High-Quality, Racially Affirming Books Make a Difference

The Office of Child Development is committed to supporting adults when choosing, using, and donating high-quality books.

No matter the age of the reader, picture books have a unique way of opening the door to relationship building, conversations, and opportunities for learning. But picture books are also powerful agents for change. In 1990, Rudine Simms Bishop said that all kids need books that are mirrors to see themselves, windows to see the world, & sliding glass doors to enter other worlds.

At The Office of Child Development, we believe picture books are not only change agents for children’s learning but are powerful tools to support adult learning too!

Why Focus on Racial Equity in Picture Books?

Some children see reflections of themselves wherever they look – movies, TV, advertisements, schools. For others, those reflections are harder to find. White characters and animals dominate children’s literature with non-white characters accounting for less than a quarter of all picture books. While it is critical to center marginalized identities in children’s literature and beyond, educational opportunity gaps coupled with a deep seated history of race and racism in the US make centering racial equity a priority.

3 Ways to Get Involved