Illustration of diverse representation in children’s books published in 2015.

Yes, Mirrors, but also Windows

Anyone who is keeping up on trends in children’s and teen publishing knows that there has been a big push in the last few years to encourage publishers to print more diverse books and libraries to add these books to their collections. This “We Need Diverse Books” movement has been championed by ALA, ALSC, and YALSA, but there has also been push back.

Some communities question the value of having diverse books because their demographics aren’t diverse. And some libraries feel that books with non-majority characters are a waste of money because they don’t circulate well. Newbery Honor winning author Grace Lin discusses the impact diverse books have on both diverse and homogeneous communities and readers in this excellent TEDx Talk: The Windows and Mirrors of Your Child’s Bookshelf.

For other resources on diverse books, visit some of these sites:

• Everyday Diversity
• Rich in Color
• Latinix in Kids Lit
• Children’s Book Council “Diverse Kids’ & YA Lit”
• Disability in Kids Lit
• Rainbow Book Lists: GLBTQ Books for Children & Teens
• We Need Diverse Books
• Lee & Low Books: Diversity Baseline Publishing Survey Results
• Sarah Park Dahlen “Picture This: Reflecting Diversity in Children’s Book Publishing”
• Libraries & Diversity for Not-So Diverse Populations

On August 18^th, 2017, at 9:30 a.m., Governor Brownback will sign a proclamation declaring September 3-9 Kansas Literacy Week. The Kansas Masonic Literacy Center (KMLC), working with Kansas Libraries, Kansas Masons, and professional literacy associations invite all residents of Kansas to join in highlighting the economic and societal importance of literacy.

Kansas Literacy Week coincides with National Read a Book Day (September 6^th), and International Literacy Day (September 8^th).

Communities, schools, libraries, and other organizations are encouraged to use this week to recognize and celebrate the importance of literacy for all Kansans. Feel free to share your plans, ideas, and excitement using #KSliteracyweek and #kmlc.

Heard of Friendship Rocks?

Sort of like geocaching, this fad has people hiding painted rocks around their communities. When someone finds a painted rock, they can share a picture on social media and then re-hide the rock at a new spot. Some libraries are turning this into a PR campaign, and it’s super easy to do.

1. Paint some rocks. You can do this yourself, with volunteers, or as a program. Be sure all the rocks have the name or initials of your library somewhere on them.
2. Hide the rocks around your community. Again, you can do this by yourself, with volunteers, or as a program.
3. Make a splash on your library’s website and Facebook page about the rocks.
4. Offer a small prize to people who find the rocks and bring them into the library. This can be something simple like, taking their picture with the rock and posting it to your website/Facebook page.
5. Ask them to hide the rock somewhere new.

Need some rock painting ideas? Check out these websites:

• Hand Painted Rock Pinterest page
• Rock Painting Patterns Pinterest page
• 15 Beautiful Rock Painting Ideas
• 40 Creative Ideas for Making Painted Rocks
• 35 DIY Ideas of Painted Rocks
• Ladybug Painted Rocks
• Strawberry Painted Rocks
  

  

May is National Foster Care Month: “a month set aside to acknowledge foster parents, family members, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, child welfare professionals, and other members of the community who help children and youth in foster care find permanent homes and connections.” To learn more about NFCM, visit the USA Child Welfare website.

Since it’s difficult to know if a child is a foster child or if a family is a foster family, this group may seem invisible within your community.

If you want to do something in your library to honor foster kids and foster parents, a book display would be a great start. Laura, at the blog Literacious, has posted a book list that focuses on children in foster care: 20 Titles for National Foster Care Month.

YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) has a wiki focused on serving diverse teens that includes resources for Teens in Foster Care. The shared links lead to library program ideas and information about best practices in serving foster children.

Finally, check out the new title from Melanie Crowder, Three Pennies, which stars a protagonist who is a foster child.

If you missed Sherry Norfolk’s spectacular Summer Reading workshop, it is now available as a video!

Click this link to watch: Summer Reading Workshop: Build a Better World

Workshop Resources:

• Build a Better World Resources
• Build a Better World Breakout EDU

Check out AudioFile’s SYNC summer program!

AudioFile has a summer program called Sync that allows teens (13 – 18 years old) to sign up and receive free audio books! For more details on the program, visit Teen Services Underground and the AudioFile websites.

The SYNC program applies to specific audio book titles that teens can download for free and keep! And, the AudioFile site has promotional materials you can print and share.