Reading RAINBOW
Help kids learn about diversity through books
N saidow more than ever publishers are making a commitment to create books that foster inclusion and embrace diversity, Andrea Davis Pinkney, author and Scholastic vice president and executive editor. That’s great news for young readers.
“When a child opens a book, it’s like shaking hands with a new friend,” Davis Pinkney said. “I like to think of these moments as ‘page greetings.’ That’s why it’s important to give kids books that include characters from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences — it allows young readers to meet and celebrate a range of cultural, racial, religious, gender or ability perspectives.”
Diverse reads are also essential as a way to let kids see themselves and their own life experiences expressed in narratives and illustrations.
“These page greetings are very powerful in affirming all children, whether they’re stories about kids whose lives are nothing like theirs or characters whose families, traditions, lifestyles and skin color reflect their own,” Davis Pinkney said.
‘Books in every room’
When building your home library, Davis Pinkney encourages families ”to make sure there are always books in every room,” although her husband “wishes there were less books clogging the corners,” she said.
The Scholastic Kids and Family Reading Report, a nationwide survey of parents and children about reading attitudes and behaviors, backs up her “books-in-every-room” campaign.
Access to books is one of the most effective ways of getting kids to read and to love reading, Davis Pinkney said.
“When kids have lots of books all around them, they’re more likely to grab hold. According to the report, lots of books at home is also a powerful predictor for how often a child reads and how well they’ll do in school. This points to an essential reason for building a home library that’s filled with diverse titles,” she said.
Today’s classrooms are becoming more multicultural, and teachers are committed to expanding lesson plans to include discussions and topics about a range of experiences, Davis Pinkney said.
“As our sons and daughters interface with more kids who may be very different than they are, we parents need to offer books that raise awareness about all kinds of people and beliefs. In creating a diverse home library, variety is key,” Davis Pinkney said. “Think about it: You would never feed kids the same thing for breakfast, lunch and dinner, every single day. The same is true of books. Kids need a robust mix of stories. Assortment is part of how diversity is defined.”
Tips for embracing diverse titles
One key to engaging any child with any kind of book is by reading aloud.
“This is a perfect way to help kids become interested in reading about diverse subjects and settings,” Davis Pinkney said.
Reading aloud not only helps a child engage with characters and plot, it is “also a great way to build a dialogue with a young reader about what’s happening in a story. For example, ‘What do you think Billy is feeling?’ Or, ‘I wonder if Gabriela and Tonya will stay friends?’” she said.
Another tool is to let a child choose. Davis Pinkney will often point her own kids “in a direction to a specific collection of titles (usually diverse), then let them pick the books they want.
The power of choice is a great way to empower kids. In fact, the report shows kids ages 6 to 17 agree that their favorite books are the ones they’ve plucked from the shelves on their own,” Davis Pinkney said.
Celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of African Americans and other people of color shouldn’t be limited to one month.
Here are a few of Davis Pinkney’s suggestions of literary pieces that shine a spotlight on diversity: • “Marley Dias Gets it Done: And So Can You!” by Marley Dias, the 12-year-old founder of #1000blackgirlbooks
• “Why Am I Me?” by Paige Britt, illustrated by Sean Qualls and Selina Alko
• “Happy Dreamer” by Peter Reynolds
• “The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano” by Sonia Manzano
• “Refugee” by Alan Gratz
• “The Magician’s Hat” by Malcolm Mitchell • “When the Sea Turned to Silver” by Grace Lin
• “Silent Days, Silent Dreams” by Allen Say
• “The Cleo Edison Oliver” series by Sundee Frazier
• “Martin Rising: Requiem for a King” by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pinkney, about the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
• “The Red Pencil,” a novel set in Sudan; “A Poem for Peter,” the story of Erza Jack Keats; and “Pretty Brown Face,” one of a series of board books for babies, all by Davis Pinkney.
“When kids have lots of books all around them, they’re more likely to grab hold. According to the report, lots of books at home is also a powerful predictor for how often a child reads and how well they’ll do in school. This points to an essential reason for building a home library that’s filled with diverse titles.” Andrea Davis Pinkney