Diverse Picture Books

1. Check the illustrations

• check for stereotypes, tokenism, invisibility, and misrepresentation

2. Check the story line

• check for gender stereotypes, racial generalizations, and historical inaccuracy

3. Check the lifestyle

• check for implications of inferiority and superiority in characters and settings

• check for negative representation of certain countries and groups

• look for accurate representation of Indigenous Peoples and racialized groups

4. Check for relationships among people

• check for the white or male main roles and racialized supporting roles

• look for various family structures

• look for societal reasons (e.g., war, abuse, unemployment, homelessness)

• look for children and adults engaging in actions for change

5. Check the heroes

• check for discrimination, offensive humour, and patronization

• check for the myth of the model minority in racialized heroes

• look for gender and racial representation

6. Check the effects on children's self-image and social identities

• check for stereotypes

• look for inclusivity, representation, and empowering messages

7. Check the author's or illustrator's background and perspective

• check for cultural appropriation, Eurocentric point of view

• look for authenticity

• look for global communities

8. Check the language

• check for assumed cultural superiority, offensive implications, loaded words

• look for inclusivity (e.g., ancestors vs. forefathers)

9. Check the copyright date

• check for accuracy

• look for multiple perspectives

10. Assess the appeal of the story and illustrations to young children

(Derman-Sparks, 2016; ETFO, 2011)