#Road2Reading Challenge: Where are the diverse books?

All journeys have a starting place.
This is a weekly place to find books and tools
that you may use with readers at the start of their reading journey.
Join in the conversation at #road2reading.

Each week, Michele Knott and I post about new early readers and transitional chapter books.  This week my post is tied into a recent event that I was a part of at a local bookstore.

On Sunday, I had the wonderful opportunity to be on a panel with author, Linda Sue Park and editor, Zareen Jaffrey. The panel was moderated by Jessica Palacios and hosted by Once Upon a Time Bookstore in Montrose, California. 

The focus of the panel was Diversity and Inclusion in Children's Literature. One of the questions asked dealt with where we still saw gaps. We each had different areas that we identified but one of the areas that I failed to mention was diversity in books for beginning readers. We are improving slowly in lots of areas but we still have a long way to go, especially in the area of early readers and transitional chapter books. 

There are a lot of talking animals in early readers and transitional chapter books. There are also talking robots and lots more talking animals and lots, and lots of white children. What we don't have is a lot of is children from diverse backgrounds with stories that authentically represent their lives. Linda Sue Park encouraged those who attended the panel to buy and read more diverse books in order for publishers to know that we not only want these stories but we also will buy them. 

Here are a few titles to start with if you are looking for more diversity in your Early Reader/Transitional Chapter Book collection. 

Book Uncle and Me
by Uma Krishnaswami; Illustrations by Julianna Swaney
Groundwood Books (September 1, 2016)
Fiction * People & Places * Asia

This transitional chapter book is set in India and features a young girl who loves to read, and a former teacher who now runs a lending library. When the lending library is in jeopardy of being shut down, Yasmin and her friends learn about how to advocate and make a difference. Krishnaswami may have chosen to set her story in India, but the themes of the book are very universal.  

Juana & Lucas 
by Juana Medina
Candlewick Press (September 27, 2016)
Fiction * People & Places * Latin America

From India, we travel around the world to Bogotá, Colombia, where we meet Juana and her dog, Lucas. Young readers get a glimpse into the life of a child living in another country and can find common ground in many of Juana's daily activities and experiences. The author includes a number of Spanish words and phrases, as well as, shares with readers Juana's struggle to learn English. Though this book appears to be for early readers, it does assume a certain level of reading skill placing it closer to transitional chapter books for reading skills. 

Ling & Ting: Together in All Weather
by Grace Lin
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (November 3, 2015)
Fiction * Siblings * Family

Though I have never thought about where, as in what country, Ling & Ting takes place, there is a universal connection for readers with the experiences that these siblings share in each story. In the span of four short chapters, readers see Ling & Ting engaging in a seasonal activity.  

What are some of your favorite diverse early readers and chapter books?

Don't forget to check out Michele's post and to link your #Road2Reading posts here....

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: International Women's Day #BeBoldForChange

It is National Women's History Month and today is International Women's Day. I had to continue with a post about more women. 

Two years ago, I did a guest post for the KidLit Celebrates Women's History Month blog. The title of the post was Women Who Faced Amazing Challenges and Succeeded. In the post, I celebrated women with special needs who despite their challenges and what some would say limitations, they succeeded. When I did this post, I realized that there were woman that I knew nothing about and they had made significant contributions in their own way. 

Many women have not been recognized for the work that they have done. Many women in the math and science fields were never taken seriously for their work or only found valuable until there was a man to step in and do the work. Today, I honor women who have contributed to the field of math and early computer programming. 

Hidden Figures (Young Reader's Edition) by Margot Lee Shetterly (HarperCollins, November 29, 2016) - Many people have watched the movie HIDDEN FIGURES, but have you read the book?

Women Who Launched the Computer Age by Laurie Calkhoven; Illustrated by Alyssa Petersen (Simon Spotlight, 2016) - When I read this book, I was saddened by the fact that once the men returned from the war these and other fabulous women were forced out of jobs. And yet the work they have done was so significant. 

Ada Lovelace: Poet of Science: The First Computer Programmer by Diane Stanley; Illustrated Jessie Hartland (Simon & Schuster, February 2016) And back in the 1800's, Ada Lovelace was making the first gains on computer programming without even knowing what a computer was 

Girls Who Code along with Women Who Code is a website where you can find out more resources about women programmers. 

Don't forget to look for these and other books at your local indie bookstore or public library.

Artwork by Sarah S. Brannen, 2017

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews....

#Road2Reading: Recent Releases

All journeys have a starting place.
This is a weekly place to find books and tools
that you may use with readers at the start of their reading journey.
Join in the conversation at #road2reading.

Each week, Michele Knott and I post about new early readers and chapter books.  As part of the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge, I started doing new release posts. Once a month, I will post about new releases as I find out about them. This month I tried to wrap up the January to March book releases. Look for future mini-reviews as I read through new releases. Also, I have included links to previous posts mentioning new releases just below. Also, don't forget to check out Mrs. Knott's Book Nook for more releases. 

January I | January II | February

January 2017

Heidi Heckelbeck Tries Out for the Team by Wanda Coven; Illustrated by Priscilla Burris (Little Simon) 

Inspector Flytrap in the Goat Who Chewed Too Much by Tom Angleberger, Illustrated by Cece Bell (Amulet Books)

Stay-A-Home Sammy and the Runaway Spot by Maria Nilsson Thore (Holiday House)

February 2017

Billy Sure Kid Entrepreneur vs. Manny Reyes Kid Entrepreneur by Luke Sharpe; Illustrated by Graham Ross (Simon Spotlight)

March 2017

Bradford Street Buddies: Springtime Blossoms by Jerdine Nolen; Illustrated by Michelle Henninger (HMH Books for Young Readers)

* Gus by Olivier Dunrea (HMH Books for Young Readers)

* Gemma and Gus (Gossie & Friends) by Olivier Dunrea (HMH Books for Young Readers)

April Fools', Mr. Todd! by Megan McDonald; Illustrated by Erwin Madrid (Candlewick)

Green Pants by Kenneth Kragel (Candlewick)

It's Raining, It's Pouring! (Sophie Mouse) by Poppy Green; Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell (Little Simon)

Ready, Set, Blast Off! by Ray Ryan; Illustrated by Jason Kraft (Little Simon)

Note: * books refer to ones previously released but now created into an Early Reader Format.

Link up your Early Reader/Transitional Posts....