Absolutely loving this book list. It speaks so much to the questions that I asked on this very blog in 2016’s I am [not] doll parts and continue to ask today. There are more stories to tell about Black people than slavery and civil rights. This is especially imperative for young children. Youths need to be able to see themselves in this world, their everyday stories like keeping a pet, becoming a big brother/sister, or learning a skill should be visible and celebrated in the books that they read, the toys that they play with, the shows that they watch.
And it’s also important to note that books that include people of color do not ONLY benefit people of color. Everyone benefits from access to diverse characters, settings, and ideas. It’s a chance to learn that people of different races, genders, religions, families, countries, etc. are PEOPLE. On most days, our basic wants and needs are relatively similar.
Nice work Scott Woods!
When I made the first of these lists back in 2016 I had no idea the places it would go: Libraries, schools and families all over the world continue to share it even now, and I am humbled by its reception. I’ve long threatened to do a sequel to that list, so here it is. Same old librarian, all new tricks. Same rules apply:
1) Titles that came out within the last ten years (or so).
2) A spread in the gender of the protagonists.
3) Shine light on typically ignored aspects of black life. Nothing against history, but we aren’t exactly hurting for books on slavery. We could do with some more books about fishing, owning pets, and generally any other hobby children have. (That said, this list caught a lot more history than the last one.)
The books are not ranked in any way. Creator(s) are noted: Author/Illustrator.
View original post 1,260 more words
Make The Conversation 