It is important for children to see that gender or race should not define who you are or what you can do. Her Grandpa encourages and supports her as she discovers it is OK to dream big.
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I Want to be a Superhero by Breanna Humes, illustrated by Ambelin Kwaymullina tells the story of a little girl who wants to be a superhero. Two other books that tell stories of gender or family diversity in supportive and informative ways are: Who's Your Real Mum? by Bernadette Green, illustrated by Anna Zobel Love Makes a Family, written and illustrated by Sophie Beer. This book beautifully explores his relationship with his father who helps him be proud of who he is. My Shadow is Pink, written and illustrated by Scott Stuart, is a rhyming book about a young gender-diverse child. yet children from these families rarely see characters like them in books. This can be a problem, as older books often reflect outdated views of gender, families, diverse cultures and abilities.įor example, there are close to 48,000 single sex families in Australia. My, and others', research shows adults generally select children's books based on what they loved when they were children. Many adults find selecting books for children challenging. Books portraying gender and family diversity Two others books in which diverse abilities are normalised rather than highlighted are: Isaac and His Amazing Asperger Super Powers! written and illustrated by Melanie Walsh Boy by Phil Cummings, illustrated by Shane Devries.ģ. All children benefit from seeing diverse abilities being portrayed in such a positive way. The story focuses on their mateship and adventures rather than highlighting their differences. Two Mates, written and illustrated by Melanie Prewett is about a young Aboriginal boy and his non-Indigenous best mate who has spina bifida. This number is likely higher as there are many children with undiagnosed complex needs, such as autism. Other books containing relatable childhood stories are: Aunty's Wedding, by Miranda Tapsell, illustrated by Joshua Tyler and Samantha Fry Maddie's First Day by Penny Matthews, illustrated by Liz Annelli.Īlmost 5% of children in Australia live with a severe disability, while nearly 8% have some level of disability. All children can relate to the joyful story of playing outside and being creative. Rudd, is about children of African and Muslim background and the bike they build together from things they find around them. The Patchwork Bike by Maxine Beneba Clarke, illustrated by Van T. The best books for children are those containing enjoyable story lines and reflecting diversity without preaching about it. All children should be able to see themselves and people different to them portrayed in positive and inclusive ways. When the girl saw the book, her eyes lit up with excitement and she turned to her tutor and said, “I didn't know they made books about Muslim girls like me.” No child should feel invisible in books. Here are some suggestions of diverse picture books you could buy for kids this Christmas.Ī student teacher I know was tutoring a nine-year-old Muslim girl and decided to share with her a book called The Rainbow Hijab. Research also shows reading books with diverse characters and story-lines helps children develop a greater understanding and appreciation of people different to themselves. When children see characters and stories reflecting their background, they can develop a stronger sense of identity. Sadly, books normalising racial, cultural, family or gender diversity and diverse abilities are few and far between.
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Importantly, books can help children understand and appreciate themselves, and those around them. Books are portals to adventure, imagination and new experiences.
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Gifting children books can be about more than just giving them something to read.