“Disability Intimacy” by Alice Wong
As a cis straight disabled woman I was intrigued by this anthology. I was already familiar with some of Alice Wong’s book and advocacy. I…
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racial diversity
“The Girl Who Figured It Out” by Minda Dentler
5 out 5 stars. “The Girl Who Figured It Out” has the potential to be a very important book in the children’s picture book space. I think it will appeal to kids with and without disabilities and deserves to have a place in elementary school libraries and classrooms.
“Everything Changes” by Carol Dodd
5 out of 5 stars. Everything Changes written by Carol Dodd and illustrated by Erin Huybrechts is a children’s picture book, but the message within the pages is one suitable for ALL ages. This rhyming book is filled with gorgeous watercolor style illustrations and features q variety of landscapes, animals, and people of varying cultural, racial/ethnic and religious backgrounds. My only complaint is that disability is not (visibly) represented. Despite this, I would still recommend this book to others as a great tool for talking about how change is okay and a normal part of the human experience.
“Be a Bridge” by Charles Waters and Irene Latham
5 out of 5 stars. Be a Bridge by Irene Latham and Charles Waters is a gorgeously illustrated book with a message that all can benefit from. The text is fun and engaging. Even in digital format I can tell that the illustrations will be amazing in a printed format. The cast of characters throughout the book is quite diverse. There are kids and adults of all races and ethnicities. There is a young girl wearing a hijab. There’s a student who uses a manual wheelchair. I can see this book being an excellent addition for a child’s home library or a classroom library. In fact I’ve already suggested that my friend who’s a first grade teacher consider adding it to her classroom library once it’s released. The authors also include a listing of additional books and activity ideas to reinforce the concepts described in the book. There is also a Bridge Builder Pledge that kids can sign. The authors also provide a link for a downloadable version of the pledge which would be perfect for classrooms or similar groups.
“On the March: A Novel of the Women’s March on Washington” by Trudy Krisher
5 out of 5 stars. Oh. My. Goodness. This is an amazing book. I was drawn to it because of the cover- it features a woman sitting in a wheelchair so I had a feeling that a disability rights perspective would be included in the book and I was not disappointed. The book touches on all sorts of themes including race, age, and ability/ disability. This book explores the experiences of three women as they learn more about themselves as well each others’ life experiences. The book also includes discussion questions at the end which would be perfect for either personal reflection or to help prompt discussion with others. For example, I could see a mother and daughter reading it together. This book is unique in that I think it would appeal to readers of all ages. As the characters grow, so many good questions are posed for readers to reflect on. I enjoyed the fact that there was factual information about different women’s rights leaders in a way that didn’t seem out of place or like a textbook. Including their names as well as the names of different civil rights organizations may encourage readers to learn more and/or become active in their community. All in all, I absolutely recommend this book.
“Allies: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, And Trying Again” by Dana Alison Levy and Shakirah Bourne
5 out of 5 stars. Allies: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, And Trying Again by Shakirah Bourne and Dana Alison Levy is a welcome addition to the expanding space surrounding how to be an ally. Through the lens of 16 the different pieces numerous issues were explored. Things such as race, gender identity, disability. Each piece was told in an authentic way that posed important questions for readers to reflect upon. While it may be presented as a book for Young Adults, I think that it serves as a great introduction for teens (high school) and adults of all ages on what allyship is all about. I appreciated the fact that one of the first pieces emphasized that it’s ok “start small” – that being an ally doesn’t mean you HAVE to attend large rallies or protests or completely change up your routine. It is more about noticing the little things you can do in your everyday life to be there for others. Another piece talked about how being an ally sometimes means *not* doing something – not speaking for others. Instead, it’s about giving people the space to share their experiences. Their stories.