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This month, Mrs. Sopko shared this extensive list of reading resources to our parent community. The list called, "Books Without Borders” is part of an Anti-Racism Tool Kit.
Book Lists and Book Award Websites:
American Indian Youth Award https://ailanet.org/activities/american-indian-youth-literature-award/
Awarded biennially, the AIYLA identifies and honors the writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America. Award winners present Indigenous North American peoples in the fullness of their humanity.
American Indians in Children’s Literature (AICL) https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/
American Indians in Children's Literature provides critical analysis of Indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books.
Americas Awards @CLASP http://claspprograms.org/americasaward
CLASP founded the Américas Award for authors, illustrators, and publishers who produce children’s and young adult books that effectively portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinx in the United States. CLASP offers up to two annual book awards, together with a commended list of titles.
Arab American Book Award https://arabamericanmuseum.org/book-awards/
The Arab American Book Award honors books written, edited, or illustrated by Arab Americans which address the Arab American experience in accurate and engaging ways.
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature https://www.apalaweb.org
Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association created this site to address the needs of Asian Pacific American librarians and those who serve Asian Pacific American communities.
Bank Street College of Education https://www.bankstreet.edu/library/center-for-childrens-literature/childrens-book-committee/best-childrens-books-of-the-year/
This site includes a list of more than 600 titles chosen for their credibility of characterization and plot, authenticity of time and place, age suitability, positive treatment of ethnic and religious differences, and the absence of stereotypes.
The Brown Bookshelf www.thebrownbookshelf.com
The Brown Bookshelf is designed to push awareness of the myriad Black voices writing for young readers. Their flagship initiative is 28 Days Later, a month-long showcase of the best in Picture Books, Middle Grade, and Young Adult novels written and illustrated by Black creators.
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature https://www.csmcl.org
The Center has created multiple book lists which seek to foster an interest in and preserve the richness of the many cultures in the field of children’s and young adult literature.
Children’s Africana Book Award http://africaaccessreview.org/childrens-africana-book-awards.com
The Children’s Africana Book Awards (CABA) are presented annually to authors and illustrators of children’s and young adult books on Africa which contribute to a better understanding of African issues and societies and encourage the use of accurate, balanced children’s materials about Africa.
Colorful Pages https://colorfulpages.org/
This website helps educators and librarians explore the use of multicultural literature/diverse books to cultivate empowerment and cross-cultural empathy in students. It provides resources, book lists, lesson plans, book reviews, and information about how to use diverse books.
Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) School of Education, University of Wisconsin- Madison https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu
This site includes an extensive variety of resources, lists, reviews, articles, and studies on diverse topics under the Literature Resources tab. The Center also offers reference services and book recommendations for teachers searching for specific material.
Coretta Scott King Award http://www.ala.org/rt/emiert/cskbookawards
Annual awards to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.
Disability in Kidlit www.disabilityinkidlit.com
Disability in Kidlit is dedicated to discussing the portrayal of disability in middle grade and young adult literature. They publish articles, reviews, interviews, and discussions examining this topic from various angles — and always from the disabled perspective.
Diverse Book Finder https://diversebookfinder.org
This site is a go-to resource for librarians, educators, and parents who seek to create collections in which all children can see themselves -- and each other -- reflected in the picture books they read. They have cataloged and analyzed thousands of children's trade picture books published or distributed in the U.S. since 2002.
Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award https://www.dollygrayaward.com
The site includes an annotated list of books that engage readers by authentically portraying characters with developmental disabilities.
Ezra Jack Keats Award https://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/section/ezra-jack-keats-book-awards/
This award celebrates outstanding authors who advance diversity and reflect our diverse population.
Freeman Book Award http://nctasia.org/freeman-book-awards.com
The National Consortium for Teaching about Asia (NCTA) as well as other organizations sponsor the annual Freeman Book Award for new young adult and children’s literature that contribute meaningfully to understanding of the Middle East.
Hijabi Librarians www.hijabilibrarians.com
This site includes reviews of children’s and young adult literature featuring authentic Muslim protagonists and experiences.. They aim to recognize and honor books and authors that celebrate the diversity of Muslim communities.
ILA Notable Books for a Global Society http://www.clrsig.org
A committee of educators from the International Literacy Association annually select outstanding books published in the United States that enhance student understanding of people and cultures throughout the world.
Jane Addams Children’s Book Award https://www.janeaddamschildrensbookaward.org/
The Jane Addams Peace Association recognizes books that effectively engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all people.
Latinxs in Kid Lit https://latinosinkidlit.com/
This site is a forum on Latinx children’s, middle grade, and YA books that engage with works about, for, and/or by Latinxs. The site includes posts, articles, book talks, and lists of books that have been reviewed.
Middle East Book Award http://www.meoc.us/book-awards.html
The Middle East Outreach Council established the Middle East Book Award to recognize books for children and young adults that contribute meaningfully to understanding of the Middle East.
Oyate www.oyate.org
Oyate is a Native organization working to see that lives and histories of Native people are portrayed with honesty and integrity. There is a list of reviewed books and an excellent guide titled How to Tell the Difference: A Guide for Evaluating Children’s Books for Anti-Indian Bias.
Pura Belpre Award http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpremedal
The Pura Belpré Award is presented annually to Latino/Latina writers and illustrators whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience.
Rainbow Book Lists https://glbtrt.ala.org/rainbowbooks/
This list highlighting books with significant gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning content, aimed at children and youth from birth to age 18.
RISE: A Feminist Book Project for ages 0-18 https://ameliabloomer.wordpress.com/
This organization creates an annual booklist of the best feminist books for young readers, ages birth through 18. They are part of the Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association.
Schneider Family Book Award http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/schneider-family-book-award
This award honors authors and illustrators for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience sponsored by the American Library Association.
Skipping Stones Honor Award https://www.skippingstones.org/wp/book-awards
The Skipping Stones award books promote an understanding of cultures and encourage a deeper awareness of nature, ecology, and diversity. The titles offer multiple viewpoints and ways to explore families, cultures, places, societies, and their histories for readers of all ages.
Social Justice Books https://socialjusticebooks.org/
Social Justice Books is a project of Teaching for Change. Teaching for Change has created more than 50 detailed lists of recommended social justice books for children and adults on a variety of themes and topics. In addition, this site also includes a helpful essay titled Guide for Selecting Anti-Bias Children’s Books.
South Asia Book Award https://southasiabookaward.wisc.edu/
The South Asia National Outreach Consortium (SANOC) awards books that accurately and skillfully portray South Asia and the South Asian experience.
Stonewall Book Award http://www.ala.org/rt/rrt/award/stonewall
This award is for LGBTQIA+ books relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience. It is sponsored by the American Library Association's Rainbow Round Table.
Sydney Taylor Book Award
https://jewishlibraries.org/content.php?page=Sydney_Taylor_Book_Award
The award is presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. It is sponsored by the Association of Jewish Libraries.
Tomas Rivera Book Award https://www.education.txstate.edu/ci/riverabookaward/
Texas State University College of Education honors authors and illustrators who create literature that depicts the Mexican American experience.
The United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) www.https://www.usbby.org
This organization has posted numerous articles and annual book lists devoted to building bridges of international understanding through children’s and young adult books.
We Need Diverse Books https://diversebooks.org/
This site has one of the most extensive book lists by topic and theme that promote literature which reflects and honors the lives of all young people. It recognizes all diverse experiences (including but not limited to) LGBTQIA, Native, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities.
Worlds of Words https://wowlit.org/links/booklists
This extensive site offers dozens of themed book lists, reviews, online stories, databases, and resources to help educators find and use global literature in classrooms.
Additional Resources:
10 Quick Ways to Analyze Children’s Books for Racism and Sexism https://wowlit.org/links/evaluating-global-literature/10-quick-ways-to-analyze-childrens-books-for-racism-and-sexism
African American Read In https://ncte.org/get-involved/african-american-read-in-toolkit
This site offers details on students participating in the annual African American Read In sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English.
Anti-Defamation League - Why We Need Diverse Books https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/table-talk/why-we-need-diverse-books
ADL is a leading anti-hate organization offering many articles, resources, and book lists which deliver anti-bias education.
Guide for Selecting Anti-Bias Children’s Books https://www.teachingforchange.org/selecting-anti-bias-books
Lee and Low Books www.leeandlow.com
Lee and Low, a minority-owned publisher, is one of the largest publishers of multicultural books in the country.
Worlds of Words Evaluating Authenticity https://wowlit.org/links/evaluating-global-literature/evaluating-literature-for-authenticity/#:~:text=Evaluating%20authenticity%20involves%20considering%20complex,the%20complexity%20of%20cultural%20authenticity
Easy to use list of topics to be used when evaluating the cultural authenticity of books.
Learning for Justice https://www.learningforjustice.org/
Their mission includes helping teachers educate children and youth to be active participants in a diverse democracy and eradicate intolerance with an emphasis on social justice and anti-bias. They offer a multitude of resources including a magazine, webinars, podcasts, articles, activities, and lesson plans.
Libguide Created by Viewpoint School Library team -- Books Beyond Borders Sample Libguide