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The Diversity Gap: 6 Sources for Books Featuring Children of Color

6/10/2020

5 Comments

 
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We have a serious problem. There is a significant diversity gap in the number of books published about and by People of Color.

Despite making up 38% of the population, in 2016 Black, Latinx, and Native authors combined wrote just 7% of new children’s books.  In 2018 books were significantly more likely to be about animals (27%) than that featured Black/African American characters (10%), Asian Pacific Islander/Asian Pacific American (7%), Latinx (5%), or American Indian/First Nation (1%) characters.  

In 2015? Only 14.2% of children's books featured diverse characters. In 2017 the Cooperative Children’s Book Center breaks it down that of the 3,700 books published that year 25% of books were about People of Color and only 6% of these books had authors or illustrators who were People of Color. This highlights that although there is an increase in books that feature diverse characters, they are not being authored or illustrated by People of Color.

So, what does this mean for Play Therapists? Well, I think it means that we have to be extremely intentional with how books featuring children of diverse backgrounds show up on our bookshelves in our play room. I would encourage you to take stock, right now, and evaluate what percentage of books do you own that feature diverse characters? And I’m not talking about a supporting character or diverse children in the background – actually featuring the stories and lives of Children of Color?  What voices are missing from your collection?

Now, get a plan! What are you going to do, what are the specific steps, to help increase the diversity in voices of not just books featuring diverse stories BUT seeking out authors and illustrators who are Black, Latinx, Asian Pacific Islander, American Indian, or First Nation?
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I wanted to share with you my favorite sources for diverse books to get you to “add to cart” these beautiful, wonderful, and diverse stories.
  • Colors of Us has over 500 multicultural books listed by ethnicity and age group and a blog with over 1,000 multicultural books listed by subject.  Here are some of my favorite blogs:
    • New Multicultural Children’s Books May 2020
    • 20 Multicultural Children’s Books To Help Build Self-Esteem
    • 21 Multicultural Children’s Books About Feelings
  • Happily Ever Elephant’s blog on 50 of the Best Multicultural Children's Picture Books
  • Embrace Race’s blog on 31 Children's books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance
  • The University of Wisconsin Madison’s list of 50 Multicultural Books Every Child Should Know
  • Book Riot’s article on 30 Children’s Books Above Diversity That Celebrate Our Differences
  • Here We Read’s blog on 25+ Diverse/Multicultural Children’s Books for Back To School
 
There is much work to be done – and lucky for us shopping for books is so much FUN! Let’s fill our bookshelves with these multicultural stories!
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5 Comments
Ivette
6/18/2020 07:56:38 am

TELEMENTAL HEALTH AND CHILDREN: 20 FREE MINIMAL SUPPLY ACTIVITIES

Thanks

Reply
Ann Meehan
6/24/2020 07:07:23 pm

Hi Ivette - you can hop over to that blog post here:
https://www.meehanmentalhealth.com/the-playful-therapist-blog/telemental-health-and-children-20-free-minimal-supply-activities

Reply
Suzanne Saltisiak
5/27/2021 07:50:07 am

I appreciate this so much. I have a book that is minimally known, written by a teacher with the intention of increasing diversity but also on a topic that I think resonates with a lot of my kids. I know a friend of hers who loaned me her copy and it became one of my favorites for talking about amends and apologies. It is longer and really connects with some of the kids about 8-11 and I thought you'd appreciate seeing it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0844V8R4L/ref=x_gr_w_glide_sout?caller=Goodreads&callerLink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodreads.com%2Fen%2Fbook%2Fshow%2F51298621-i-m-sorry-story&tag=x_gr_w_glide_sout-20

Reply
Ann
6/3/2021 06:10:59 pm

Thank you Suzanne for sharing this great resource!

Reply
Luthie link
1/3/2022 01:00:01 pm

I set out on this website and blog adventure to bring fun reading and perhaps fun writing experiences to you.

Reply



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    Hi, there!

    I'm Ann Meehan, an LPCC,
    ​RPT-S
    ™, and EMDR Consultant. I help therapists that work with kids and teens go from a place of stress and survival to inspired and thriving.  I give child therapists the resources, tools, and skills they need to be effective and confident in their practice!

    I am organization obsessed, coffee loving, playful therapist who is showing up for life in the north woods of Minnesota. 

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  • Home
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