It’s getting messy out there in the world. We are becoming more and more polarized in our beliefs and our stances. We are seeing the rise of fearmongering for those who are “other”. We are seeing emboldened acts of racism, xenophobia, misogyny, antisemitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, that are being rationalized as normal nationalism. I could write a tome on the topic, but instead I would like to offer a short blog and a collection of picture books that might serve as a small antidote to the mistrust, distrust, misunderstanding, and misconceptions that are slowly poisoning our society. I believe in the power of books to change lives; to stimulate thinking and to open hearts. We are more same than different and yet we should celebrate our differences for the richness it brings to life. We need to love ourselves as well and feel like we belong. Mirrors, windows, sliding glass doors…it’s more than a catchy phrase for diverse books, it is guide for helping us get books into the hands of our children if we are ever going to raise a more compassionate generation.
There are soooo many out there, but I wanted to share a few picture books I have embraced recently. This is just a drop in the bucket of powerful picture books. I would truly welcome YOUR suggestions in the comments or on Twitter and Facebook. I’ve provided links to Amazon below but please visit your local indie bookstores or libraries to check these out as well.
JUST ASK: BE DIFFERENT, BE BRAVE, BE YOU
THE PROUDEST BLUE: A STORY OF HIJAB AND FAMILY
I AM PEACE: A BOOK OF MINDFULNESS
I AM LOVE: A BOOK OF COMPASSION
Book by book we can change the world!
Please share some titles that you think will help us make this world a more kind and compassionate place for our students to grow and thrive.
