The bean bag chairs have soft blankets. The Ponytail Palm plant is alive and full of texture. The light is natural and soft – no buzzing florescent lightbulbs here. But you are always thinking, what could I do to make every center in my classroom even better?
Well. Now that you mention it. We might consider the children’s books and their lack of diversity. Did you know that a recent survey* of 3,500 titles showed that just 5.1% were about African-Americans, 3.2% Asian-Pacific Americans, 1.9% Latinos and 1.1% were about American Indians?
YIKES!
Lucky for us, First Book is on it. Their Stories for All project aims to increase diverse voices and promote inclusivity in children’s books.
Do you ever ask families to contribute books to your classroom library in honor of a holiday or special event? If so, make sure they know about the First Book Marketplace. It has hundreds of diverse and inclusive children’s titles.
Your book nook is awesome and it is about to be even more welcoming with books that have characters and stories that are relevant to all the children you serve.
Happy reading!