Representation Matters 11/13/24

Page 1

• Title: Representation Matters: The Importance of Diverse Books

  • Course: SPATH 5134 Clinical Linguistics and Psycholinguistics

Page 2

• Today's Discussion Outcomes:

  • Understand the current scope of diversity in children’s literature.

  • Examine the impact of underrepresentation.

  • Explore the benefits of utilizing diverse picture books in therapy.

  • Identify resources for building a multicultural/inclusive library.

Page 3

• Shared Reading:

  • Definition: An evidence-based practice aimed at enhancing development in various domains

  • Benefits:

    • Assists young learners in developing early literacy skills.

    • Illustrated books aid in comprehension of stories and vocabulary.

Page 4

• Benefits of Using Books in Therapy:

  • Cost-effective (low or no expense).

  • Portable and easy to transport.

  • Helps to foster a love for reading in children.

  • Flexible usage: can be repeated multiple times.

  • Metaphorical roles of books:

    • Windows, mirrors, sliding glass doors, stepping stones, overcoats, anchors, springboards, escape hatches, quiet corners, warm comforts, flying carpets, blankets, and beacons for new readers.

Page 5

• Books serve various metaphorical functions in literature.

  • Conceptual understanding of books as various forms of connection and escape for readers.

Page 6

• Statistics on Main Characters in U.S. Children’s Literature (2019):

  • Breakdown of character representation:

    • Black: 11.9%

    • Native: 1%

    • Latinx: 5.3%

    • Asian: 8.7%

    • Pacific Islander: ~1%

    • Disability (not specified percentage).

  • Notable statistic: 41.8% of characters were white and 29% were animals.

  • if we see ourselves in what is out there, we can relate better because we see ourselves in the world.

Page 7

• Statistics on Writers/Artists in U.S. Children’s Literature:

  • Writers and artists of color in literature:

    • Over 68.2% of Black/African characters were written by Black/African authors.

    • Notable statistics for Native/First Nations, Latinx, and Asian authors paralleling their character representation.

    • 46.4% of all children’s books featuring black characters were written by black authors

Page 8

• Importance of Addressing Underrepresentation:

  • Infants recognize race as early as 6 months

  • Children develop racial concepts by ages 3-5

Page 9

• Diversity in Publishing (2019):

  • Data from Lee & Low Books Diversity Baseline Survey:

    • Statistics related to race, gender, orientation, and disability prevalence in publishing roles.

    • Example percentages reflecting underrepresentation of minority groups in publishing, with 76% being white.

Page 10

• Intentional Diversity in Literature:

  • Discuss examples of diverse literature

    • e.g., "Hair Love," "Good Day, I'm New Here," etc.

  • Importance of ensuring collections encompass diverse voices.

Page 11

• Significance of Diverse Literature:

  • Promotes a richer understanding of various cultures.

  • Advocates against homogeneity in book collections.

  • our books should not be homogenous.

Page 12

• Statistics on Diversity in Children’s Books (2018):

  • Representation of diversity in published children’s books based on CCBC data.

  • Character representation percentages by ethnicity, indicating need for improvement:

    • African: 27%,

    • Latinx: 10%,

    • Asian: 5%, etc.

    • white: 50%

Page 13

• Tips for Choosing Diverse Picture Books (adapted from EmbraceRace):

  • Match selections with your audience.

  • Choose books with BIPOC protagonists.

  • Consider and scaffold educational approaches.

  • Look for positive representation and ongoing research.

  • BIPOC: black indigenous people of color

  • look at who wrote the book, if they show characters in a positive light, diversity, disabilities

Page 14

• Emphasizing Intentional Choices in Picture Book Selection:

  • Importance of the visual elements in storytelling to convey messages effectively.

Page 15

• Criteria for Selecting Diverse Books:

  • Encourage interactions among different races in various activities.

  • Showcase joy and celebrate diverse cultures and traditions.

  • display kids being kids!!

Page 16

• Look for Representation of:

  • Various ethnicities, religions, genders, socioeconomic backgrounds.

  • Individuals with disabilities and different family structures.

Page 17

• Additional Representation Aspects:

  • Nontraditional gender roles in characters.

  • Various family structures and cultural appreciations.

Page 18

• Resource Links:

  • Having Our Say Diverse Picture Book List: https://www.havingoursay.org/diverse-picture-books

  • Lee and Low Classroom Library Questionnaire: https://www.leeandlow.com/uploads/loaded_document/

  • We Need Diverse Books: https://diversebooks.org/

Page 19

• Notable Awards for Diverse Books:

  • Coretta Scott King Book Award

  • Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award

  • Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award

  • Skipping Stones Honor Award

  • Jane Addams Children’s Book Award

  • Rainbow Book List

  • Schneider Family Book Award

  • Notable Books for a Global Society list

  • Caldecott Medal

Page 20

• Additional Resources:

  • List of diverse books for speech therapy by Sierrah Harris.

  • Findings on moral lessons and story effectiveness (ScienceDaily, 2017).

  • Insights on problematic themes in Dr. Seuss’s books, available at provided URL.