Equity and Inclusive Representation

Who is visible in the stories we tell? Who is absent? For those who are present, how are they presented? 

The stories we include or ignore teach our students what we value. It is important for students to see themselves, to see positive future possibilities, and to see others as something than "other."

When you choose a story that does not match your cultural background, do a little preparation:

• Does the author come from the same cultural background as the characters? If not, does the author have credibility about how authentically the characters are presented?

• Was the book published recently? If not, are there scenes or messages that are outdated, inaccurate, and/or harmful?

• Check how to correctly pronounce the name of the author and the characters, as well as any vocabulary related to holidays, clothing, or objects you might not be familiar with

• Think about how you will introduce this story, and what your pause points for discussion will be.
  At the 2021 TLA Conference, Linda Sue Park gave an excellent example of this regarding the book A Single Shard. You could describe that book this way:
  
  A long time ago, in a far-away place, a boy tried to be something new, even though he was very poor.
  Or:
  Have you ever wanted something so much, you would do anything to get it?
  
  The first description puts distance between the reader and the character immediately. The second connects the reader to the character immediately.
  
  When we ask questions about stories, we want to frame them in ways that avoid centering our own experiences and assumptions.

Here are some resources to support inclusive representation in books and in education:

Equity in Literature Considerations presentation from RRISD - detailed ways to examine books with an anti-bias lens

Children's Book Council - Diversity Resources

We Need Diverse Books - Book Lists

We Are Kid Lit Collective - Summer Reading Lists

Picture Book List - Global Celebrations 

Representation Matters - short article by Jillian Heise, founder of #ClassroomBookADay 

Classroom Library Audit article - What's on the shelves? What's missing?