Creating a diverse children’s library has been incredible important to me as a mom, particularly as a mom of Black children. It is never too early to expose your children to diversity in literature. One of the ways that we fortify our black children is through developing a library for them that gives them many characters that look like them. Diverse children’s books do not consist solely of books about the civil rights movement. Though these books are valuable, diverse children’s books look like typical stories with characters who are non white. Books don’t have to talk about the beauty of Black people, and their rich history explicitly to be diverse.
While there is room for a ton of diversity in literature, in this blog post, I will only be talking about Black characters in books.
Why is creating a library with diverse children’s books important?
As a white mom who is raising two Black children, I have become increasingly aware of the need for diversity in children’s books. As I continue to build their growing library, I find myself focussing on ensuring that they can see themselves in their books. From board books to picture books, giving my children a chance to see themselves in their favorite stories is critical. My three year old daughter, James, will now ask me if the girl on the cover of I am Enough or I Just Want to Say Goodnight is her. She is becoming aware of her skin color and excited to see little girls in her favorite books that look like her.
This is not just an important task for parents raising black and brown children. It is just as important for parents raising white children. Building a diverse children’s library is essential for white children. When white children can see characters that do not look like them or have different life experiences as them, it can help bridge the gap of understanding and create empathy. These books can foster a safe place for white children to learn about black and brown people, and will normalize black and brown people for children who occupy majority white spaces (white churches, schools, dance class etc.).
Diversity, in general, highlights the beauty of our differences and reminds us that we are bound by our similarities, not our differences. When non black children see Black characters in books, they will be able to connect with these characters and resonate with part of their story. This will allow for stronger connections in real life.
I have compiled a more comprehensive list of some of James and Sage’s favorite children’s books. The short list I will provide on this blog post are books that feature Black and brown characters, written by Black authors. Though there are many other books that feature Black characters, I wanted to use my platform and privilege to elevate Black and brown voices. Here is a short list of some of our favorite diverse children’s books.
List of Diverse Children’s Books:
- Please Baby Please by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee
- Sleeping Cutie by Andrea Davis Pinkney
- I am Enough by Grace Byers
- Max and The Tag Along Moon by Floyd Cooper
- Sulwe by Lupita Nyongo
- What is Given From the Heart by Patricia C. McKissack
- Skin Like Mine by Latasha M Perry
- What’s The Commotion in the Ocean by Nyasha Williams
- Welcome to the Party by Gabrielle Union
- Princess Hair by Sharee Miller
I would like to reiterate that we have many more titles that feature diverse characters, though many of these books are written by non Black authors. I will continue to use my platform to amplify Black voices and promote Black products.
Also to note, through this Black Lives Matter movement, I have become even more aware of the different needs of diversity in children’s books. This blog post just highlights black and brown characters written by black and brown authors. I have also started to be intentional about other types of diversity in our children’s books. Can’t wait to share more with you!