#Inclusivitybooks
The world has significantly evolved in how we perceive and embrace diversity. Thankfully, there is a growing awareness today, especially among young minds, about the importance of accepting and celebrating differences. Books have played a pivotal role in fostering this understanding, offering children meaningful insights into the beauty of diversity.
There were times when children with special needs were often overlooked. This was due to a lack of awareness to identify and support such differences. For instance, a child who struggled to focus for more than a few seconds was often labelled inattentive, without any attempt to understand if this behaviour stemmed from an underlying issue. Such children were frequently left with little empathy from friends or caregivers, and were often branded as 'troublemakers' or 'riots.'
Among the many children’s books available today, Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt is a must-read for both children and caregivers. This book highlights the struggles of children with dyslexia and other learning difficulties, fostering empathy and understanding.
Similarly, bullying was another behaviour that was often overlooked in the past due to limited awareness. Children who were bullied were frequently asked to 'ignore it' or 'toughen up', while the root causes of such behaviour went unaddressed. Without timely guidance or intervention, many victims suffered in silence, and bullies missed opportunities to learn empathy and respect. A powerful book addressing bullying is Wonder by R.J. Palacio. It teaches children the importance of kindness and helps them appreciate differences rather than fear them.
Children who exclude others often lack an understanding of how to respect diversity. One of the safest and most effective ways to address this is by introducing literature that promote inclusivity, thereby helping children develop empathy for those who might seem different. Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love is a beautiful story that addresses gender expression and encourages acceptance, making it an invaluable resource for teaching inclusivity, particularly on LGBTQ themes.
As parents and educators, our responsibility doesn’t end with merely introducing these books to children. It must extend to encouraging meaningful conversations at home and in classrooms, with the goal of translating the lessons from these stories into real-life actions. Inclusive stories are not just words on a page, they are blueprints for building a more compassionate and accepting world.
Explore more books on inclusivity for children here.
In this groundbreaking tour de force, Caldecott Medalist and bookmaking pioneer Brian Selznick sails into uncharted territory and takes readers on an awe-inspiring journey. Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories--Ben's told in words, Rose's in pictures--weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful--with over 460 pages of original artwork--Wonderstruckis a stunning achievement from a gifted artist and visionary.
It’s picture day and Faizah can’t wait to wear her special red dress with matching hair ribbons, passed down from her mother and sister. Faizah’s teacher starts the day by asking her students to envision the kind of world they want, inspiring Faizah and her friends to spend the day helping one another in ways large and small.
But when it’s time for sibling pictures, Faizah realizes that she and her older sister, Asiya, don’t match like her classmates do with their siblings. With help from her classmates inspired by Asiya’s hijab, Faizah finds that acts of kindness can come back to you in unexpected ways.
From Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad and fellow bestselling, award-winning creators S.K. Ali and Hatem Aly comes a heartfelt exploration of friendship, faith, and the joy of spreading kindness wherever you go.
A powerful, vibrantly illustrated story about the first day of school--and two sisters on one's first day of hijab--by Olympic medalist and social justice activist Ibtihaj Muhammad.
With her new backpack and light-up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be special. It's the start of a brand new year and, best of all, it's her older sister Asiya's first day of hijab--a hijab of beautiful blue fabric, like the ocean waving to the sky. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful, and in the face of hurtful, confusing words, Faizah will find new ways to be strong.
Paired with Hatem Aly's beautiful, whimsical art, Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad and Morris Award finalist S.K. Ali bring readers an uplifting, universal story of new experiences, the unbreakable bond between siblings, and of being proud of who you are.
This award-winning modern classic—a must-have for every child’s home library—is an inclusive ode to kindness, empathy, gratitude, and finding joy in unexpected places, and celebrates the special bond between a curious young boy and his loving grandmother.
Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don’t own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them.
This energetic ride through a bustling city highlights the wonderful perspective only grandparent and grandchild can share, and comes to life through Matt de la Peña’s vibrant text and Christian Robinson’s radiant illustrations.
Would you believe that being different is something to be celebrated? In What If We Were All The Same!, readers are transported to a world full of vibrant colors and characters that embrace our differences. From the bright red hair of one child to the wheelchair of another, no two people are the same! People are not the same, animals are different, and so is our food! Readers will learn that our world has variety and diversity; we all have unique qualities that make us special - no two people are the same, and that's something to be celebrated! We can be friends with many different people!
With fun rhymes and vivid illustrations, this book is a must-have for parents and teachers alike.
What If We Were All The Same! is fun-filled with rhymes and colorful illustrations. It brings attention to tough topics children can understand. Bonus discussion questions for teachers added.
The powerful tale of a girl who feels broken, and the dolphin who makes her whole. A story of friendship, hope and self-discovery, perfect for readers aged 9+, and beautifully illustrated in black and white by George Ermos.
Ró finds school impossible. She knows people think she's shy - and stupid. But when she goes to the bay each afternoon to watch the dolphin leap through the water, she finds the strength to keep going. Then the dolphin disappears, and everything starts falling apart.
Can Ró overcome her fears to find him?
Anna’s anxious when she’s picked to befriend the new girl in her class. For a start, Ellie is ill and can’t come to school herself. So Anna has to communicate with her through a new kind of robot. But Anna is also worried that her life’s too small and boring to be of interest to her new friend. Compared to the other girls, she doesn’t have anything exciting to talk about and so when Ellie asks her a question, a little white lie pops out. Then another and another. When Ellie finds out the truth, can their friendship survive …?
This book has a dyslexia-friendly layout
Joey is a good kid, maybe even a great kid, but his teachers never know what he's going to do next. He sharpens his finger in the pencil-sharpener and swallows his house key. He can't sit still for more than a minute - Joey is buzzing!
Told from Joey's own unique viewpoint by acclaimed American author Jack Gantos, this is an exceptionally funny and touching story about a boy with severe attention deficit disorder (ADD).
Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow.
This improbable story of Christopher’s quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years.