Reading is more than fundamental. It provides the opportunity to teach our children about kindness, compassion, and empathy for others, and that diversity of stories matter. All children should see themselves as the stars of their own stories yet more than three-quarters of children’s books are about White/Caucasian people (77%), with less than a quarter about people of color (23%). Increasing access to diverse stories isn’t just an ethical responsibility – it’s a medical one. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, we must build inclusive literacy programs that reflect the diversity of children in our communities if we are to reduce the damaging impacts of racism on public health.
By joining our Mirrors and Windows Book Club, you can help us change the narrative so families include diversity, equity, and inclusion in their daily interactions with their children starting the day they are born. With a donation of $50 or more to our Mirrors and Windows Fund, you will be providing diverse and socially responsive books to children, incorporating these important topics into their daily lives from birth. As a member of our Mirrors and Windows Book Club, you will have access to our online Mirrors and Windows book drive where you can organize your own virtual book drive to raise funds for diverse and socially responsive books for children. You can help us change the narrative one book and one child at a time.