Books “… let readers safely enter and exit worlds different than their own”. Even children who are very different from a character in a book can often feel a connection with people of other cultures and backgrounds through a book. Some diverse books are simply a slice of normal life, showing we’re all much more similar than we are different. Students who gain this understanding of other cultures and perspectives at an early age are better able to effectively communicate with others when they get older. These students grow up understanding that everyone, including themselves, is equally valuable. According to the Michigan Department of Education, a student who recognizes that “people from widely divergent cultures who represent diverse experiences and perspectives must learn and work together” is an important factor in determining college readiness. Visit diversebooks.org for more resources about diverse books.
This Reading Challenge has been adapted for use at GLADL, from a program created by Clinton-Macomb Public Library, and is used with their permission.