Diverse literature belongs in every classroom and library–on the shelves and in the hands of children, librarians, and teachers. It is essential for Black, Indigenous and children of color, and it is essential for providing all children understanding of the world in which they live. The challenge for librarians, teachers and others is identifying authentic, reliable books.
Historically, the CCBC has documented the number of books it receives annually by and about Black, Indigenous and People of Color. Over the years, we’ve seen those numbers grow, but they still represents a small percentage of the overall number of books published for children and teenagers.
Beginning in 2018, we began documenting the content of every book we receive around other aspects of diversity and representation in children’s and young adult literature as well, including LGBTQ+, disability, and religion.
This page provides links to CCBC diversity resources, and selected links to resources beyond the CCBC.
Content Reviews and Critical Thinking
A great deal of critical discourse about representation is taking place online, on blogs and social media. Below are selected links. Many of them include links to others doing similar work.
- Africa Access Review
Searchable database offering critical reviews of over 900 titles on Africa. - American Indians in Children’s Literature
Debbie Reese (Nambe Pueblo) provides critical thoughts on children’s and young adult literature by and about American Indians. - Asian Pacific American Library Association Youth Literature Evaluation Rubric
for evaluating books for children and teens - Black Cotton Reviewers
Black educators and librarians providing reviews amiddle grade and young adult literature about the Black experience. - Booktoss
Critic and educator Laura Jiménez reviews graphic novels with a keen eye on representation. - The Brown Bookshelf
Promotes “awareness of the myriad of African American voices writing for young readers.” - Cotton Quilts
Librarian Edith Campbell’s blog offers critical reviews and strives “to make IPOC authors and their works more accessible.” - Cynthia Leitich Smith’s Resource Pages
A wealth of information about children’s and young adult literature, including a commentary on multicultural literature and links to resources. - Disability in Kidlit (Currently on hiatus)
- “Guide for Selecting Anti-Bias Children’s Books” by Louise Derman-Sparks (based on the work of the Council on Interracial Books for Children)
- Hijabi Librarians
Reviews and perspectives on the portrayal of Muslims in literature, including “Evaluating Muslims in KidLit: A Guide for Librarians, Educators, and Reviewers.” - Indigo’s Bookshelf: Voices of Native Youth
Reviews of Native #OwnVoices books by Native youth. - Interracial Books for Children Bulletin (Digitized)
Critical reviews and discussions of diversity in children’s literature from the mid 1960s to late 1980s. - Interracial Books for Children Bulletin Reviews Index
A searchable index of reviews that appeared in the IBCB publication; project of Dr. Nicole A. Cooke at the University of Champagne-Urbana. - Latinxs in Kidlit
Exploring and celebrating Latinx children’s literature. - Pirate Tree: Social Justice in Children’s Literature
Reviews of books with social justice themes by authors of children’s and young adult books. - Reading While White
Perspectives from white librarians “organizing to confront racism in children’s and young adult literature.” - Research on Diversity in Youth Literature
A “peer-reviewed, online, open-access journal.” - Rich in Color
Reviews of diverse y.a. books. - See What We See
A Teaching for Change project reviewing books with social justice themes. - We Are Kidlit Collective
An annual summer reading list focusing on BIPOC and social justice. - We Need Diverse Books
“…advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people.” - YA Pride
Quarterly issues and blog on topics related to LGBTQIAP+ YA.
Resources for Teaching about Wisconsin First Nations
On Diverse Materials and Services in Libraries
- Ishizuka, Kathy. “Can Diverse Books Save Us?” School Library Journal. October 21, 2018
- Naidoo, Jaime Campbell. The Importance of Diversity in Library Programs and Materials Collections for Children. Association for Library Service to Children White Paper, adopted April 2014
On Cultural Competence and Cultural Humility in Librarianship
- Hughes-Hassell, Sandra and Julie Stivers. “Examining Youth Services Librarians’ Perception of Cultural Knowledge as an Integral Part of Their Professional Practice.” School Libraries Worldwide, v. 21 n. 1 (January 2015) (public libraries are included in study)
- Overall, Patricia Montiel. “Cultural Competence: A Conceptual Framework for Library and Information Science Professionals.” The Library Quarterly v. 79 n. 2 (April 2009).
- Project Ready: Reimagining Equity & Access for Diverse Youth (free online professional development curriculum collaboratively created, and hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
- Rogers, Adilene. “Cultural Humility in Librarianship: What Is It?” Teen Librarian Toolbox, November 12, 2018
On Teaching and Social Justice
- Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching Tolerance)
- Rethinking Schools Blog
- Teaching for Change
On Cultural Competence and Cultural Relevance in the Classroom
- “What Should Culturally Relevant Teaching Look Like Today? Gloria Ladson-Billings Explains” by Madeline Will. Education Week (April 20, 2022)
- Teaching While White
- “Why Focus on Cultural Competence and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy?” by Gwendolyn J. Kelly (2010)