May 1, 2014

#WeNeedDiverseBooks Suggested Reading List

The #WeNeedDiverseBooks hashtag continues to top Twitter's "Trending" list today! It's a very exciting time for those of us who care about diverse books and have been plugging away at this for a long time. Our kids need this, we need this as a society, so that our books can be a true reflection of our culture.

So if you have not yet joined the campaign, there is still time! Here is the information. And please remember that one of the most important aspects of it is to follow words with action: On Saturday, May 3rd, run out and buy a book written by a Latino, or two, or three, or five! And if you can't afford even one, check one out of the library, or tell your librarian if the book you seek is not available. Whatever steps you can take to increase diversity in the marketplace will be joined by those of many others, and if each of us does something, we could potentially change the publishing landscape. My little one and I will definitely be visiting our local bookstore (and library) this weekend!

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Reading is the best gift that we can give our kids; and putting a book in their hands that somehow speaks to them directly is the best way to empower them to use their own voices when the time comes for them to do so, as children, and adults.

So here are some Latino books you should know to get your started on your diverse books shopping list, in addition to the ones I listed in yesterday's post. These are some of my personal favorites, and the list is by no means exhaustive, so please free to add to it in the comments section below. We want as many books by Latino authors to get noticed (and purchased) as possible! Happy Reading!



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