Kids’ Corner: Diverse Children’s Picture Books in Review (March 2017)

If you are new to my blog,  then you may not be aware that I review a batch of diverse children’s picture books every month.  What do I mean by diverse children’s picture books?  I mean children’s picture books that are written by or about people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+, and any other minorities.  The #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement has inspired me to not only reevaluate my reading, but also the books I read to my children.  Diversity in books is just as (if not more) important in children’s literature.  I know this is cliché to say, but children are our future and it is our job as parents (and/or educators) to teach them to celebrate diversity.

Books included in this post: Ada Twist, Scientist, Suki’s Kimono , Grandmother’s Dreamcatcher , Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match & And Tango Makes Three

*All titles link to Goodreads & all author/illustrator names link to their websites

» Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty (Illustrated by David Roberts)

Published: September 6, 2016

Why it’s #DiverseKidLit: POC characters; women in science

Kudos to Andrea Beaty for creating a book that centers around girls in science!  I would like to say that it is refreshing to read a book to my daughter that isn’t about a princess or ballerina… not that there is anything wrong with those types of books, but we need more books like these that empower little girls to value their minds and not just their looks. 

This is a must have for all the little science lovers in your life.  I love that this book encourages children to ask questions, be curious, and follow their passions.

While reading the author’s note, I was pleased to find that the main character’s name, Ada Marie is actually a combination of two women who made great contributions to the fields of science and math.  Ada comes from Ada Lovelace, who was a mathematician and the first computer programmer.  Marie comes from Marie Curie, who discovered the elements polonium and radium and whose work led to the invention of the x-ray.

Andrea Beaty has degrees in both biology & computer science.  You go Andrea Beaty!

My Rating:

*You can purchase this book on Amazon and The Book Depository

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» Suki’s Kimono by Chieri Uegaki (Illustrated by Stephane Jorisch)

Published:  September 1, 2005

Why it’s #DiverseKidLit: Japanese characters; Japanese-Canadian author; #OwnVoices

“You can’t wear that,” said Mari.

“People will think you’re weird.”

When the first day of school arrives, Suki is determined to wear the kimono her Grandmother gifted her.  Despite pressure from her older sisters to wear something more trendy, Suki sticks to her guns and wears the kimono complete with geta (Japanese wooden clogs) to school.

 

I am a sucker for characters who are unapologetically themselves, and do not care what others will think of them.  The ones that “march to the beat of their own drum” if you will.  I would also venture to call Suki “strong willed.”  Suki reminded me a lot of my own daughter, though she is much younger at only 3-years-old, I could totally see her doing this.

I appreciate the focus on the traditional Japanese attire in this book.  In Suki’s Kimono, we learn that a kimono is a robe, geta are wooden clogs, and an obi is a sash.  Don’t worry, there is a Japanese-English dictionary included in the beginning of the book complete with how to pronounce the words.

There are some wonderful themes in Suki’s Kimono: individuality, pride in your heritage, holding your head high when you face adversity… This would be a wonderful book to use in a classroom setting.

The watercolor style illustrations are absolutely beautiful as well!

My Rating:

*You can purchase this book on Amazon and The Book Depository

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» Grandmother’s Dreamcatcher by Becky Ray McCain (Illustrated by Stacey Schuett)

Published: November 24, 2006

Why it’s #DiverseKidLit: Indigenous (Chippewa) characters

I was very interested to learn some of the folklore that surrounds dreamcatchers.  Legend has it that a grandmother asked the Great Spirit for help for her granddaughter who suffered from bad dreams.  The Great Spirit sent the grandmother a vision of a dreamcatcher circle, so the grandmother made one and hung it above her sleeping granddaughter.  A spider came down and built a web inside the circle to catch all the bad dreams.  Obviously I was familiar with dreamcatchers before reading this book, but I had never heard one of the legends behind them.  I couldn’t find this exact version anywhere, but I found many versions like the legend shared in this book.

While it is true that this book is mostly about dreamcatchers, it is also about the special relationship between a grandmother and her granddaughter.  I love reading books about children and the special relationships they hold with other relatives like grandparents, they are such a big part of a child’s life.

It is very clear that McCain is very familiar with Native American culture, which she lists as one of her passions along with teaching children with autism.

 I LOVE books that include bonus content, in this case instructions on how to make your own dreamcatcher.  Am I ever going to make one? Eh probably not, but at least I now have the plans to make one if I ever feel inspired 🙂

If I am being honest, the illustrations were not particularly memorable.  This isn’t to say they are bad by any means, but they didn’t stand out either.

My Rating:

*3.5 Stars

*You can purchase this book on Amazon and The Book Depository

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» Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match by Monica Brown (Illustrated by Sara Palacios)

Published: September 27, 2011

Why it’s #DiverseKidLit: Multiracial (Peruvian-Scottish-American) main character; Biracial (Peruvian-American) author; #OwnVoices; Bilingual book (Spanish)

Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match is about a little girl who is told from everyone around her that she doesn’t “match.”

“Marisol, your skin is brown like mine, but your hair is the color of carrots.  You don’t match!”

You see, Marisol is multiracial (Peruvian-Scottish-American).   It seems that everyone tries to fit Marisol into a mold, but she doesn’t seem to fit into any of the traditional molds.   At one point in the story, Marisol even tries to conform and force herself to try and be someone she isn’t.   She quickly realizes that this does NOT make her happy.

Reasons why you should read this book to your children:  (1) It shows children that there are all types of people in the world; we don’t all fit into a mold.  (2) It promotes self love.  (3) There is a positive teacher-student relationship where her teacher encourages her.  (4) It encourages children to celebrate all parts of their heritage.  (5) This is a bilingual book that is told both in English AND Spanish. (6) The illustrations are vibrant and beautiful. (7) There’s a happy ending.

Do you really need any more reasons?

Honestly I adored everything about this book.  The story, the message, the illustrations… This will definitely be one of my favorite diverse children’s books I read in 2017!

I strongly encourage you to read the author’s note at the end of the book where Monica Brown explains why she wrote this book.  #SpoilerAlert: It’s because this is an #OwnVoices book and its for the 6 million + Americans who are multiracial.

My Rating:

*You can purchase this book on Amazon and The Book Depository

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» And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell (Illustrated by Henry Cole)

Published: June 1, 2005

Why it’s #DiverseKidLit:  LGBTQ+ characters; LGBTQ+ authors

 This is the true story about two male penguins, Roy and Silo, who were a couple at the Central Park Zoo in 1998.  Roy and Silo were like all the other penguin couples, they longed to start a family.  After attempting to hatch a rock (obviously to no avail) their zookeeper, Rob Gramzay, gave Roy and Silo a foster egg to hatch and raise on their own.  This egg later hatched and the chick was named Tango.

And Tango Makes Three is a wonderful way to teach children that there are all types of families: some families have a Mom and a Dad, some have two Dads, some have two Moms, some only have single parents, and some families have adopted children.  I love how this book normalizes same sex couples.

In case anyone was wondering, I did do a little research to see if Roy and Silo were still alive.  I was heartbroken to discover that after they hatched Tango, they did eventually break up.  That’s right folks, Tango is the product of a broken home.  Obviously this is not included in the book, but if my dreams were crushed, you all must suffer too.

My Rating:

*You can purchase this book on Amazon and The Book Depository

Have you read any of these books to your child(ren)?