When I Read, I See Me: Exploring Diversity in Children’s Picture Books

The phrase “windows and mirrors," a term coined by Dr. Rudine Sims, references the importance of incorporating diversity into children’s literature. Picture books can serve as a child’s window to an unfamiliar world, a mirror for self-affirmation or, ideally, both. Today children of color constitute about half the U.S. public school enrollment, yet only 15 percent of children’s books over the past two decades have contained multicultural characters or storylines. These statistics represent a dramatic increase from 2000, when only 6 percent of the 5,000 children’s books published that year featured children of color. In this seven-week study group, we will work to understand how inclusive literature influences a child’s view of the world. We will focus on different aspects of diversity, as we explore characters and storylines that respectfully and accurately reflect our multicultural society, as well as the world of children with special needs and those facing questions of gender identity. We will discuss why certain books have led to censorship and banning. Study group coordinators will provide a weekly reading lists. Participants will delve deeply into texts and illustrations to better understand the importance in providing children with “a window and a mirror.”