Amita Roy Shah and illustrated by Diane Lucas 

Local Authors:

Jaya's Golden Necklace: a Silk Road Tale  by Peter Linenthal

Beyond Magenta:  Trangender teens Speak out by Susan Kuklin

Frederick’s Journey by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by London Ladd

Simon vs. The homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

10,000 Dresses by Marcus Ewert

Jacob's New Dress by Sarah and Ian Hoffman

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck

Misadventures of the Family Fletcher

Traditional tales:  
Nasreddine by Odile Weulersse

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach, by Carmen Agra Deedy

Lulu series by Hillary McKay 

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena and illustrated by Christian Robinson

The Case for Loving by Selina Alko and illustrated by  Sean Qualls

Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales

I am J  by Chris Beam

Crossover by Kwame Alexander

The Green Bicycle by Haifaa Al-Mansour

Partial list of recommended authors and illustrators (in no particular order):
Christian Robinson

James Ransome

Naomi Shibab Nye