Are you looking for resources to help support and represent a multitude of learners and backgrounds? Students need exposure to the world around them, as well as the world that they aren't able to see in their communities. We have compiled some valuable resources that can (and should be) used to enhance your curriculum. The list will continually be updated, so please check back frequently.
African-Americans/Black
Black Children's Books and Authors (BCBA) - Their mission is to promote awareness of children’s and young adult literature by Black authors. Their online author directory lists traditional and self-published authors.
Barbershop Books - Barbershop Books is the debut program of Reading Holiday Project, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit literacy organization in New York City. Developed in Harlem, Barbershop Books is a community-based program that creates child-friendly reading spaces in barbershops and provides early literacy training to barbers across America.
Coretta Scott King Book Awards (1970-Present)- Award "given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. " (Ala.org)
Barbershop Books - Barbershop Books is the debut program of Reading Holiday Project, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit literacy organization in New York City. Developed in Harlem, Barbershop Books is a community-based program that creates child-friendly reading spaces in barbershops and provides early literacy training to barbers across America.
Coretta Scott King Book Awards (1970-Present)- Award "given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. " (Ala.org)
Asian & Asian American
88+ Amazing Children's Books About Asian Americans- A comprehensive list with reviews and descriptions. A great place to start finding quality picture books, board books, and chapter books.
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature- Award that is "to honor and recognize individual work about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit." (Asian/Pacific American Libraries Association, http://www.apalaweb.org/)
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature- Award that is "to honor and recognize individual work about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit." (Asian/Pacific American Libraries Association, http://www.apalaweb.org/)
English Language Learners
English Language Bulletin - (From TESOL) A digest of the most important news affecting English language teachers worldwide, is published twice a week. It also contains TESOL association news and information on upcoming TESOL events.
Colorin Colorado- A bilingual site for educators and the families of English Language Learners.
Reading Tip Sheets for Parents- A resource that contains tip sheets for parents to support literacy for babies, toddlers, pre-school, and elementary students at home, that are available in 13 different lanugages.
Colorin Colorado- A bilingual site for educators and the families of English Language Learners.
Reading Tip Sheets for Parents- A resource that contains tip sheets for parents to support literacy for babies, toddlers, pre-school, and elementary students at home, that are available in 13 different lanugages.
LatinX
Latino Family Literacy Project- The Latino Family Literacy Project™ provides proven, cost-effective parent involvement programs and training for teachers to provide meaningful programs for English Learners.
5 Children's Books by Latinx Authors That Celebrate You Just As You Are
Pura Belpre Award (Medal)- Award winning books, named after the first Latina librarian (Pura Belpre) at the New Public Library. It is "...presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth." (Ala.org)
5 Children's Books by Latinx Authors That Celebrate You Just As You Are
Pura Belpre Award (Medal)- Award winning books, named after the first Latina librarian (Pura Belpre) at the New Public Library. It is "...presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth." (Ala.org)
LGBTQI+
YA Pride - YA Pride advocates for inclusive and affirming content in YA literature. Their website features quarterly published content and booklist for individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual, and aromantic.
30 Children's Books With LGBT Characters
Stonewall Book Award- A listing of award winning books that "have been honored for exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience." (ala.org)
30 Children's Books With LGBT Characters
Stonewall Book Award- A listing of award winning books that "have been honored for exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience." (ala.org)
INDIGENOUS People & Native American
32 Native American Children's Books
13 Native American Children's and YA Books That Celebrate Native American History and Experience
American Indian Youth Literature Award- Award winning books which identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America. "Books selected to receive the award present Indigenous North American peoples in the fullness of their humanity." (American Indian Library Association, https://ailanet.org/)
13 Native American Children's and YA Books That Celebrate Native American History and Experience
American Indian Youth Literature Award- Award winning books which identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America. "Books selected to receive the award present Indigenous North American peoples in the fullness of their humanity." (American Indian Library Association, https://ailanet.org/)
Social Justice
The Jane Addams Children's Book Award- Award winning books that "...annually recognizes children’s books of literary and aesthetic excellence that effectively engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all people."
The Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children's Literature- An awards list that celebrates diverse books, writting by diverse authors. Diverse is defined as, "... including (but not limited to) a person of color, Native American, LGBTQIA, a person with a disability, and/or a member of a marginalized religious or cultural minority in the United States." (We Need Diverse Books, diversebooks.org)
The Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children's Literature- An awards list that celebrates diverse books, writting by diverse authors. Diverse is defined as, "... including (but not limited to) a person of color, Native American, LGBTQIA, a person with a disability, and/or a member of a marginalized religious or cultural minority in the United States." (We Need Diverse Books, diversebooks.org)
Texas Diversity/Texas History
10 Books to Celebrate Juneteenth No Matter Your Age- It took 2 years after slavery ended for the news to travel all the way to Galveston, Texas for Black in Texas to learn about their freedom. This is a great selection of books to use no matter the age of the reader.
12 Things You Didn't Know About The History of Texas
Do You Know Black History In Dallas?
12 Things You Didn't Know About The History of Texas
Do You Know Black History In Dallas?
Other Sites Who Advocate for Diverse Learning & Resources
We Need Diverse Books- This is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and a grassroots organization of children's book lovers that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people.
Project LIT Facebook Community - A grassroots literacy movement empowering readers and leaders in hundreds of schools and communities around the world. Founded by Dr. Amato and Maplewood HS (Nashville, TN) students in 2016.
Colours of Us- A website with over 2,000 resources related to children's books, toys, clothing, and blogs related to multicultural issues.
Project LIT Facebook Community - A grassroots literacy movement empowering readers and leaders in hundreds of schools and communities around the world. Founded by Dr. Amato and Maplewood HS (Nashville, TN) students in 2016.
Colours of Us- A website with over 2,000 resources related to children's books, toys, clothing, and blogs related to multicultural issues.
Bibliographies and Book Lists
Here are two wonderful lists of multicultural books created/complied by the students of READ committee member Jennifer Green. Each list contains a brief summary of each book and read aloud questions to accompany it.
| bibliography_a_multicultural_texts_with_questions.pdf |
| bibliography_b_multicultural_stories_with_questions.pdf |
