5.

2 Selecting Literature

Select a book that reflects diversity and that can be read to a classroom or
used at the elementary or high school level. Provide the book’s title, author, a
description of the book, and how it illustrates diversity. If possible, post a
picture of the book’s cover. Provide a brief synopsis of the book.

’s book choice: Horse Meets Dog by Elliott Kalan and Tim Miller

The book I chose is more about prejudice than diversity, but it has been a great conversation
starter to discuss prejudice, which leads to a discussion about diversity and acceptance in my
classroom. The book is funny and exaggerated and has been a great way to have students
“naturally” start the conversation about diversity in the high school setting.

Horse Meets Dog, by Elliot Kalan and Tim Miller, is a book about a horse that meets a dog for
the first time. The book is a funny look at how we perceive the world around us from our own
point of view, without considering the views of others. The horse sees the dog as a weird tiny
baby horse, and the dog sees the horse as a weird giant dog. The two go back and forth trying
to make the other fit into the box that makes sense for them. The horse gives the tiny baby dog
a tiny saddle and some oats and hay. The dog gives the horse a ball to play fetch with. They
argue back and forth and right at the end, a bird comes by and tells them both that they are
weird-looking birds.

I read this book to my high school class and then I start the discussion by asking them what
they think. With some prompting, we get to the idea of prejudice. After some discussion on the
topic, I prompt them to make the connection between prejudice and diversity. We discuss how
the world would be if there were only horses, or only dogs, or only birds. Once they agree that
we need all sorts of animals to make the world whole, I prompt the crossover to different groups
of humans. For my clientele, a more direct approach would be dismissed as preachy and
students would not engage with the topic as openly as they do with this book as the starting
point.

The book does highlight diversity in it’s own subtle way by pointing out the differences between
the horse and dog, despite their similarities. The book pokes fun at the thought of having zero
diversity in the world using the two animals as examples.

Elli Bamsey
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

I recently finished this novel, reading it for personal entertainment, and the entire time I
was reading it, I was connecting it to middle school and high school. My background in
working with students and adults with special needs had me making connections to the
experiences this vulnerable group has faced throughout history. I imagine many other
vulnerable groups will find connection with this book as well.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune is a fantasy about a group of magical youth
living in an orphanage. It touches on the struggles of being different, being labeled, LGBTQ2S+,
and the importance of diversity. The kids are said to be ‘extreme cases,’ feared by many, and
kept secret because of what people think they are. As you get to know the children, you come to
connect with them and learn about their past traumas, their strengths, and the things that make
them amazing. The orphanage is under audit by Linus Baker, a man who values rules, structure,
and routine. He is sent to the isolated island by his employer, The Department in Charge of
Magical Youth (DICOMY) with the task of reporting back an unbiased report of how the
orphanage is running. His reports are to include suggestions for changes regarding the children,
their fate, and their futures. He meets the children- Lucy, listed in his files as the Antichrist, or
the son of the Devil, a wyvern, a gnome, a forest sprite, a shapeshifter, and a gelatinous,
tentacled child named Chauncey. He also meets the head of the household, Arthur.
Linus has a lot of fear of his employer, and extremely upper management as he goes into
his assignment on the island. He does his best to maintain a professional distance but as he gets
to know the residents of the orphanage, he reflects on his own experiences growing up as a gay
boy in a society where most have tradtional values, not wavering outside the status quo.
Getting to know the children and Arthur gives Linus the confidence and the love he needs to
make real changes in a society run on fear.
This book describes diversity in a way that is interesting, heartwarming and influential.

s Contribution

The first book with Jacob as the main character.

Title of Book: Jacob’s New Dress (2014)

Authors: Sarah and Ian Hoffman

Illustrator: Chris Case

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9XPfjvijnE

Synopsis

Jacob is in Kindergarten. His best friend is a girl named Emily. They love the dress-up center
and Jacob likes to put on the dresses and wear the princess crown. The other boys in the class
tell him he shouldn’t be wearing them. One day Jacob wants to wear a dress to school. At first
his parents try to discourage him from doing so as they are worried about how the other children
will react. Jacob decides to wear a towel like a dress to school and some boys take it away from
him. When Jacob gets home he starts crying and asks if his mother will help him make a dress
that will stay on. His mother agrees and Jacob proudly wears his new dress to school. Although
some children start to tease him, Jacob feels confident in his new dress and has a wonderful
day at school.

I read this book to connect with Pink Shirt Day/Anti-bullying Day. Before I read it, I have the
students work in groups to do a picture sort to start a discussion about whether they think
certain activities objects are only for girls/boys. For example, will they put a picture of a frying
pan in the girls/boys only section or do they think it is for both. Who do they think can use
hammers and saws? Their decisions lead to interesting discussions that I follow-up by reading
this book.

The second book with Jacob as the main character.

Title of Book: Jacob’s Room to Choose (2020)

Authors: Sarah and Ian Hoffman

Illustrator: Chris Case

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK2-F39rtbU

Synopsis

Jacob is wearing a dress at school and he needs to go to the bathroom. When he enters the
boys’ bathroom the students who are there stare at him so he leaves quickly. His friend Sophie
also runs out of the girls’ bathroom. When the teacher understands there was a problem, she
initiates a class discussion about bathroom signs and whether they actually match what boys
and girls look like. The class decides they don’t, so they take action and make new signs with
slogans such as ‘Bathrooms are for everybody’ and ‘Be kind’. The story concludes with Jacob
and Sophie feeling more relaxed about using the school bathroom.

The third book with Jacob as the main character.

Title: Jacob’s School Play: Starring He, She, and They (2021)

Authors: Sarah and Ian Hoffman

Illustrator: Chris Case

YouTube Link: not available yet

Synopsis

There isn’t a YouTube read aloud of this yet and I haven’t seen a hard copy so I can’t give a
synopsis.
Title: The Skin I’m In

Author: Sharon G Flake

Synopsis:This book is about a young girl named, Maleeka Madison who is an African American
seventh grader. Her family struggles financially thrusting them into poverty all the while Maleeka
is self-conscious of her darker skin tone. As many young adolescents do, Maleeka struggles to
let people in and often fights back on those who want to help her the most. She deals with
bullying from her peers and really struggles with self-love and her overall self-esteem. The
bigger idea and message behind this story is to love yourself, accept your differences, and look
at the power of friendship and acceptance. I chose this book because I think it is a great
reminder to intermediate students who go through similar thought processes as Maleeka. This
book is aimed at grade 6-8 and is definitely something I will consider adding into my classroom
this year!
Book: Invisible (French) & The Invisible (English)
Author: Tom Percival
Invisible, a book by Tom Percival, is about a young girl who’s very happy with her family, but they struggle
financially and cannot pay for heating. Eventually, they have to leave her childhood house and move to a
less expensive part of town. Isabelle struggles to find beautiful things and happiness in her new
neighbourhood and feels isolated and lonely. She feels that no one notices her and eventually feels that
she has become invisible. Isabelle then discovers all the other ‘invisible’ people and decides to help them
and make a difference in her new neighbourhood.

The book talks about the different financial situations families may experience and the different
situations that may lead to a family struggling. It emphasizes that though a family may not have much
money, they can be full of happiness and love. When Isabelle becomes invisible, she sees other members
of society often ignored. These members include a homeless man, a young refugee, and a lonely old
lady. When Isabelle decides to help these other invisible people, everyone is slowly noticed by other
members of society and together they build and create a flourishing community where they all help each
other. This book is a great read for younger elementary students. I read it to my grade 3/4 students in
French and the images help make it a very impactful read. It highlights the diverse members of a
community and prompts a discussion about the members of society we often forget, why it’s important
to acknowledge them, and how we can work together to create a happy community where everyone
supports each other.

JUST ASK
Today I read the book JUST ASK by Sonia Sotomayor to my students.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4sGcaA6bFk) I wanted them to write a letter to
their new grade 4 teacher about themselves as learners (our students don’t get placed
into their new classroom until Friday). The author was diagnosed with diabetes as a
child and wanted to send the message that if we have questions about why someone is
different than us, we should just ask. The book celebrates diversity in learning and talks
about how we are all different and these differences makes us unique.
-

:
RACE CARS: A children’s book about white privilege

Author: Jenny Devenny (a clinical social worker and child therapist)

Edited by: Charmaie Gordon (a diversity expert)

Description of the book:

In a nutshell, Race Cars is a story about an unfair race between white/black cars and how,
ultimately, they should be treated equally. Complicated themes are broken down in a very easy
to understand story. I cannot say enough about the powerful conversations that will happen after
reading this book!

How it illustrates diversity:

RACE CARS tells the story of two best friends, a white car and a black car, that have different
experiences and face different rules while entering the same race. Children naturally feel
empathy, for both the “victim” (the black car) and his best friend (the white car) who doesn’t
understand why their experiences have to be so different. There is also a “race committee”
(made up of all white cars) and a historical context, which demonstrate themes of privilege and
perspective.

Messages in this book could definitely extend to how children think about other types of
diversity. For example, the core competency “I show empathy for others and adjust my
behaviour to accommodate their needs” and “I can advocate for others” are evident in the story.
Charmaie Gordon says, RACE CARS “is not about traumatizing children or making them feel
less than or guilty for having a specific skin tone. It is about educating them about the unfair
things that sometimes happen to people of color. Children should recognize when something is
unfair and then have the courage to be able to speak up and voice their opinions.” (Lavoie,
2021).

Reference
Lavoie, Alaina. (2021, May 2). Jenny Devenny and Charnaie Gordon (Race Cars) in Conversation.
WNDB. diversebooks.org. https://diversebooks.org/jenny-devenny-and-charnaie-gordon-race-cars-in-conversation/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It-XG0hLvMU

I would recommend this book to a wide range of student audiences. I was first introduced to it in
a table read with an alternate highschool class. I shared it with an LD strategies block, I recall
doing work with it on empathy and diversity with grade 8 English and it was around for
Communications 12 when that was a course in BC. Exploring the self, inquiry into what makes
identity from the inside and from societal points of view. A wonderful honest and at times brutal
story that in its truths and moments of wisdom reach most any teen and for that matter their
teacher. Pick it up, most districts in the province have a class set.

s contribution

I am Enough

Author: Grace Byers

The book I am Enough written by Grace Byers created an ode to help inspire and empower youth
especially young girls to loving yourself to be comfortable and proud in the skin that you are in,
respecting the differences of others, and being kind to one another. In the story, it presents many
contrasting aspects of individuals so that readers can connect and recognize their self-worth by
embracing and celebrating their diversity to the beautiful things and people that live in the world.
We live in a society where youth especially struggle with feeling they are enough just the way
they are in the world which causes much self-doubt, lack of confidence, self-worth, and
self-esteem. This is a great book to share with students to help foster all aspects of SEL
competencies of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and
responsible decision-making to further develop a growth mindset.
’s Contribution

Book Title: Turtle Island: The Story of North America’s First Peoples

Authors: Eldon Yellowhorn & Kathy Lowinger

Synopsis: Turtle Island: The Story of North America’s First Peoples is a book which works to
tell the history of the land we now call North America through the lens of a wide-range of
Indigenous groups. Starting by identifying and retelling a number of creation stories, the book
focuses on the history of this land through an Indigenous lens and works to highlight concepts of
biodiversity, food, art, culture, social systems, etc. Starting from creation and working toward the
modern day, this book works to utilize story-telling—which is prioritized in many Indigenous
cultures—to retell stories which are often not focused on in a settler-written account of North
American history.

How it Illustrates Diversity:

This book is excellent in reframing the way in which history is often told in North American
classrooms. Both in the content which is focused on and the method of retelling this history
(through storytelling), this book works to disrupt our settler understanding and timeline of history.
Not only does this book illustrate diversity through the reframing of history through often
silenced perspectives, this story book also works to focus on a wide range of Indigenous
groups—highlighting the diversity within and between Indigenous societies and cultures.

Personally, I like to utilize this book with my highschool Social Studies classes as a way to start
off the year by working to set up the framework for our learning through this year. The book
gives a great starting place for early understanding, or simply setting up the very important
Social Studies concepts surrounding space, place, and time. I think this book would be suitable
for Grades 5-10.

Book Title: Born a Crime

Author: Trevor Noah
Synopsis:
“Born a Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as
he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story
of that young man’s relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother—his
teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse
that would ultimately threaten her own life. The stories collected here are by turns hilarious,
dramatic, and deeply affecting. Whether subsisting on caterpillars for dinner during hard times,
being thrown from a moving car during an attempted kidnapping, or just trying to survive the
lifeand- death pitfalls of dating in high school, Trevor illuminates his curious world with an
incisive wit and unflinching honesty. His stories weave together to form a moving and searingly
funny portrait of a boy making his way through a damaged world in a dangerous time, armed
only with a keen sense of humor and a mother’s unconventional, unconditional love.”

Illustrating Diversity:
This book illustrates diversity by giving students an understanding of South Africa’s apartied as
well as appreciating the size and scale of Africa as a rich continent full of many parts and
cultures. This book allows students to delve deeper into understanding institutionalized racism
and how it seeps into our media and how we consume content. I think students should be
reading books from a diverse group of authors and feel like they are represented as well.
Oftentimes we read stories written by the classics and while they are classics for a reason, it is
vital that we show diversity throughout the year and not just toss in a book once a year around
black history month.

The Hate U Give - Angie Thomas

"Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she
lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these
worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at
the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.
Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a
drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops
and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is:
what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.
But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her
life.
Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this is a powerful and gripping YA novel about
one girl's struggle for justice."

The issues in the book are very relevant to life today. The book includes topics like Black Lives
Matter, racism, police brutality, fitting in, using your voice, and internal conflict over one's
identity.
It would be very relatable for students who come from unstable homes and try to keep their
home and school/social lives separate. Starr faces a lot of internal conflict around being true to
herself and who she is.

There is also a movie based on the book, and a prequel to the story. The prequel is about
Starr's dad when he was a teenager. I have read both books and really enjoyed them. I have
seen a couple of my students reading the books, and when I talked to them, they seem to be
liking them as well.

’s Contribution

YouTuber reading by author:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abN2aP_Dzd0

Title: Thank you Mr. Falker

Author: Patricia Polacco

Synopsis: “When Trisha starts school, she can't

wait to learn how to read, but the letters just get
jumbled up. She hates being different, and begins
to believe her classmates when they call her a
dummy. Then, in fifth grade, Mr. Falker changes
everything. He sees through her sadness to the
gifted artist she really is. And when he discovers
that she can't read, he helps her prove to herself
that she can - and will!”
Illustrating Diversity: This is a wonderful book that represents diversity in learning, which is not
as easily revealed and can be hidden and covered. It creates an opportunity to discuss and
celebrate the differences/exceptionalities in today’s classroom. I highly recommend this book
and dare you not to cry after reading!

s Recommendations

My department has really been working on bringing in diverse voices to

our classes, so I decided to pick a few texts that bring in diversity where I
think our bookroom is still lacking (in particular, I chose this one for its
inclusion of physical disabilities). I came across this memoir, The Bite of
Mango by Mariatu Kamara, that discusses not only personal experiences
as a 12 year old girl living in rebel-invaded communities in Sierra Leone,
but also her experiences with a new physical disability. Kamara is taken
by the invading rebels and is tortured. Her hands are cut off and she is
left as a refugee with no family.

The book brings in diversity through the life of the young refugee as well
as how she has to navigate life with a new physical disability and its
associated trauma. Recommended for middle school and high school.

Black Enough is an anthology that my department is reading as a book

club to bring in diverse short stories. It features short stories and
passages around topics of race, Blackness, immigrants,
socio-economic class systems, etc. all written for youth, too!
Recommended for middle school and high school.