Resident Files: Just Like Us Books, Why Representation Matters in Children's Literature (S4:E24)

Many of our patients grow up never seeing a character that looks like themselves in a book. In fact, research suggests that 75% of characters in children’s books are white. Being able to relate to a character in a book helps entice our early readers that reading is fun and link themselves to the story. Seeing ones-self as the lead character of a book gives our patients an idea of what they might become. Diversity in literature matters. In today’s Resident Files episode, we discuss an initiative called Just Like Us Books that pediatric residents at Children’s Hospital Colorado have launched.

Our guests for today's episode are all PGY3 pediatric residents at Children's Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado School of Medicine: Alexis Ball, MD; Katelyn Soares, MD and Ariel Porto, MD. 

Books included in Just Like Us Project:

• It’s Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr (Preschool-1 year)
• First Laugh, Welcome Baby! By Rose Ann Tahe
• Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi (baby-3 years)
• Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry (Preschool-3 years)

• Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian (Preschool-3 years)
• And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson (2-5 years)
• Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi (baby-3 years)
• Round is a Tortilla by Roseanne Thong (3-5 years)

• Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard (3-6 years)
• The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad(Preschool-3 years)
• Same, Same, but Different by Jenny Kostecki-Shaw (4-7)

• A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara O’Leary (4-7 years)
• Sulwe by Nyong’o Lupita (4-8)
• Just Ask, Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor (4-8 years)
• Anh’s Anger by Gail Silver (4-8 years)
• Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga (8-12years)

 

List of books we like with some broad categories that we were thinking about for inclusivity:

Inclusive books - characters from all types of backgrounds 

• It’s Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr (Preschool-1 year)
• I Am Me by Tristan Towns
• Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World by Vashti Harrison (8-12 years)
• Think Big, Little One by Vashti Harrison (Baby-3 years)
• Dream Big, Little One by Vashti Harrison (Baby-3 years)
• Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller (4-8 years), characters are very diverse and inclusive, not explicitly about that, but nice to see all of the different kids getting along
• Same, Same, but Different by Jenny Kostecki-Shaw (4-7). Penpals in US and India tell each other about their lives and they see that even though they live in different parts of the world, they do a lot of the same things

Inclusive families: parents who look different 

• Life with My Family by Renee Hooker and Karl Jones (3-7 years)
• A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara O’Leary (4-7 years)
• Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman (Preschool-2 years)
• I am Perfectly Designed by Karamo Brown (4-8 years)

Black/African/African American

• Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman (4-8 years)
• I Am Enough by Grace Byers (4-8 years)
• Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison (8-12 years)
• Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History by Vashti Harrison (8-12 years)
• Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem by Amanda Gorman (4-8 years)
• All Because You Matter by Tami Charles (Preschool-3 years)
• Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry (Preschool-3 years)
• I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont (4-8)
• Sulwe by Nyong’o Lupita (4-8): about colorism within the Black community, photo of Lupita on the back cover
• New Kid by Jerry Craft (pre-teen, graphic novel/chapter book)
• Miami Jackson Sees It Through by Patricia McKissack (8-11, early chapter book)
• Brown Boy Joy by Dr. Thomshia Booker (3-7)

LatinX/Hispanic

• Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (4-8 years)
• Round is a Tortilla by Roseanne Thong (3-5 years)
• Green is a Chile Pepper by Roseanne Thong (3-5 years)
• One is a Pinata by Roseanne Thong (3-5 years)
• The Day of the Dead by Bob Barner (2-5 years)
• Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by Eric Velasquez (7-12, lots of words but also great pictures on every page). True story about an afro-Puerto Rican man who immigrated to the US from Puerto Rico and collected books created a library about the achievements of African people/descendants throughout the ages
• Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonathiuh (4-12). True story about Sylvia Mendez’ family’s fight for desegregation in CA, family was Mexican.
• All around us by Xelena Gonzalez -  gentle story that celebrates family, culture, community and the connectedness of all thing

Indigenou/Native American 

• Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard (3-6 years)
• We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom (Preschool-1 year)
• The Pencil by Susan Avingaq. About an Inuit family who lives in an iglu
• First Laugh, Welcome Baby! By Rose Ann Tahe. Story about a new baby and the significance of the first laugh in Navajo culture  
• Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk (1-3). Poem written for a baby about Inuit values and respect for the land, seems like a good bedtime story.

Immigrants/Refugees

• The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad(Preschool-3 years)
• Watch Me: A Story of Immigration and Inspiration by Doyin Richards (3-5 years)
• Islandborn by Junot Diaz (5-8 years)
• Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga (8-12years) (pre-teen, chapter book). About a girl who wears a hijab who moves from Syria to the US and is newly labeled “Middle Eastern”, and embraces her culture and grows into herself

Disability

• I Just Do It Differently by Donna Grinyer
• I Will Dance by Nancy Bo Flood (Preschool-3 years)
• Just Ask, Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor (4-8 years): kids of many different ethnicities with medical and developmental differences. Sotomayor was diagnosed with DM as a kid!
• My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete. Black author co-wrote with her son who has autism. Story about Black siblings, one of whom has autism 

Gender/Sexual Orientation Diversity

• It Feels Good to be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity by Theresa Thorn (5-8 years)
• Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (4-8 years)
• Stella Brings the Family by Miriam B. Schiffer (5-8 years)
• Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian (Preschool-3 years)
• And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson (2-5 years)

 

Different religions/culture (some overlap with immigrants/refugees)

• Hats of Faith by Medeia Cohan (1-3, board book). Pictures of different “hats” that people of different faiths wear
• The Diwali Gift by Shuchi Mehta (3-8). About Indian culture
• Same, Same But Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw (4-7). About two children who are penpals in the US and India

 

Anti-bias/Activism

• V is for Voting by Kate Farrell and Caitlin Kuhwald (3-6 years)
• A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara (3-7 years)
• Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi (baby-3 years)
• No! My First Book of Protest by Julie Merberg (baby-3 years)
• An ABC of Equality by Chana Ginelle Ewing (baby-5 years)
• Woke Baby by Mahogany L. Browne (baby-3 years)

 

Emotions

• When You Can’t See Me Smile: A book for children to help express and understand emotions, moods, and feelings while wearing a mask by Emily Alston
• Anh’s Anger by Gail Silver (4-8 years)
• Steps and Stones by Gail Silver (4-8 years)
• Peace, Bugs, and Understanding by Gail Silver (Preschool-3 years)
• My Magical Words by Becky Cummings

Do you have thoughts about today's episode or suggestions for a future topic? Write to us, chartingpediatrics@childrenscolorado.org