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Activity 2.3 | Children’s Books helping to create a vision of inclusivity

Site: RRU Open Educational Resources
Course: Connecting Deeply for an Inclusive ECE Environment
Book: Activity 2.3 | Children’s Books helping to create a vision of inclusivity
Printed by: Guest user
Date: Sunday, 11 May 2025, 3:50 PM

Table of contents

Representation

When purchasing children’s books, choose with intention. Think about the books you are choosing and why you chose them. Think about the children and families in your childcare centre. Do the children feel seen in the literature that you provide for them? Finding books representing children of all races, cultures, abilities and genders can be challenging. 

According to the 2020 publishing statistics the representation and diversity of children’s picture books, a large percentage are written about white people, and only 3% are written about children who face physical or mental challenges (Cooperative Children's Book Center, 2020).

It can be hard to find books representing children with disabilities, genders and races as able, independent, equal and socially active. 

Often, books that represent minorities typically focus on their differences rather than highlighting a person who is strong, successful or facing a challenge that all people may be experiencing. It is important to normalize people’s lives through stories.

Reference

Cooperative Children's Book Center. (2020, June 3). The numbers are in: 2019 CCBC diversity statistics. [Blog].  https://ccblogc.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-numbers-are-in-2019-ccbc-diversity.html

Analyzing your books

Examine the list of books in your centre. Visit the Raising Luminaries Bookshop website, peruse some of the books showcased on the site and reflect on these questions:

  • What do the books at your centre represent about the children and families in your care?

  • What story are they telling?

  • Are children seen from a strength-based perspective or seen as their disability first? 

Your children’s books should represent all genders, races, ethnicities, and abilities with a focus on who they are and their experiences. Often stories of children with a disability are told from a friend's perspective. Eg. My friend is in a wheelchair. 

Books for Littles - Ages 0-12 months - Books For Littles by Raising Luminaries

“We as educators [and managers] have the power to decide how diverse our bookshelves look. We can make an active choice to consider the books we bring into our [centres] and ask ourselves who is represented and in what way. Representation is not just for individuals to see themselves, but also for other children to see a world outside of themselves” (Davies, 2023).

Recommended books: Also visit Critical Literacy at Picture Books - Delving Deeper into Diversity through Critical Literacy created by: Mosaic Group

  • Julian is a mermaid

  • More than works

  • The color of us

  • A book about pronouns. What are your words?

  • Sparkle Boy

  • My Rainbow

  • Pink is for boys

  • Fishing with Grandma

  • All Creations Represented

References

Raising Luminaries. (n.d.). Raising Luminaries Bookshop. https://bookshop.org/shop/raisingluminaries

Reflection: Inclusive Materials

Think about all the materials in your centre. 

How are the toys, puzzles, and the physical environment depicting varying cultures and ways of living in this world? 

Make a list of all of the visible cultures that you see in your materials and space. Now think about the families in your community. 

  • Are the materials and space reflective of your families?
  • Do you have pictures of the families that attend your centre or are the pictures from magazines that represent different cultures? 
  • Is there a difference between the two? 
  • Who do you think young children would connect to?
Capture your reflections in your journal. 


Reflection: Local Library

Visit your local library and ask if they can purchase any book titles from the list on the websites provided within this section. 

This will allow you to borrow and review any books before your centre decides to purchase any titles. Find some children’s books on inclusion that you would like to see introduced to your centre. Be sure to preview the books before sharing them with the children. Keep a list of books that resonate with you. Continue to develop your library of inclusive literature.

Think about all that you have read, listened to and reflected on with your colleagues at your centre. 

  • How might you share these notions together? 
We invite you to share your understanding and questions in a meeting, staff room or conversation.