Education - Children's and young adult's literature
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Children's and YA Literature
The websites listed here have curated lists of books by diverse authors or books with content and themes that depict diverse characters, families, experiences, traditions, and more.
- Look at a list to find titles of books you would like to use.
- Search for print or eBook copies of the book in the UCalgary libraries - use the title of the book in the library search box. [http://library.ucalgary.ca]
- Search for print or eBook copies of the book in your school library learning commons OR your local public library.
Lists with ideas for books to read and use in classrooms
- Social Justice and Diversity Book BankCanadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) database of social justice and diverse themed books for educators.
- From Sea to Sea to Sea - Indigenous Picture BooksCurated list from the Canadian section of IBBY - a non-profit for positive change by "bringing books and children together as a way to foster understanding and friendship between children of different cultures".
- We Need Diverse BooksAmerican non-profit advocates for essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honours the lives of all young people. Look at their 'Resources' tabs for sources of curated lists.
- Diversity Resources - CCBC- Cooperative Children's Book CentreUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Education. 'Diversity Statistics' report shows representation in the children's books they receive (since 2018). Links to many resources for diverse literature and professional development around cultural competence.
Database for discovering children's literature to use in teaching
Click on the image or title of the books listed here to see the Doucette Library copy information .
Texts about using Children's Literature to explore EDI topics
Reading for Action by
This book illustrates how teachers can draw upon young adult literature to facilitate students' social action. Each chapter centers on one novel that represents a contemporary topic including police brutality, women's rights, ecojustice, and bullying. In each, authors provide pre-, during-, and after reading strategies for teaching that connect the social issues in the texts to students' lives and to the world around them. They then offer a multitude of avenues for student action, emphasizing the need to move readers from understanding and awareness to asserting their own agency and capacities to effect change in their local, national, and global communities. In addition to methods for scaffolding students' analysis of texts and topics, authors also offer a plethora of additional resources such as documentaries, canonical companions for study, connected music, and supplementary lesson plans.
Call Number: 428.40712 BoRe 2019ISBN: 9781475846669Publication Date: 2019-06-05
Examples of print books available in the Doucette Library (3rd floor EDC)
Last Stop on Market Street by
From award-winning talents Matt de la Pena and Christian Robinson comes a brilliant celebration of the love between a grandmother and her grandson. On Sundays, CJ and his nana ride the bus across town to their stop on Market Street. But today, CJ's not happy about it. Today, he's wondering out loud why they have to wait in the rain and why they don't have a car like his other friends. But it's Nana who opens young CJ's eyes and shows him the real beauty in the world around them - the spirit of the bustling city, the music in everyday life, and the magic of their often overlooked neighbors. From award-winning talents Matt de la Pena and Christian Robinson comes a brilliant celebration of the love between a grandmother and her grandson.
Call Number: 823 D3748L PIC BKISBN: 9780399257742Publication Date: 2015-01-08
Our Little Kitchen by
In this lively, rousing picture book from Caldecott Honoree Jillian Tamaki, a crew of resourceful neighbours come together to prepare a meal for their community. With a garden full of produce, a joyfully chaotic kitchen and a friendly meal shared at the table, Our Little Kitchen is a celebration of full bellies and people looking out for one another. Includes two recipes and an author’s note about the volunteering experience that inspired the book. Suggested PreS-Gr. 2
Call Number: 823 T1488O Pic BkISBN: 9781773062624Publication Date: 2020
The Paper Boat by
Named a best picture book of 2020 by Kirkus, School Library Journal, Booklist, New York Public Library, the Globe and Mail, CBC, and the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books-- a heartfelt and personal immigration story by critically acclaimed author Thao Lam New from Thao Lam, the award-winning author of picture books My Cat Looks Like My Dad, Wallpaper, and Skunk on a String, comes a personal story inspired by her family's refugee journey. In The Paper Boat, Thao's signature collage art tells the wordless story of one family's escape from Vietnam--a journey intertwined with an ant colony's parallel narrative. At her home in Vietnam, a girl rescues ants from the sugar water set out to trap them. Later, when the girl's family flees war-torn Vietnam, ants lead them through the moonlit jungle to the boat that will take them to safety. Before boarding, the girl folds a paper boat from a bun wrapper and drops it into the water, and the ants climb on. Their perilous journey, besieged by punishing weather, predatory birds, and dehydration, before reaching a new beginning, mirrors the family's own.Impressionistic collages and a moving, Own Voices narrative make this a one-of-a-kind tale of courage, resilience, and hope.
Call Number: 823 L162P Pic BkISBN: 9781771473637Publication Date: 2020
The Day You Begin by
A #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! Featured in its own episode in the Netflix original show Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices! National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson and two-time Pura Belpré Illustrator Award winner Rafael López have teamed up to create a poignant, yet heartening book about finding courage to connect, even when you feel scared and alone. There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you. There are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it's how you look or talk, or where you're from; maybe it's what you eat, or something just as random. It's not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it. Jacqueline Woodson's lyrical text and Rafael López's dazzling art reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes-and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. And that sometimes, when we reach out and begin to share our stories, others will be happy to meet us halfway. (This book is also available in Spanish, as El Día En Que Descubres Quién Eres!)
Call Number: 823 W8685D Pic BkISBN: 9780399246531Publication Date: 2018
I Am Every Good Thing by
Winner of the NCTE Charlotte Huck Award! An upbeat, empowering, important picture book from the team that created the award-winning Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut I am a nonstop ball of energy. Powerful and full of light. I am a go-getter. A difference maker. A leader. The confident Black narrator of this book is proud of everything that makes him who he is. He's got big plans, and no doubt he'll see them through--as he's creative, adventurous, smart, funny, and a good friend. Sometimes he falls, but he always gets back up. And other times he's afraid, because he's so often misunderstood and called what he is not. So slow down and really look and listen, when somebody tells you--and shows you--who they are. There are superheroes in our midst!
Call Number: 823 B261I Pic BkISBN: 9780525518778Publication Date: 2020
Florence and Leon by
Florence and Leon have never met. Florence is a swimming instructor. She has a small problem with her lungs: it's as if she's breathing through a straw. Leon is an insurance salesman. He has a small problem with his eyes: it's as if he's seeing the world through a straw. One day Florence and Leon bump into each other, literally, and this mishap turns their lives upside down. Over slushy drinks with proper straws, Florence and Leon find out how their differences make them alike.
Call Number: 823 B6643F Pic BkISBN: 9781459818224Publication Date: 2018
And Tango Makes Three by
And Tango Makes Three is the bestselling, heartwarming true story of two penguins who create a nontraditional family. At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo get the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own. Selected as an ALA Notable Children's Book Nominee and a Lambda Literary Award Finalist, "this joyful story about the meaning of family is a must for any library" (School Library Journal, starred review).
Call Number: 823 R395A PIC BKISBN: 0689878451Publication Date: 2005
Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by
A New York Times Bestseller and #1 Indie Bestseller This lyrical, stunning picture book tells a story about learning to love and celebrate your Asian-shaped eyes, in the spirit of Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, and is a celebration of diversity. A young Asian girl notices that her eyes look different from her peers'. They have big, round eyes and long lashes. She realizes that her eyes are like her mother's, her grandmother's, and her little sister's. They have eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea, crinkle into crescent moons, and are filled with stories of the past and hope for the future. Drawing from the strength of these powerful women in her life, she recognizes her own beauty and discovers a path to self-love and empowerment. This powerful, poetic picture book will resonate with readers of all ages. "This tale of self-acceptance and respect for one's roots is breathtaking." --Kirkus (starred review) "A young girl finds beauty in her uniqueness." --School Library Journal (starred review) "A lyrical celebration of her eyes, their shape, spirit, and legacy." --Booklist (starred review) "A poignant testament to familial love and legacy." --Publishers Weekly
Call Number: 823 H6504E Pic BkISBN: 9780062915627Publication Date: 2021
Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by
Morris is a little boy who loves using his imagination. But most of all, Morris loves wearing the tangerine dress in his classroom’s dress-up center. The children in Morris’s class don’t understand. Dresses, they say, are for girls. And Morris certainly isn’t welcome in the spaceship some of his classmates are building. Astronauts, they say, don’t wear dresses. One day when Morris feels all alone and sick from their taunts, his mother lets him stay home from school. Morris dreams of a fantastic space adventure with his cat, Moo. Inspired by his dream, Morris paints the incredible scene he saw and brings it with him to school. He builds his own spaceship, hangs his painting on the front of it and takes two of his classmates on an outer space adventure. With warm, dreamy illustrations, Isabelle Malenfant perfectly captures Morris’s vulnerability and the vibrancy of his imagination.
Call Number: 823 B191M PIC BKISBN: 9781554983476Publication Date: 2014
Milo Imagines the World by
The team behind the Newbery Medal winner and Caldecott Honor book Last Stop on Market Street and the award-winning New York Times bestseller Carmela Full of Wishes once again delivers a poignant and timely picture book that's sure to become an instant classic. Milo is on a long subway ride with his older sister. To pass the time, he studies the faces around him and makes pictures of their lives. There's the whiskered man with the crossword puzzle; Milo imagines him playing solitaire in a cluttered apartment full of pets. There's the wedding-dressed woman with a little dog peeking out of her handbag; Milo imagines her in a grand cathedral ceremony. And then there's the boy in the suit with the bright white sneakers; Milo imagines him arriving home to a castle with a drawbridge and a butler. But when the boy in the suit gets off on the same stop as Milo--walking the same path, going to the exact same place--Milo realizes that you can't really know anyone just by looking at them.
Call Number: 823 D3748M Pic BkISBN: 9780399549083Publication Date: 2021-02-02
Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets by
Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets - Islamic book for kids "A beautiful picture book that simultaneously explores shapes, Islam, and the cultures of the Muslim people." - Kirkus Reviews Toddler book of shapes and Islamic traditions: From a crescent moon to a square garden to an octagonal fountain, this breathtaking picture book celebrates the shapes-and traditions-of the Muslim world. Toddler book by author Hena Khan: Sure to inspire questions and observations about world religions and cultures,Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets is equally at home in a classroom reading circle and on a parent's lap being read to a child. If you and your child like books such asLailah's Lunchbox, Numbers Colors Shapes, orThe Name Jar, you will loveCrescent Moons and Pointed Minarets.
Call Number: 297 KhC 2018 Pic BkISBN: 9781452155418Publication Date: 2018
When We Are Kind / Nihá'ádaahwiinít'íigo by
"Notably centering Indigenous families and characters of color in personal and communal activities--and encouraging readers to evaluate their actions toward others."--School Library Journal When We Are Kindcelebrates simple acts of everyday kindness and encourages children to explore how they feel when they initiate and receive acts of kindness in their lives. Celebrated author Monique Gray Smith has written many books on the topics of resilience and reconciliation and communicates an important message through carefully chosen words for readers of all ages. Beautifully illustrated by artist Nicole Neidhardt, this book encourages children to be kind to others and to themselves. Orca Book Publishers is proud to offer this picture book as a dual-language (English and Diné) edition.
Call Number: 823 G7925W Pic BkISBN: 9781459827530Publication Date: 2020
Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote by
An allegorical picture book about the hardships and struggles of immigration from award-winning picture book creator Duncan Tonatiuh A Pura Belpré Author and Illustrator Honor Book and ALA/ALSC Notable Children's Book! A young rabbit named Pancho eagerly awaits his papa's return. Papa Rabbit left two years ago to travel far away north to find work in the great carrot and lettuce fields to earn money for his family. When Papa does not return home on the designated day, Pancho sets out to find him. He packs Papa's favorite meal--mole, rice and beans, a heap of still-warm tortillas, and a jug full of fresh aguamiel--and heads north. He soon meets a coyote, who offers to help Pancho in exchange for some of Papa's favorite foods. They travel together until the food is gone and the coyote decides he is still hungry . . . for Pancho! Award-winning author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh brings to light the hardship and struggles facing families who seek to make better lives for themselves and their children by illegally crossing the borders.
Call Number: 823 T61P PIC BKISBN: 9781419705830Publication Date: 2013-05-07
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures by
If you've ever felt different, if you've ever been low,if you don't quite fit in, there's a name you should know...Meet Dr. Temple Grandin--one of the world's quirkiest science heroes!When young Temple was diagnosed with autism, no one expected her to talk, let alone become one of the most powerful voices in modern science. Yet, the determined visual thinker did just that. Her unique mind allowed her to connect with animals in a special way, helping her invent groundbreaking improvements for farms around the globe!The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin is the first book in a brand new educational series about the inspirational lives of amazing scientists. In addition to the illustrated rhyming tale, you'll find a complete biography, fun facts, a colorful timeline of events, and even a note from Temple herself!
Call Number: 636 MoG 2017 Pic BkISBN: 9781943147304Publication Date: 2017-08-29
A Is for Activist by
This bestselling ABC book is written and illustrated for the next generation of progressives: families who want their kids to grow up in a space that is unapologetic about activism, environmental justice, civil rights, LGBTQ rights and everything else that activists believe in and fight for. Updated for older children, this continuous bestseller appeals to children over 5. Now with sign-language pictures of each letter in keeping with Nagara's inclusive vision, this engaging book carries huge messages as it inspires hope for the future.
Call Number: 361.2 NaA 2013 Pic BkISBN: 9781609806934Publication Date: 2016
We're All Wonders by
The unforgettable bestseller Wonder, now a major motion picture, has inspired a nationwide movement to Choose Kind. Now parents and educators can introduce the importance of choosing kind to younger readers with this gorgeous picture book, featuring Auggie and Daisy on an original adventure, written and illustrated by R. J. Palacio. Over 8 million people have fallen in love with Wonder and have joined the movement to Choose Kind. Now younger readers can meet Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face, and his beloved dog, Daisy. Countless fans have asked R. J. Palacio to write a book for younger readers. With We're All Wonders, she makes her picture-book debut as both author and artist, with a spare, powerful text and striking, richly imagined illustrations. Palacio shows readers what it's like to live in Auggie's world--a world in which he feels like any other kid, but he's not always seen that way. We're All Wonders may be Auggie's story, but it taps into every child's longing to belong, and to be seen for who they truly are. It's the perfect way for families and educators to talk about empathy and kindness with young children. Praise for Wonder: A #1 New York Times Bestseller A USA Today Top 100 Bestseller An Indie Bestseller A Time Magazine 100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time Selection A Washington Post Best Kids' Book A New York Times Book Review Notable Book An NPR Outstanding Backseat Book Club Pick An Entertainment Weekly 10 Great Kids' Books Selection "A beautiful, funny and sometimes sob-making story of quiet transformation." --The Wall Street Journal "A crackling page-turner filled with characters you can't help but root for." --Entertainment Weekly "Rich and memorable." --The New York Times Book Review
Call Number: 823 P17W2 Pic BkISBN: 9781524766498Publication Date: 2017
The Bad Seed by
A New York Times bestseller! Amazon Prime's Most Read Title of 2019! An Amazon Best Children's Book of the Month from the New York Times bestselling author of the Goodnight Already! series This is a book about a bad seed. A baaaaaaaaaad seed. How bad Do you really want to know He has a bad temper, bad manners, and a bad attitude. He's been bad since he can remember! This seed cuts in line every time, stares at everybody and never listens. But what happens when one mischievous little seed changes his mind about himself, and decides that he wants to be--happy With Jory John's charming and endearing text and bold expressive illustrations by Pete Oswald, here is The Bad Seed: a funny yet touching tale that reminds us of the remarkably transformative power of will, acceptance, and just being you. Perfect for readers young and old, The Bad Seed proves that positive change is possible for each and every one of us.
Call Number: 823 J612B Pic BkISBN: 9780062467768Publication Date: 2017
Chee-Kee: a Panda in Bearland by
Will Chee-Kee ever fit in? The Loo family has traveled very far to start a new life. For little Chee-Kee Loo, everything is strange--he looks and feels so different. But when some bears find themselves in a jam, Chee-Kee might be just the right panda to save the day. In this heartfelt and lovable story, meet Chee-Kee the panda, a one-of-a-kind in all the best ways.
Call Number: 823 R46C Pic BkISBN: 9780316407441Publication Date: 2017-02-07
A Family Is a Family Is a Family by
When a teacher asks her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different, but the same in one important way ... When a teacher asks the children in her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different in many ways -- but the same in the one way that matters most of all. One child is worried that her family is just too different to explain, but listens as her classmates talk about what makes their families special. One is raised by a grandmother, and another has two dads. One has many stepsiblings, and another has a new baby in the family. As her classmates describe who they live with and who loves them -- family of every shape, size and every kind of relation -- the child realizes that as long as her family is full of caring people, it is special. A warm and whimsical look at many types of families, written by award-winning author Sara O'Leary, with quirky and sweet illustrations by Qin Leng. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1 With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2 Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.6 Identify who is telling the story at various points in a text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.9 Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.6 Acknowledge differences in the points of view of characters, including by speaking in a different voice for each character when reading dialogue aloud.
Call Number: 823 OL2F PIC BKISBN: 9781554987948Publication Date: 2016-09-01
Small Things by
A stunning graphic picture book about childhood anxiety from an extraordinarily talented illustrator. On the cusp of having everything slip from his grasp, a young boy has to find a way to rebuild his sense of self. In this wordless graphic picture book, a young boy feels alone with his worries. He isn't fitting in well at school. His grades are slipping. He's even lashing out at those who love him. Talented Australian artist Mel Tregonning created Small Things in the final year of her life. In her emotionally rich illustrations, the boy's worries manifest as tiny beings that crowd around him constantly, overwhelming him and even gnawing away at his very self. The striking imagery is all the more powerful when, overcoming his isolation at last, the boy discovers that the tiny demons of worry surround everyone, even those who seem to have it all together. This short but hard-hitting wordless graphic picture book gets to the heart of childhood anxiety and opens the way for dialogue about acceptance, vulnerability, and the universal experience of worry.
Call Number: 823 T7172S FicISBN: 9781772780420Publication Date: 2018-03-01
Starfish by
A Printz Honor winner! Ellie is tired of being fat-shamed and does something about it in this poignant debut novel-in-verse. Cover may vary. Ever since Ellie wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash at her fifth birthday party, she's been bullied about her weight. To cope, she tries to live by the Fat Girl Rules--like "no making waves," "avoid eating in public," and "don't move so fast that your body jiggles." And she's found her safe space--her swimming pool--where she feels weightless in a fat-obsessed world. In the water, she can stretch herself out like a starfish and take up all the room she wants. It's also where she can get away from her pushy mom, who thinks criticizing Ellie's weight will motivate her to diet. Fortunately, Ellie has allies in her dad, her therapist, and her new neighbor, Catalina, who loves Ellie for who she is. With this support buoying her, Ellie might finally be able to cast aside the Fat Girl Rules and starfish in real life--by unapologetically being her own fabulous self.
Call Number: 823 F5137S FicISBN: 9781984814500Publication Date: 2021-03-09
Ms. Marvel Volume 1 by
Marvel Comics presents the all-new Ms. Marvel, the ground breaking heroine that has become an international sensation! Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City until she is suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly is the all-new Ms. Marvel? Find out as she takes the Marvel Universe by storm! As Kamala discovers the dangers of her newfound powers, she unlocks a secret behind them as well. Is Kamala ready to wield these immense new gifts? It's history in the making from acclaimed writer G. Willow Wilson and beloved artist Adrian Alphona!
Call Number: 823 W6931M FICISBN: 9780785190219Publication Date: 2014-10-28
When Stars Are Scattered by
A National Book Award Finalist, this remarkable graphic novel is about growing up in a refugee camp, as told by a former Somali refugee to the Newbery Honor-winning creator of Roller Girl. Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Life is hard there: never enough food, achingly dull, and without access to the medical care Omar knows his nonverbal brother needs. So when Omar has the opportunity to go to school, he knows it might be a chance to change their future . . . but it would also mean leaving his brother, the only family member he has left, every day. Heartbreak, hope, and gentle humor exist together in this graphic novel about a childhood spent waiting, and a young man who is able to create a sense of family and home in the most difficult of settings. It's an intimate, important, unforgettable look at the day-to-day life of a refugee, as told to New York Times Bestselling author/artist Victoria Jamieson by Omar Mohamed, the Somali man who lived the story.
Call Number: 305.906914092 JaW 2020ISBN: 9780525553908Publication Date: 2020-04-14
Click on the image or title of the eBooks listed here to view them online using your UCalgary login.
Texts about using Children's Literature to explore EDI topics
Teaching Tough Topics: How do I use children's literature to build a deeper understanding of social justice, equity, and diversity? by Call Number: 370.114 SwT 2020 & eBookISBN: 9781551383415Publication Date: 2020-01-10
Challenging Stories: Canadian literature for social justice in the classroom by Call Number: Online & 370.115 Cha 2017ISBN: 9781551309736Publication Date: 2017-08-30
Examples of eBooks available online from the UCalgary Libraries [use your UCalgary sign on to view]
Hear My Voice/Escucha Mi Voz by Call Number: Online & 362.87092 Hea 2021 Pic BkISBN: 9781523513482Publication Date: 2021-04-13
From the Tops of the Trees by Call Number: Online & 362.87 YaF 2021 Pic BkISBN: 9781541581302Publication Date: 2021-10-05
The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden by Call Number: Online & 823 Sm58P2 Pic BkISBN: 1459821041Publication Date: 2019-09-17
#NotYourPrincess by Call Number: Online & 970.00497 NOP 2017ISBN: 9781554519576Publication Date: 2017-09-12
- Mirrors, Windows, Sliding Glass Doors - Rudine Simms Bishop (1990)Bishop R. S. (1990). Mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors. Perspectives, 6(3), ix–xi.
- Through the Sliding Glass Door: #EmpowerTheReader - Johnson, Koss & Martinez (2018)Johnson, N., Koss, M. D., & Martinez, M. (2018). Through the Sliding Glass Door: #EmpowerTheReader. The Reading Teacher, 71(5), 569–577. https://doi.org/10.1002/trtr.1659