“We Need Diverse Books”: A Celebration of Our Differences

Children's literature was reinvigorated in the "We Need Diverse Books," a national movement that began in 2004. It was a welcome infusion of stories featuring a broad range of diverse characters. Adding diverse books to the Ridgewood Avenue School library enabled students to identify with and learn about a broader range of experiences than was currently available. A carefully curated selection of novels reflecting a wide range of experiences built empathy, reduced stereotypes, and helped more diverse students further their love of reading through access to voices that reflected their lives better.

This project helped more diverse students further their love of reading by giving them access to voices that better reflected their lives. In addition, these diverse books benefited the entire student population by introducing them to experiences that may have been foreign to them. Living vicariously through these stories and characters helped students develop an empathetic understanding of the larger world and all the people inhabiting it.

Grant Applicant:  Jerry White