Why I like diverse books?

There is a lot of ongoing discussion in the children's literary scene about diverse books. When most people go to the bookstore or library, they flock to the 'popular' sections that are widely read by children these days. A child usually reads books that he/she has read or heard about from other children.  But what are the chances that a child picks a 'diverse' book?  Very low, really.

So it is up to us, as parents, to introduce diverse books to our children.

What are diverse books?

Diverse books are those that embrace diversity and tell us a story about people of different races, ethnicities, genders and abilities. They tell us about the lives, traditions and cultures of people who are not much written about.

Why should parents pick diverse books?  

Parents are role models for their children.  If they are interested in reading, their children will mimic them and become good readers.  If parents show interest in diverse books, their children will be curious and get interested as well.

Why do children need to learn about diversity?

In today's diverse world, ACCEPTANCE and RESPECT are two key words.
Children must know that all people are not alike.  Some look, speak and live differently.  They have their own celebrations and customs.  More than anything, children must learn to accept, respect and embrace diversity. The message must be obvious - that even though people may seem different, they are basically the same as us - from the inside! 

Why do I like diverse books?  

Well, in this beautiful and colourful world filled with different kinds of people, I love to read about people from different countries and cultures.  I love to learn about their past and present life, struggles and challenges.  I think such books are enlightening about the similarities of the problems of the world's people, however different they are.

Some diverse books that I have read

There are several great diverse books out there, but here are a few I've read (that I can remember right now).  Some of them have been reviewed in this blog.

Picture books:

• AS FAST AS WORDS COULD FLY - Pamela Tuck, Eric Velasquez
• SAME, SAME, BUT DIFFERENT - Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
• TWO MRS. GIBSONS - Toyomi Igus, Daryl Wells
• GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY - Allen Say
• MY NAME IS BLESSING - Eric Walters, Eugenie Fernandes
• THE RUNAWAY WOK - Ling Chang Compestine
• MAMA'S SARIS - Pooja Makhijani
• MY NAME IS YOON - Helen Recorvits, Gabi Swiatkowska

Some Chapter Books/Middle Grade/YA books:

• REVOLUTION IS NOT A DINNER PARTY - Ling Chang Compestine
• THE BREADWINNER - Deborah Ellis
• THE RED PENCIL - Andrea Davis Pinkney
• SADAKO AND THE THOUSAND PAPER CRANES - Eleanor Coerr, Ronald Himler
• SARAH'S KEY - Tatiana de Rosnay
• BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS - John Boyne

Have you read any diverse books?