Illustration by Vanessa Brantley-Newton Who We Are We Need Diverse Books™ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature tha…
We invite you to Celebrate Poetry Month with Diverse Picture Books which are some of our favorite read alouds.
Add these 20 outstanding YA books with disabled characters, offering a solid array of portrayals of living with a disability, to your TBR.
For fans of Inside Out and Back Again and Amina's Voice comes a breathtaking story of family, hope, and survival from Ellen Oh, cofounder of We Need Diverse Books. When Junie Kim is faced with middle school racism, she learns of her grandparents' extraordinary strength and finds her voice. Inspired by her mother's real-life experiences during the Korean War, Oh's characters are real and riveting. "Both unique and universal, timely and timeless." -Padma Venkatraman, Walter Award-winning author of The Bridge Home "A moving story that highlights how to find courage in the face of unspeakable hardship." -Hena Khan, award-winning author of Amina's Voice "Junie discovers where she comes from and gains the courage to make a difference in the future." -Wendy Wan-Long Shang, award-winning author of The Great Wall of Lucy Wu Junie Kim just wants to fit in. So she keeps her head down and tries not to draw attention to herself. But when racist graffiti appears at her middle school, Junie must decide between staying silent or speaking out. Then Junie's history teacher assigns a project and Junie decides to interview her grandparents, learning about their unbelievable experiences as kids during the Korean War. Junie comes to admire her grandma's fierce determination to overcome impossible odds, and her grandpa's unwavering compassion during wartime. And as racism becomes more pervasive at school, Junie taps into the strength of her ancestors and finds the courage to do what is right. Finding Junie Kim is a reminder that within all of us lies the power to overcome hardship and emerge triumphant. Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor Book A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year Included in NPR's 2021 Books We Love List 2021 Nerdy Award Winner
When I'm engrossed in a good true crime book, there is nothing that can pull me away. Is it the same impulse, perhaps, that keeps me clicking "Next Episode" on Law & Order: SVU until it's far past my bedtime? I'll bet I'm not the only one who…
For my birthday my husband picked me up a copy of the bestselling book NurtureShock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman. To be frank, I hadn’t heard of it. Though it’s been called “The Freakonomics of child rearing” and lauded by reviewer after reviewer it’s from the world of adult books. I traipse there but […]
ELLs need to have access to diverse books. Here is a collections of Diverse Books for ELLs. Come find some great books to share with your students.
In this post, you'll discover new titles to help bring more voices and more stories into your booklist in the spheres of American Literature, World Literature, British Literature, and Independent Reading. Diversify your classroom library with these great titles.
Inspired by an article by Rumaan Alum’s article We Don’t Only Need Diverse Books. We Need Diverse Books Like A Snowy Day, many of you in the EmbraceRace community posted or messaged us your favorite…
Inspired by an article by Rumaan Alum’s article We Don’t Only Need Diverse Books. We Need Diverse Books Like A Snowy Day, many of you in the EmbraceRace community posted or messaged us your favorite…
When I think of John Green, I immediately think of The Fault in Our Stars' Augustus Waters popping an unlit cigarette into his mouth and calling it a metaphor. Green's characters have been described as adorably "quirky" for this reason precisely.…
Inspired by an article by Rumaan Alum’s article We Don’t Only Need Diverse Books. We Need Diverse Books Like A Snowy Day, many of you in the EmbraceRace community posted or messaged us your favorite…
Long and diverse list of LGBTQ Children's books. Awesome books to add to any home or school library. Great LGBT books for young children.
Because 28 days are not enough, here's a reading guide of black history books for the rest of the year.
While the American Library Association is an advocate for diversity and inclusion, their classic READ posters leave something to be desired.
Are you struggling with how to talk with your students about racism, acceptance and equality? We have to spark these conversations, for ourselves and our students. One of the best ways to teach life lessons is through characters in books who've 'been there, done that.' As teachers it's our responsibility to show our students how to have empathy and kindness. We can do this with diverse read alouds and a culturally responsive classroom library. I've spent some time researching the best books for upper elementary/middle school students that will spark educational conversations about acceptance and how we can do better. I've linked the titles below so you can check them out as well. I plan to use some for classroom read alouds and the rest to increase the diversity of our classroom library. Summer is the perfect time to visit book sales, garage sales, thrift shops and watch for Scholastic dollar deals. (Front Desk was only $1.00 just a few weeks ago) Improving the diversity of our classroom libraries is a task we can control. Putting books in our students' hands that show them a world they've never known, or characters who are going through the same experiences - can change lives. I've seen it happen and it's the best feeling in the world! It's important for our students to see themselves in the books they read! Click the links below for more information. Front Desk by Kelly Yang Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes Somewhere Among by Annie Donwerth Chikamatsu American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang Gabby Garcia's Ultimate Playbook by Iva Marie Palmer Blended by Sharon Draper The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon Dear Martin by Nic Stone The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang Crossover by Kwame Alexander The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez Do your students LOVE graphic novels? Click HERE for a list of our favorites! *This post contains affiliate links that earn me a small profit which I use to buy books for my students. Thank you for your support.
Children from minority groups rarely see themselves reflected in the books they read. This can negatively impact their sense of identity and their literacy levels.
We hope you have ample room on your shelves.
As a child, I read The Secret Garden, Harriet the Spy and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I connected with the characters in these books and when I was sad or lonely, I reread parts of these te…
Two great champions of reading for pleasure return to remind us that it really is an important thing to do – and that libraries create literate citizens
With Tiverton Literary Festival on this weekend (Jun 6th & 7th), I thought I’d take a look at some great fiction recommendations for you lucky Bang2writers. I’ve been a follower and supporter of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign (check out the official site, HERE), so following previously curated posts on representation here at B2W, I thought I’d ask… Read More »13 Experts Share Their Notable Diverse Books Of Recent Years
All kinds of readers, all kinds of writers.
Whether it is basketball dreams, family fiascos, first crushes, or new neighborhoods, this bold short story collection written by some of the best children s authors including Kwame Alexander, Meg Medina, Jacqueline Woodson, and many more and published in partnership with We Need Diverse Books celebrates the uniqueness and universality in all of us. Will…
The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez is the sort of middle-grade read that I used to yearn for during my pre-teen years. Back in the dinosaur days of the early 1990s (when I was a punk-rock-lov…
A timely and heartfelt collection of essays inspired by the #MeToo movement, edited by acclaimed author Janet Gurtler. Featuring Beth Revis, Mackenzi Lee, Ellen Hopkins, Saundra Mitchell, Jennifer Brown, Cheryl Rainfield and many more. When #MeToo went viral, Janet Gurtler was among the millions of people who began to reflect on her past experiences. Things she had reluctantly accepted—male classmates groping her at recess, harassment at work—came back to her in startling clarity. She needed teens to know what she had not: that no young person should be subject to sexual assault, or made to feel unsafe, less than or degraded. You Too? was born out of that need. By turns thoughtful and explosive, these personal stories encompass a wide range of experiences and serve as a reminder to readers that they, too, have a voice worthy of being heard—and that only by listening and working together can we create change.
Thank you Corinne!!
Publishers hoping to avoid offence are increasingly turning to sensitivity readers. But is this good practice, censorship, or just another way of maintaining privilege?
An everything you need, no prep, comprehensive novel study and vocabulary packet for the book Restart, by Gordon Korman. This is a great resource for small group or whole class instruction for students who benefit from additional supports in comprehension and language. Included in this resource is: This includes a 49 page packet with comprehension questions for each chapter, writing/drawing activities, a word search, and a who said it activity. Questions are geared to aid student understanding by drawing attention to key points of the novel. Included in this bundle as well is the vocabulary component of this novel study. This product comes with a 84 page digital google slides that provides vocabulary instruction for words present in the text. These are recommended to be introduced at the beginning of each chapter to enhance understanding for all learners. Each slide provides a vocabulary word, the definition of the word and a visual support. Each chapter has at least two or more terms provided. To allow students practice and a chance to engage with the new vocabulary repeatedly, we have provided a 46 page packet with vocabulary building worksheets, building vocabulary as the book progresses. To maximize engagement, we have different activities such as fill in the blank, matching, find the synonym, a crossword and more!
On the purpose behind the #OwnVoices hashtag, and how working with We Need Diverse Books has influenced one writer.
Snuggle up with your pick of the worst in inappropriate children's books. These vintage bedtime stories, wrong for all ages, may not be Caldecott or Newbery
View License DetailsIntroducing Bellfast by Firstype Studio, a delightful script font that captures the essence of natural handwriting with a cheerful and humble twist. Bellfast is the perfect choice for those seeking a typeface that radiates a joyful and down-to-earth vibe, making it ideal for children's magazines, children's books, and various creative projects. It is available in multiple licensing options to cater to your diverse design needs.Natural Handwriting Feel:Bellfast replicates the warmth and authenticity of natural handwriting, adding a personal touch to your designs. Its flowing strokes and playful character bring a sense of genuineness to your creative projects.Cheerful and Humble Vibes:What sets Bellfast apart is its ability to evoke cheerful and humble emotions. This font is designed to spread positivity, making it a perfect choice for projects aimed at children or those that seek to convey a friendly and approachable message.This description highlights the natural handwriting feel, cheerful and humble vibes of the "Bellfast" script font, its suitability for children's content, and the availability of multiple licensing options to cater to different users.
In a world where hateful rhetoric has become all-too-common, the world of books publishing is taking strides to ensure that the literature read by young people reflects the diversity of our country. In pursuit of that mission, We Need Diverse Books…
Children’s author tells Hay festival he is aware of need to be inclusive but it should not be imposed
