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All children should be provided with equitable education and a safe learning environment. At our school we teach, model, and inspire acceptation. Our number one priority is to ensure that every child and family feels welcomed and represented in the curriculum, environment, and the values of our school.

Schools are here to be responsive to the needs of students, families, and the community. We achieve this by recognizing families as a child’s first teacher, tailoring our environment to represent the varying cultures and needs of our students, teaching with a culturally responsive and emergent curriculum, and arming our teachers with equitable and trauma informed practices. We recognize that each child brings different experiences, identities, cultures, languages, and stages of development to school. Each of these differences is seen as an asset and through the creation of a School Family we get to learn from and grow with one another.

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Bailey, R. A. (2021). Conscious discipline: Building resilient classrooms. Conscious Discipline.

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Set the stage for work with Equity:

https://www.hohschools.org/cms/lib/NY01913703/Centricity/Domain/817/English%2012%20Summer%20Reading%20-%202018.pdf

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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story | TED

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Gain a New Perspective

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Gain a New Perspective and Unearth Personal Bias

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Send the Virtual Library to your families, so that they can access books that promote equity and acceptance and increase student representation.

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In order to reach equity, we must recognize differences and build children up from where they are at. Just because we make our tools, curriculums, student/parent touchpoints, etc., equal, does not mean that children will have equity.

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Ideas for Staff Equity Development and promoting equity through leadership

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Why adopt a school family?

It optimizes brain development for success

It strengthens invisible set of assets (family privilege)

It fosters connections within the school

It creates a bully proof climate

Safety

Utilizes everyday life, conflicts and celebrations as the social emotional curriculum

Integrates social emotional learning

Bings back joy

Teaches and models respectful relationships

Key to building school climate

Traditional reward and punishment systems are based on the teacher judging the child’s behavior to be good or bad

ie. Must be exceptionally good or exceptionally bad for attention

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Key Ideas for Family and Community Engagement

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_3mEeBbS-x_lHrd7xxB8EVt5B3bOMs4gQMSKb1szk3A/edit?usp=sharing

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Engage with the Community through Project Based Learning 

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Engage with the Community through Project Based Learning 

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Example of a PBL project that supports the local community

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Another way to engagement with the community and push for change is by contacting local policymakers.

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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Key Ideas for Staff Equity Development

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-gS-5UNDcYuOzLvqqvAmoKKhwgE8M_ZdNx7M3skLZ6Y/edit?usp=sharing

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Create Clearly Defined Program Priorities 

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Create Clearly Defined Program Priorities 

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Inside: Celebrate diversity and culture with this vast collection of multicultural books for children! Includes 60+ book lists, from toddlers through big kids.
I was dismayed to discover that the number of multicultural books for children that have been published hasn't increased during the last 18 years. All this is despite census data showing 37% of the US population consists of people of color.
This graphic is from Lee and Low publishers.
I have posted a large number of book lists focusing on multicultural books for children (some my own creations but others that I've happily discovered).

I am organizing them all here in hopes that more people will read multicultural children's books. Hopefully, this will spark an interest that will lead to more books depicting people of color being published. Moreover, if you are an essay writer who needs materials to write something on multi-culture topics, this list will be a great source.

If you want to deepen your kid's absorption of multicultural reading, then custom bookmarks and stickers would be a great choice as memory keepers and reminders. You can customize them aligned with any highlighted themes, events, and ideas in the books. Create more fun while reading. Furthermore, if you are a bookstore owner, go with some customized bookmarks and stickers with your store logo as promotional gifts, which is a great support to multiculturalism as well.

Also, anyone can create their own digital book and make it interactive by adding videos, images, and buttons with flipbook software. Children will have a great experience when flipping through the pages.

For all of my book lists, please see List of Lists: All My Book Lists (300+)

p.s. Here is another list of classic Best Books for Children from BestBooks.to website.

Multicultural books for children: 60+ Book Lists

I've broken down my multicultural lists by:

Multicultural Book Lists for Kids (a catch-all for those lists that don't fit the categories below)

Civil Rights Movement Books for Kids

Asian American Books for Kids with subcategories

Korean American Books for Kids

Japanese American Books for Kids

Chinese American Books for Kids

Southeast Asian Books for Kids

Native American Books for Kids

Hispanic American Books for Kids

Arab American Books for Kids

LGBTQ Books for Kids

Multicultural Book Lists for Kids
White Privilege Books for Kids A Unit on Skin Color: Children's Books & Videos Immigration and the Refugee Experience Books for Kids 50 Must Read Diversity Picture Books Homelessness in Children's Books Special Needs Books for Kids Chapter Book Series Starring Diverse Girl Characters Picture Books to Teach Gratitude Top 10 Diverse Superhero Books 10 Picture Books About Africa to Teach Empathy W Favorite Diversity Picture Books for 4th of July Great Diverse Books from Peachtree Publishing Top 1o Favorite Diversity Books For Kids By Kids Top 10 Multicultural Books for Kids ages 2-14 Books for Kids About Cambodia Children's Africana Book Award Top 10 Multicultural Board Books for Babies and Toddlers Top 10 Best Multicultural Easy Readers Best Multicultural Chapter Books 10 Amazing Multicultural Picture Books About Helping Others 17 Wonderful Multicultural Picture Books About Food 5 Amazing Diversity Read Alouds Multicultural Adoption Books for Kids 5 Feel-Good Picture Books About Africa Top 10 Multicultural Dance Picture Books for Kids Top 50: Best Multicultural Children's Books Top 10: Best World Religion Children's Books Chapter Books to Support 4th Grade or 5th Grade Immigration Unit Great Biographies from Author Paula Yoo Multicultural Soccer Books for Kids Best Multicultural YA Books A Unit to Learn About the Tokyo Olympics Best Multicultural YA Books for Teens 25 Diversity Authors and Illustrators for Kids Spotlighted Black History Month with Carole Boston Weatherford Civil Rights Movement Through Art and Books for Kids HARLEM: Found Ways art exhibit and Children's Books Reflecting Harlem Civil Rights Movement Books for 4th Grade Top 10: Best Children's Books On Civil Rights Movement Top 10: Best African-American Picture Books (ages 4-12) Ruby Bridges and Picture Book As Fast as Words Could Fly Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr with Three Books 5th Grade Social Studies And How to Make It Interesting 5th Grade Enslavement Unit Books 3 Amazing Wordless Picture Books Top 10: Best Asian American Books by CoolAsianKids Asian in America (Amy Chua, new Asian KidLit, dumpling recipe!) Exploring Vietnam: Culture and KitLit Sri Lanka with Kids Books, Recipe and Design Exploring Laos with Books for Kids, Culture and Art Bangladesh: Culture, Alpanas, Children's Books, Recipe and More! 15 Great Korean Folk Tales Top 10: Korean American Children's Books (ages 2-16) Discovering Korea for Kids with Kids' Books, Art and Food Korean-American Picture Book Teaches Multicultural Lesson Japanese Internment Books for Kids Learning About Japan Picture Books for Kids Connecting Science and Art: Hokusai's The Great Wave In Memory of Hiroshima Bombing Books and Crane Origami for Kids Top 10: Japanese American Children's Books (ages 2-16) Let's Go Fly a Kite! Best Bilingual Japanese Books for Kids Japan: Books for Kids on Shogun, Family Crests, Block Prints Japanese American Post Internment Story: Journey Home (ages 8-12) Chinese New Year Picture Books INSTEAD of Tiki Tiki Tembo Top 10: Chinese American Children's Books (ages 2-14) Top 10: Best Chinese New Year Books for Kids 4th of July Picture Books with an Asian Twist Asian American Chapter Book for Girls Percy Jackson + Chinese Mythology = The Monkey King's Daughter Top 10: Best Southeast Asian American Children's Books (ages 2-14) 4th Grade Skype Author Visit: Sheela Chari of Vanished Contemporary Native Americans in KidLit Plimoth Plantation: Learning About Native Americans Top 10: Native American Children's Books (ages 2-16) Top 10: Best Native American Middle School Books Top 10: Best Native American Picture Book Top 10: Best Native American Young Adult Books Notable Native American Children's Author: Joseph Bruchac The Navajo Code Talkers of WWII Best Bilingual Spanish Picture Books Top 10 Hispanic American Heritage Books for Kids Top 10 Bilingual Spanish Books for Kids Top 10: Best Latino American Children's Books (ages 2-16) The Américas Award Hispanic American Books for Kids: Link Round Up 18 Wonderful Picture Books about the Arab World 27 Books for Kids About the Arab World Top 10: Middle Eastern American Children's Books Five Muslim Girl Characters to Read Today Middle East Outreach Council Award How To: Teach Your Children About Islam (and tolerance in the process!) Life in Afghanistan for Girls The Pharoah's Secret at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts 10 Groundbreaking LGBTQ Children's Books Understanding Transgender with LGBTQ Books for Kids To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World

Junior Library Guild Gold selection

Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children's Book Fair

Starred review from School Library Journal

anting to Go To School Books: When School is a Privilege
Africa Access was founded in 1989 to help schools, public libraries, and parents improve the quality of their K-12 collections on Africa.

It was surprisingly hard to find board books with diversity and inclusive themes.

I searched my public library for the best diversity easy readers.

These books are from the 2015 Notable Books for a Global Society Award, for middle grade readers ages 8 and up.

I hope these picture books inspire readers about the power of one ... just one person can do amazing things!

My favorite way to learn about new cultures is through food. Explore with me as we read (and eat as recipes are linked) around the world!

These are some of my very favorite diversity chapter books that I hope can read with your kids too!

These five books show different perspectives from the story of a young Masaii girl who wants to touch the moon to visiting family in Tanzania and The Gambia.

May all dancers of color be inspired to reach for their dreams with this book list.

This covers many ethnicities and is categorized by genre.

We are "homeschooling" world religion.

Our elementary school does an immigration unit using these chapter books. I've also added a few newly published books as well.

I hope this list inspires children, parents, and teachers to visit their local libraries and explore the biography bookshelves! I've also included many biographies below featuring diverse historical characters.

View soccer as it's played around the world through the eyes of these picture books.

These are the Young Adult books from the 2015 Notable Books for a Global Society.

I'm new to YA so I was excited to discover this great list.

Civil Rights Movement Books for Kids

My kids study the Civil Rights Movement in the United States in 4th grade and I'm pleased to see a handful of important and often, award-winning, picture books, chapter books, and Young Adult books published each year.

This list covers picture books, chapter books, and young adult.

If you read these picture books in order, it gives an overview of the African-American experience historically starting from slavery to the present day.

Meeting Ruby Bridges was a thrill for me and further reinforced how important it is for kids to learn about the Civil Rights Movement.

Young Booker T. Washington: Fifty Cents and a Dream.

An advanced picture book that paints a portrait of Booker T. Washington as a determined young boy.

If you just want a snapshot of the Civil Rights Movement for young children, try these three books: two picture books and a chapter book.

I have a section in this post about the Civil Rights Movement.

Black History Month Books for Kids and Teens

Asian American Books for Kids

One of the most exciting things for me about blogging was discovering Asian American books for kids.

This genre was just starting to emerge a few years ago when I started blogging. Growing up, I read extensively but I never found books that were like me - an Asian American 2nd and 3rd generation girl living in the suburbs. I'm thrilled to find that this is no longer the case.

Recognizing Children's Books for AAPI Heritage Month (a huge list)

I love these wordless picture books by Asian and Asian American authors/illustrators so much that I made videos of them on my Instagram.

CoolAsianKids made a wonderful list of their favorite Asian American KidLit.

These recently published books show the new diversity of Asian American KidLit as well as the high quality of this genre.

APALA Awards for Best Asian American Children's Books 2013

The Asian Pacific American Libraries Association has announced their 2013 literature award winners.

I created a series of posts a while back that I called Teach Me Tuesday. I wanted to explore a country using children's books as well as different elements of their culture from art to food to artisans. This was the first post I did of this series on Vietnam (and my best one!). The Teach Me Tuesday series is here.

A friend from Sri Lanka gave me a recipe that he loved as a child and this sparked this post. Finding the books is always the toughest part for me.

The more I learned about Laos, the more I want to go to this mysterious, beautiful and tragic country.

Korean American Books for Kids

I'm half Chinese and Japanese and I married a Korean. My first lists of multicultural books for children were on these three ethnicities as a way to show my children their heritage. The Korean American culture is so strong in America that this first post went viral.

This is the first post of mine ever to go viral.

I wanted to learn more about my husband's family history so this is a very personal journey of discovery.

I don't often do individual book reviews but finding this great Asian American book at the library made me want to post on it.

Japanese American Books for Kids

For your young ninja, books to learn about Japan.

It's amazing how a single piece of art can have a ripple effect, inspiring others all around the world and for many generations.

WWII Internment seems to dominate Japanese American books for kids. I agree that it is an important lesson in history - my own mother was forced to relocate but I also hunger for books that explore other facets of being Japanese American.

Kite flying is an important ritual in Asia and I've rounded up every great kite flying book thanks to a little help from my friends and readers.

This was my response to a reader request.

I explore my own Japanese history in this post.

These older books explore the Japanese American internment experience during WWII, a shameful chapter in America's history.

Chinese American Books For Kids

There is such a diversity of Chinese American books for kids from philosophy, culture and contemporary times.

I wanted to show the breadth and depth of Chinese American books for kids. These were our favorites.

I never had a great Chinese New Year picture book despite always doing a Chinese New Year presentation for my children's preschool so I was determined to upgrade!

Fourth of July from a Chinese American immigrant's perspective via picture books. Yep, this is what I blog about!

Lisa Yee portrays the dilemmas of modern day Asian American kids caught between assimilation and Tiger parents.

A Chinese mythology action-adventure series.

Southeast Asian Books for Kids

Southeast Asian culture and books are foreign to me too so I wanted to learn more.

Sheela Chari's debut mystery chapter book is award winning!

Native American Books For Kids

My first list was criticized by Debbie Reese, the preeminent scholar on this topic, for including books that she did not feel accurately depicted the Native Americans. My response was to repost her great lists!

Do kids think that Native Americans are only the past? This list will hopefully change that!

What to read when preparing for a visit to Plimoth Plantation.

This is the list I made.

Debbie Reese's list for middle-grade chapter books.

Debbie Reese's list for picture books.

Debbie Reese's list of YA books is very popular.

I am a huge fan of Joseph Bruchac, a happy discovery from chatting with my librarian when creating my list.

The author of this advanced picture book lives one town over!

Hispanic American Books for Kids

My guest author Derek Taylor Kent comes up with his list for best bilingual Spanish picture books for kids.

I'm noticing some great Hispanic American KidLit lately across all children's book genres!

I'm doing a round-up of Hispanic books for kids of all ages, from picture books to young adult.

Arab American Books for Kids

This is my collection of the best picture books I've read so far about the Arab world.

In the wake of the conflicts in the Middle East, I thought it especially important for kids to learn about Islam and the people of the Middle East which might also teach them tolerance in the process. There is so much negative stereotyping during a war that can color a child's perspective.

Deborah Ellis's Parvana series shows a realistic view of what life is like in Afghanistan for girls today. It's heartbreaking but also so important.

Chapter book The Pharoah's Secret by Marissa Moss discovered in Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. Did I find Senenmut, Hatshepsut's love there?!

LBGTQ Books for Kids

More lists and reviews of diverse, inclusive, and multicultural books for children from KidLit bloggers here on my Pinterest board:

Follow PragmaticMom's board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.

My books:

Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me

BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN'S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 is a book that I created to highlight books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as the characters in their books.

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Multicultural Books for Children: 60+ Book Lists

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Inside: Celebrate diversity and culture with this vast collection of multicultural books for children! Includes 60+ book lists, from toddlers through big kids. I was dismayed to discover that the number of multicultural books for children that have been published hasn't increased during the last 18 years.

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All classroom labels should be written in English and the home languages of the students in the room. In addition, they should contain a visual to ensure all children can access the materials.

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Identity Dolls made by the Kindergartners in RM 171

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One of the first projects I do with my students is "Identity Dolls." We begin by discussing difference and read texts such as:

"Mixed Me" and "Chocolate Me" by Faye Diggs

"Sulwe" by Lupita Nyong

"The Skin You Live In" by Michael Tyler

"Same Same but Different" by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw

From there, I give students a piece of white play dough and a piece of black play dough. We talk about how no one is made up of only one color, but a mix of colors. I give students buckets of skin color play dough and let them mix together pieces until they find their skin tone. They enjoy comparing the colors they created.

After this project, they color match their play dough with colored pencils and begin creating a doll that represents them. I try to remain as hands off as possible, for example, some children pick a different skin color or hair texture than their own, but the project is for them to create a doll based off their own representation of themselves.

With the exception of this year, I reach out to families to discover a place that is important to them. Initially I framed this as "where your family comes from?," but after learning about anti-racism, I found that not all families know where their ancestor's originated from due to the harsh history of our world.

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One way I represent families in my classroom is by displaying a family wall or creating family books. This allows children to see different types of families and reminds them that even at school, their families are with them.

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Class Dojo allows teachers to message families, post updates around what is happening in class, remind families of upcoming events, send resources, and more. In addition, this platform provides families access to teachers and allows them to keep up with what their child is doing at school even if they are unable to come in. During distance learning, my families utilized the portfolio feature to show me what their student was doing at home. I got to see projects they were working on, videos of them engaging in play with their siblings, and fun family outings. Class Dojo blends technology with partnership and is a resource I will continue to use.

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“Dignity” is a right and “Respect” is earned.

"The consequence of the single story is this: It robs people of dignity. It makes our recognition of our equal humanity difficult. It emphasizes how we are different rather than how we are similar.” The use of the word “robs” signifies that the removal of dignity is a painful act and shows the importance of not only understanding the term, but ensure that our schools and teachers uphold our student’s and family’s dignity.

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My cultural artifact is a piece of brick I retrieved from my Great Great Grandfather's childhood home in Lebanon. This is significant to me because I am passionate about my family and where we come from. Though the house was in ruins when we arrived, our lives are enriched forever by the journey it took to find it. When we arrived in the small town, we asked around if anyone knew our family name. We were turned to the mayor's house who unbeknownst to us was a cousin. From there we met more cousins, looked at family pictures, took a drive to our ancestor's home, walked the church where my great great great grandparents were married, and drank from a fountain in the town square. I have misplaced the brick, which is why it was not in my video, but at the moment this memory signifies what is most important to me in regards to my culture.

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Where I Come From...

I am from paper towel rolls

From empty tissue boxes and tape.

I am from a tall tan building full of creativity

I am from the stars

The pine trees whose long gone limbs I remember as if they were my own.

I'm from pushing together five tables so my family can sit together

From my mother and my aunts, uncles, And cousins.

I'm from family vacations and traveling in a clan.

From laughing until we cry and midnight stories and from late night Pictionary.

I'm from you can be anything and you need to learn to share

And from the little engine who could

I'm from Christmases in Tahoe and trips around the world with my cousins

From Lolo and Mikey, Katlyn and The twins.

I'm from San Ramon and Lebanon and grape leaves.

From sleeping on the floor at my grandma's house with my cousins. My grandma yelling as we built forts afraid we would suffocate if we closed off the top.

I'm from memories and reminiscing.

From the big round glasses my grandmother used to wear

From scrapbooks full of pictures hiding beneath my bed.

I'm from a family centric world full of hope and believers.

I am from Paper towel rolls

From empty tissue boxes and tape.

I am from creativity.

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Utilizing a "Thinking Lens" to gain a whole picture understanding

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Gain new ways to view a child's behaviors.

Uses developmentally appropriate and restorative practices to support academic learning, social emotional and brain development, and creating equitable environments

Encourages assuming positive intent, brain smart starts, empathy and compassion, choice, student encouragement, logical consequences, and the creation of a school family (Bailey, 2021)

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Rita Pierson, a teacher for 40 years, once heard a colleague say, “They don’t pay me to like the kids.” Her response: “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like.’” A rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level.

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“What we call ‘classroom management’ is an assault on freedom… A young person’s place in the community is thus conditional—contingent upon his ability and willingness to stay within the policed boundaries. If  you are too disruptive, you lose your place in the community” 

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“What we call ‘classroom management’ is an assault on freedom… A young person’s place in the community is thus conditional—contingent upon his ability and willingness to stay within the policed boundaries. If  you are too disruptive, you lose your place in the community” 

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"But school shouldn't be preparation for life. For young people, it is life." 

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"But school shouldn't be preparation for life. For young people, it is life." 

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Shalaby, C. (2017a). Troublemakers: Lessons in freedom from young children at school. The New Press.

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TED. (2009). Tedtalks: Chimamanda Adichie--the danger of a single story.

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Schools shape the trajectory of a life. That one moment we could have taken the chance to uncover the “why” behind a child’s behavior could have made them feel seen. That one moment that we chose to describe our noticings instead of swift judgements, could have uncovered a support that kept a child in the classroom. That one moment we showed a child they are valued, they are capable, and they mattered, could have given them what they needed to believe that about themselves.

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YouTube. (2017). Unconscious Bias . YouTube.

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"...requires that we call ourselves out in order to call others in. It requires that we be willing to confront one another, and that we be willing to listen generously when we are being confronted—letting go of our personal feelings for a commitment, instead, to the shared goal of freedom.” 

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"...requires that we call ourselves out in order to call others in. It requires that we be willing to confront one another, and that we be willing to listen generously when we are being confronted—letting go of our personal feelings for a commitment, instead, to the shared goal of freedom.” 