It has been scientifically proven that if young children are exposed to at least 6 books with images of multicultural children, they will be more accepting of people who are different than they are as they grow up.* These books are a great start!
* “School Library Journal - Aronson & Cameron”
Multi-cultural. This book has large, simplistic, colorful images of children’s faces from around the world with short descriptions about the countries they are from, where they live now in the US, and why they came. It talks about our differences, e.g., our style of homes, our foods, our languages, but also our human similarities as we all want to feel safe, to be educated, to have new opportunities. A delightful book that features immigrants’ stories who make up so much of our beautiful country.
Differences are Lovely. Not only do we have the noticeable differences of race and culture, but there are also more subtle ones like eye color, height, styles of shoes, i.e., “stompy,” “graceful,” “sporty.” In this book, the illustrations are funky and fun so kids enjoy the untraditional portrayal of grandma with her spiked leather jacket demonstrating the concept of “sharp” as opposed to the cuddly baby with her teddy bear demonstrating “soft.” A creative, imaginative book teaching diversity through its extraordinary artwork.
Babies of the Globe. Who doesn’t enjoy pictures of babies from all around the world dressed in their indigenous clothing? Adorable! Depending on the age of the family, this board book is a favorite among young toddlers 0-4 and for older children and adults who will love finding a neighborhood “Little Free Library” close by to become an active partner in making a difference. We are encouraging people to take a pic of themselves when placing the book, mention their city, and share it on social media using #thegrannypac. Let’s see how far the books and kindness travels!