Author Archives: Star Bright Books

Engaging Young Children with Interactive Books

Image © parents.com

 

Many grownups remember their favorite childhood books, especially ones their parents and educators read to them. Or even fairy tales or older siblings’ textbooks. Some children, though, are energetic and may struggle to sit silently and listen to reading. Thankfully, interactive books can entertain children while helping develop vital skills in literacy, communication, and vocabulary.

 

Kaplan Early Learning Company says that interactive reading between adults and children is essential when it comes to children’s early literacy skills. Interactive books engage infants and capture their natural curiosity. Unique features, such as textures, lift-flaps, moving parts, pull-tabs, or die-cut pages, help support young children’s sensory development.

 

Pull-tabs and lift-flaps can especially aid in developing toddlers’ pre-reading skills. Vicki, a former teacher and a mother, says on her blog that these book features provide parents and educators with an opportunity to help children develop their basic skills. For example, asking toddlers what they think they will find behind each flap is a fun way to teach them how to make predictions.

 

Interior spread from Shapes at Play by Jin Choi.

 

Some of Star Bright Books’s titles contain unique features that can help toddlers develop their essential skills. Shapes at Play by Jin Choi is a casebound board book designed for children to discover shapes in bright primary colors. This wordless book with lift-flaps will help toddlers learn basic geometry and geometric concepts, shape relationships, scale, and proportion, especially if adults ask them questions about what they see and what they might find with flaps closed and opened.

 

Red Socks by Ellen Mayer, illustrated by Ying-Hwa Hu.

 

Our Small Talk Books® series, written by Ellen Mayer, features books like Red Socks and Rosa’s Very Big Job that include a note for parents, caregivers, and teachers. Each note advises adults on how to hold rich conversations with toddlers to help develop and nurture vocabulary and emotions. This activity sheet, for example, can be paired with some of Star Bright Books’s laundry-specific books and is a fun way for adults and toddlers to sort clean laundry together while comparing sizes of clothing items.

 

With unique interactive features, children’s books are an excellent way for toddlers to develop basic skills, expand knowledge, and remember precious moments with their families and educators forever.

 

Translation Effects on Children’s Books

© Andrew Ebrahim via Unsplash.

 

Movie details are sometimes altered to appeal to wider or local audiences. Disney’s Zootopia is no exception. 

 

Judy Hopps, the first bunny cop in the modern mammal metropolis called Zootopia, teams up with a cunning fox, Nick Wild, to solve a mystery that could potentially ruin the relationship between different types of animals. One of the characters in Zootopia was customized depending on the aired countries. In the US, Canada, and France, a TV news reporter is a moose, but the same character is seen as a panda in China and as a raccoon in Japan. 

 

“Localizing graphics across different countries is just another way to specialize films across the world to make sure films will resonate with audiences,” said ​Kirsten Acuna, a correspondent for Business Insider. This principle also applies to children’s books.

 

As a children’s book publisher, Star Bright Books makes a concerted effort to include children of all colors, nationalities, and abilities in its books by working with diverse authors and publishing multilingual, multicultural books. Here are some changes made in our books in translation to respect the cultures, religions, and backgrounds of the target audience. 

 

Covers of Animal Colors (English and Navajo/English editions), illustrated by Brian Wildsmith.

 

Just like Zootopia, animal characters are altered when publishing books for different peoples and cultures. In this case, the purpose is not to localize the character, but rather to respect cultural connotations. The original version of Animal Colors by Brian Wildsmith, for example, includes snakes and frogs; however, these animals are believed to bring bad luck in some cultures. As a result, the yellow snake was updated to a yellow chick and the green frog became a green chameleon in the Navajo and Navajo/English bilingual versions of the book.

 

 

A scene from the English edition of Animal Colors by Brian Wildsmith.

 

Character names and objects are also often adapted when translating one language into another in order to make them more familiar to the target audience. In the original Greek edition of Comings and Goings, the main character’s name is Phevos. In the English edition (a 2022 USBBY Outstanding International Books selection), Phevos became Alex. In this way, native English readers can pronounce the main character’s name more easily. Similarly, Phevos and his mother’s meal of mashed potatoes and cabbage was changed to sandwiches and French fries because the latter combination is a common lunch option in the US.

 

The English version of Comings and Goings contains changes to character names and food items. Art from Fotini Tikkou.

 

Certain words and phrases cannot and should not be translated into other languages because readers might misinterpret an author’s intention or find the situation unrelatable. Which sounds better: sushi or raw fish on top of a vinegar rice ball? Translators also choose words and phrases that convey appropriate meaning and sometimes avoid translating word-for-word.

 

Children will immerse themselves in cultural stories when words, characters, and other design elements are adapted for easy understanding. Young readers can travel around the world by safely reading diverse books at home thanks to translators’ careful considerations.

Celebrating the Daffodil, the Birth Flower of March

Just like gemstones, twelve flowers represent each birth month. There is no surprise that the daffodil is the flower for March as its white and yellow flowers bloom between late February and early March, delivering us cheerful news: the advent of spring!

 

Daffodil, also known as narcissus, comes from the Greek word narkissos, meaning narcotic or numb sensation. This spring flower symbolizes new birth, beginnings, happiness, and joy. With such vivid petals, daffodils will ensure the sun is always shining when your loved one is around. The cheerful flowers and the blooming season make daffodils common gifts this time of year. We might choose flowers based on their colors, but the long-lasting beauty and scents of seasonal flowers should not be ignored, says Chappell’s Florist.

 

The main characters of the Mouse and Mole series remind us of the importance of cherishing the four seasons and seasonal flowers. In Mouse and Mole Have a Party, written by Joyce Dunbar, Mole is being indecisive about how to appreciate and enjoy the precious first daffodil of spring. Should he pick and put it in a vase to observe all day? Or should Mole leave it in the garden so that the flower lasts longer? Mole, with help from his best friend, Mouse, finally discovers how to truly admire their daffodil.

 

     

The following stories in Mouse and Mole Have a Party depict the characters’ care for each other, such as Mouse helping Mole even out his asymmetrical whiskers and an unexpected birthday party. The Mouse and Mole series, including two upcoming releases: A Very Special Mouse and Mole and Happy Days for Mouse and Mole, contains several heartwarming stories of friendship, imagination, and joyful surprises. Delightful illustrations by James Mayhew are one of the many reasons why this series, originally published in the UK, is still popular today.

 

“Be aware of what season you are in and give yourself the grace to be there,” Kristen Dalton says. Sometimes we forget about the beauty of the changing seasons. Each flower of the month might help us live in the moment and even create memories for each season, much like Mouse and Mole.

Showing Random Acts of Kindness with Ceri and Deri

Mark Twain once said, “Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Although this famous quote is still alive today, some people may take it for granted and forget to show kindness with their words or actions. That is exactly why National Random Acts of Kindness Day was established in the US.

 

The idea behind this annual event celebrated on February 17, is to make the world a better and happier place through simple, kind deeds. Kindness is magic we use to help each other, build meaningful relationships, spread positivity, and even improve our quality of life. As a children’s publisher, we believe that young readers can learn the importance of kindness by reading books with kindhearted characters. In celebration of National Random Acts of Kindness Day tomorrow, we would like to share the Ceri and Deri series by Max Low to illustrate small acts of kindness.

 

Ceri and Deri is a book series for children between 3 and 6, with stories revolving around Ceri, a cat with stripes, and Deri, a dog with spots. Stories about their friendship can help young audiences develop their sense of dignity and respect for others.

 

 

Ceri and Deri: Good to Be Sweet is full of random acts of kindness. First, a shop owner offers a bag of free candies to Ceri and Deri. The two hungry pals happily share their treats with their friend Dai. Young readers will learn the joy of sharing as well as the basic concepts of division and subtraction while enjoying this charming tale.

 

 

Another book in the series Ceri and Deri: Time for Clocks shows Ceri and Deri’s care and respect for one other as the two friends try to figure out the best time to meet up. This playful story is perfect for children to learn how to read a clock.

 

  

While National Random Acts of Kindness Day is celebrated only once a year, sharing kindness is something we can all do every day. In the forthcoming title Ceri and Deri: Build a Birdhouse the main characters help a stray bird find a caring home to live, sing, and dance. Start sharing kindness with strangers and loved ones, just like Ceri and Deri!

 

Look for these titles by Max Low:
Ceri and Deri: Good to Be Sweet
Ceri and Deri: Time for Clocks
Ceri and Deri: Build a Birdhouse (available May 2022)
Ceri and Deri: The Treasure Map (available May 2022)

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2022 Reviews

 

On January 28, Star Bright Books proudly returned as a bronze sponsor for Multicultural Children’s Book Day! We appreciate the opportunity to participate in this celebration of representation and diverse stories. Multicultural Children’s Book Day, now in its tenth year, aims to connect young readers with multicultural books and expose them to new perspectives. This year, volunteers read and reviewed Books and Bricks: How a School Rebuild the Community, I Have Cerebral Palsy, and The Magic of Clay. We would like to share their amazing words below!*

*Click each link to read the full review.

 

Books and Bricks: How a School Rebuilt the Community

Mindfulece (Twitter: @TheMindfulECE)
“I loved this book for children. It’s wonderful to read out loud. It’s informative and includes a little bit of mystery that keeps the reader engaged. As the story unfolds it’s heartwarming to see the transformation of the main characters from hopeless to hopeful about what a thriving school can do for the community.”

 

Hannah Stere (Goodreads and Amazon)
“[This] is an engaging story about a South African community that bands together to create a mutually beneficial relationship in an engaging and thoughtful way. Books and Bricks highlights the importance of a school as a community support system.”

 

Medha Tare (Instagram: @picklebunny_books)
“An inspiring example of #communitybuilding with parallels around the world.”

 

I Have Cerebral Palsy

MaryAnne Kofenderfer (Twitter & Instagram: @mamasmiles)
“This book represents beautifully MCBD’s mission to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves.”

 

Shenna Bogetti (Instagram: @librarian_shenna)
“[I Have Cerebral Palsy] is a great book to help build that world knowledge and help students be comfortable around others that may have cerebral palsy or another type of disability.”

 

Rachana Ramanan (Instagram: @rach_artnmore)
“This book is so beautiful – it blew my mind away – it journeys through the life of Sydney – a day at school, home, her struggle with Cerebral Palsy and makes you realize that she’s just like any other girl with hopes and dreams! As she says, ‘I’m a lot like you, but I do have to do some things differently!’”

 

Bev Baird (Blog and Goodreads)
“I thoroughly enjoyed Sydney’s story and would highly recommend it. Thank you, Sydney, for your candor and sweetness.”

 

The Magic of Clay

Leanna Guillén Mora (Blog and Instagram: @craftymomsshare)
“If you have a little art lover in your life – or one that just loves playing with modeling clay! – then they will love The Magic of Clay, a wonderful new picture book from Star Bright Books, a MCBD Bronze sponsor! It is a deep dive into the science and art of clay, including how it is formed and how it can be used to make new creations.” 

 

Kelsey Ray (Twitter: @ReadingRay)
“This book is very enlightening about clay and its properties. I learned so much about the process of creating items from clay in a clear, concrete manner.”

A Guide to Sharing

Sharing is a fundamental social skill that is developed in childhood and lasts long into our lives. Not every child will have the same inclination to share, and that’s alright! No matter your child’s disposition, sharing can be taught. But what does healthy sharing look like? Here are some useful tips for helping children learn to share. 

Image from Show Me How To Be a Friend, by J.A. Barnes. Available on our website.

Show Respect and Empathy

At the root of sharing is respect. One must respect another person’s feelings, space, and belongings. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, at around three-and-a-half, children begin to understand the concept of sharing. (The groundwork for teaching children about sharing can be laid for children as young as two.) 

 

Developmentally, toddlers process their own wants and needs ahead of the wants and needs of others. This often makes sharing a strenuous and anxiety-inducing free-for-all as no one wants to be left out or left behind. Empathize with your child and talk to them about being conscious of other people’s feelings to ensure everyone has a good time. 

 

Model Positive Behaviors

One way children learn is through examples: watching your behaviors will set a foundation for the way they interact with others. Demonstrate effective, respectful communication for your child. For example, to your partner or parent, say, “Of course you can borrow my big cooking dish! Could you please return it to me by Tuesday?” Firsthand examples of polite communication as both a borrower and lender will underscore the importance of respect.

 

When you borrow an item from a friend or loved one, make sure to return it better than you found it: wash it, for example. And always say thank you! 

 

By modeling positive behaviors, you will inspire your child’s own actions. Let your little copycat take note of the way you navigate lending to and borrowing from your partner, parents, neighbors, friends, etc. They will see it is nothing to worry over! 

 

Establish Rules and Boundaries

Ground rules will make the process of sharing feel not so scary. Helping children feel secure in sharing situations will give them comfort in being both a borrower and a lender. Create a plan if there is a forthcoming playdate and your child doesn’t like to share a certain toy. Set the toy aside before the playdate and talk with your child about letting a friend take a turn with the toy. 

Image from Show Me How To Be a Friend, by J.A. Barnes. Available on our website.

Sharing is also an early form of establishing boundaries. Let your child know they are allowed to set “terms” on how they share. If your child is resistant to lending a sibling or peer their favorite teddy, show them it is okay to offer an alternative option. For instance, your child might say, “This stuffed animal is my favorite. Would you be okay with this one?” If the alternative is not desired, your child’s next step can be to say, “Okay, but I’d like to have my stuffed animal back in ten minutes [or a time they feel comfortable with].” Letting your child know that time limits and other ground rules are okay for sharing will help ease their anxieties; it will eventually become second nature.

 

When children feel anxious about sharing they may use mean words or brash actions, such as grabbing or bartering. Intervene immediately if you observe these behaviors in your child’s interactions with siblings or peers. Take a mindful moment with them to just breathe, resettle, and talk about the benefits of sharing with others. 

 

Consume Good Content

Reading and consuming content that illustrates good sharing is another vital step in fostering this lifelong skill. At this age, looking to literary role models is a good step in presenting the idea of sharing to your little one! When you notice an example of good sharing in a film or TV show, point it out to your child. Having onscreen role models and strong media examples of sharing will give your child confidence in their own sharing experiences.

Image from Show Me How To Be a Friend, by J.A. Barnes. Available on our website.

Sharing is a form of love: we share with others in order to continue fostering genuine connections. Your child will benefit from good sharing skills, now and in the future.

A Guide to Supporting Your Child Through Put-Downs

You know that sinking feeling in your stomach when mean words have been hurled at you. You just stand there, face bright red, palms wet. Put-downs, or unkind remarks about a person’s physical appearance or demeanor, are an all too common and all too unfortunate form of intimidation and bullying in school. They differ from other forms of bullying, which can be motivated by racial, religious, or other prejudices. How can you help your child navigate these mean-spirited comments they will inevitably face? 

From Mama’s Right Here, (illustrated by Estelle Corke).

First, create a space where your child can safely share the events of their day. This can be on the drive home from school, over dinner, before bedtime, or any time that fits into your schedules. Make sure your child knows you are interested and invested in their daily activities— what they learned, who they played with, etc. By establishing a routine of sharing early in your child’s life, they are more likely to come to you when negative experiences occur. 

 

Once your child has shared a situation with you, gauge the level of extremity. Take time to absorb and process all the information before entering protection mode. What happened? Who was the other party? What was the intention? How do all these things affect your child and their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing? 

 

As a parent, it is easy to feel defensive and quickly react when your child is the subject of bullying. But by first soaking in all the facts, you will have a better grip over what will best benefit your child. Your child will also appreciate a calm handle on the situation and feel more comfortable opening up to you.

 

Once you have gauged the situation, address it with your child. Explain what put-downs are and how they can impact one’s thoughts and feelings. Put-downs can be thoughtless comments, sometimes perpetuated by your child’s friends or classmates. Elementary-aged children are learning what is and isn’t okay to say, meaning sometimes they may say something inappropriate at the cost of another’s feelings. 

From Mama’s Right Here, (illustrated by Estelle Corke).

Tailor your conversation to the incident. Be sure to bolster your child’s confidence by combatting the comment(s): your child looks to you as a beacon of both fact and reassurance. They trust your word. If you tell them they are beautiful, they will believe it; if you tell them they’re smart, they will believe it. Counter the put-down, while acknowledging and validating the hurtful impact. 

 

A major point to emphasize is that “getting even” is never the answer. A meaner comment is not an appropriate response. There is a balance between standing up for oneself and perpetuating negativity—which could prompt your child getting in trouble.

 

Tell your child that if they hear another child being subjected to put-downs, find a way to support their peer. Inviting their classmate to play, sitting with them at lunch, or complimenting the trait that was just made fun of are all good ways to combat put-downs. Helping others will help fuel your own child’s internal processing with put-downs. 

 

Unfortunately, we can’t be with our children all the time to guard them from the perils of early childhood bullying. However, we can address the issues they may face early on, and give them the tools they need to understand, verbalize, and process their feelings. 

An Ode to The Spooky Season: Ways to Celebrate Autumn

Boo! ’Tis the season for frights and autumnal festivities! With the new season comes a bevy of fun things you and your kid can do to celebrate the changing leaves and spookiest time of year. Below are some of our safe seasonal favorites. 

 

A staple of the fall holiday season is, of course, pumpkin-carving. Your child will get a kick out of selecting a pumpkin from a local pumpkin patch, while supporting local farmers and growers. The pumpkin patch is also an ideal autumn photo backdrop. Several markets and stores also carry pumpkins while in season, so your child can still discover the thrill of finding the perfect one! 

 

Once you’ve got a pumpkin, head home to start carving! Make sure to lay down some paper towels or newspaper wherever you plan to carve—it can be messy! Help your child pick out the right design. Afterward you can begin to carve the pumpkin.. Take off the top and gut it. You can either compost the guts or pull out the seeds and roast them for a snack. 

 

Time to draw and carve out the design! Once you’ve finished, choose a candle for the inside of the pumpkin. If you use a real candle, place the jack-o-lantern somewhere in your view. When using a battery-operated candle, allow your child to pick a fun spot on the front stoop or somewhere inside. Your child will love how magical the pumpkin looks when the lit candle brings it to life. 

 

Excerpt from Spook the Halloween Cat.

For families outside of urban areas, apple-picking is another holiday classic. It can be a sweet and healthy treat for your kids. Apple cider, apple pie, apple strudel, and apple cider donuts are all traditionally found at an apple orchard. Some orchards offer hay rides into the fields. You and your child can fill a basket of apples together! 

 

As Halloween approaches, you can also brainstorm homemade costumes for your child. A ghost, a witch, a robot, among others, are classic choices. Making costumes instead of buying them helps repurpose items from your home and gives your child a chance to get creative. Make it a fun project you achieve together! Identify household items that can be repurposed. Cardboard boxes can become a robot body. With a flannel shirt, straw hat, overalls, and a quick make-up job your kid is a scarecrow! An all-black outfit, paper ears, and a ball of yarn will turn your child into a cat. The possibilities are as limitless as your child’s imagination! Encourage them and see where their mind takes them. While you’re at it, make yourself a matching costume! 

 

Excerpt from Spook the Halloween Cat, available on the Star Bright Books website.

 

Finish off the season with a kid-friendly Halloween movie or two. Scary movies are a staple of the season, but oftentimes inappropriate for young audiences. Luckily, there are plenty of age-sensitive movies and TV shows with Halloween and autumn themes. Check out our list of suggestions below!

 

Beetlejuice (1988) 

Caspar (1995) 

Coraline (2009) 

Halloweentown (1998) 

Hocus Pocus (1993) 

Igor (2008) 

It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (1966) 

Monster House (2006) 

Over the Garden Wall (2014) 

Paranorman (2012) 

Scooby Doo! and The Goblin King (2008) 

Scooby Doo! and the Witch’s Ghost (1999) 

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) 

 

We hope these activities help you and your child make the most of this exciting and spooky season. Whether it’s getting out and about in the autumn foliage or staying inside with a Halloween book, hot cocoa, and the jack-o-lanterns all lit, there are many ways to appreciate this special time of year and special time in your child’s life.

Checking in on Your Child’s Mental Health and Academic Motivation!

As in-person schooling marches on, and the school year carries our children to greater heights, now is a good time to check in on your little learner! Over the past two years, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, children have been dealt a hard hand: the COVID-19 virus itself, less time with friends, and a year (or more) of missing classroom time. With many schools reopening, children may have some difficulty readjusting to in-person learning. 

 

Less social interactions and more time at home may cause difficulty in resuming in-person classes with the same standard of mental presence and effort as prior to the pandemic. Checking in with your child is the best way to assess their motivation and mental health levels and offer unwavering support. 

 

First, take note of your child’s behavior. What have you noticed since the school year started? Is your child happy with their teacher and peers? How do they talk about their assignments and course load? Answering these questions can be a good indicator of where your child stands on their academic track. 

 

Some dissatisfaction is normal. Expressing excitement about classes but lackluster enthusiasm over a teacher is also a typical response. But if it seems like your child is uninterested in any aspect of school, they are likely struggling to readapt to a full-time, in-person school schedule. 

 

Once you’ve gauged your child’s motivation level, talk with them about the new normal. Share and empathize with them over the tasks you both face on a daily basis. Help them realize it’s okay to feel upset, confused, and even question things. Some disconnection is okay. COVID-19 has changed the way children see life—for better and worse. 

 

It is also important for children to understand and rationalize why we do the things we do. Explain the benefits of school, as well as how work helps you support the family. Doing so will help avoid confusion and ease the separation anxiety some children may experience.

 

“Parent support – now open for registration” by BC Gov Photos is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Help your child find a routine that fits. Perhaps they need to come home and immediately complete their homework. Or, they might benefit from a snack, some TV, and a quick nap before homework and dinner. With siblings, commit to helping each child figure it out individually. Most importantly, let them know they aren’t alone. 

 

Find small rewards that your kid will want to work for! Incentives might include a milkshake on Fridays after school, seeing a movie of their choice for good marks, or treating them to a toy at the end of each month for completing their assignments. Teaching a child healthy incentives is a lifelong lesson they’ll carry with them from schooling to a career. (Adults use incentives all the time: coffee or tea to lure ourselves out of bed, a favorite panini on our lunch break, etc.)

 

Children’s mental health has been severely impacted by the pandemic. Adults can help children balance and ground themselves as they reacquaint with in-person reality. Above all, our children need support and love during this transitional time.

How to Build a Diverse Classroom Library

Most educators understand that to help students thrive, children’s books need to reflect and uplift a child’s own identity. This can be accomplished when students have access to diverse and inclusive children’s literature, but challenges exist in both the lack of diverse children’s books on the market and limited access to funding for teachers to acquire books for their classrooms. Here is a guide on how you can overcome these challenges to make your classroom library one in which all of your students can see themselves in the pages of a book.

From Layla’s Head Scarf by Miriam Cohen, illustrated by Ronald Himler

Evaluate the Books You Have

 

Before you make any changes to your classroom library, it is important to evaluate the content and quality of the books you already have.

 

As you start to evaluate and expand your library, work with school administration to prepare for potential complaints, opposition, or censorship. Ask your school board to develop and implement policies in support of inclusive written material and clear intellectual and academic freedom statements, as well as measures to handle opposition. These policies should include a formal complaint process and indicate possible reasons for exclusion of written material.

 

Make a list of topics you want your classroom library to cover. A diverse library will include books written by or about the experience of people including (but not limited to):

  • LGBTQIA+ individuals
  • Indigenous people and people of color
  • People with disabilities
  • Families with varying socioeconomic experiences
  • Ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities

Next, clear your classroom library’s bookshelves or bins. Label the empty shelves/containers with the topics you’ve identified. Then, sort your current books into these categories, based on content and/or author demographics. Permanently remove books from your library that work against inclusion; for example, books that reinforce stereotypes or books that promote offensive depictions or descriptions.

 

Identify the types of books that are missing from your collection, based on which shelves are sparse, empty, or not varied. Remember that while it is important for children to read about racism, discrimination, and marginalization, it is essential for children to see themselves thrive. As Dorian Smith-Garcia notes, “When you’re picking stories with Black lead characters, it’s important to choose diverse plots. Not everything needs to focus on slavery, racism, and inequality all the time—the Black experience is not a limited one!”

From Layla’s Head Scarf by Miriam Cohen, illustrated by Ronald Himler

Expand Your Classroom Library

 

Now that you have a better understanding of the books already in your classroom, expand your library by researching which books will fill the gaps in your collection and figuring out how to fund and acquire those books.

 

Research books that cover the topics that are missing from your current collection. You will be able to find expert help from a librarian, or you can consult online lists of books with diverse subjects from reputable sources, such as We Need Diverse Books and the American Library Association “Best of” lists. Your students might also be able to provide great recommendations!

 

Obtain funding to purchase new books. Since PTA and classroom funds are often limited, consider applying for grants through the American Library Association. Teachers in the US can receive free diverse children’s and young adult books through the Multicultural Children’s Book Day Diverse Books for Classrooms Program. If you teach in a low-income school, there are free diverse books available through We Need Diverse Books in the Classroom.

 

You can also solicit the support of your community by starting a crowdfunding campaign through organizations like PledgeCents, Teachers Pay Teachers, or Adopt A Classroom. Collaborating with other teachers, working with a local librarian, or checking with your school administration can help you to identify additional funding sources.

 

Acquire the books on your list. A great way to use funds efficiently is by shopping at public library sales, secondhand stores, or “budget” book websites. Consider asking your local indie bookstore for discounts or donations. If your funds are very limited, harness the power of social media (especially Twitter and Instagram). Many children’s book authors and bloggers host book giveaways with hashtags like #FreeBooks, #BookGiveaway, and #KidsNeedFreeBooks.

 

Finally, integrate the new books into your classroom. Don’t just put your new books on the shelf! Having a “featured read” section can highlight a new book for your students. You can also prompt interest by reading books aloud in class or integrating them into your curriculum. Encourage student ownership in caring for the books by assigning a student “librarian of the day” to organize the library. This ownership will help assure your inclusive collection lasts for many school years to come.

From Layla’s Head Scarf by Miriam Cohen, illustrated by Ronald Himler