Friday 5 | April 7
5 Disability-Affirming Book Recommendations
In recognition of the UK National Deaf History Month
A child with hearing aid at the playground, a woman in a wheelchair at the grocery store, people using sign language on the train. How do we explain diversity to our children in a respectful and responsible way?
As a mother and a Montessori educator, I feel responsible to introduce diversity and inclusion to my child, children I may get the chance to spend time together with and encourage parents and families as a PEACE facilitator to have conversations about this very relevant topic. Introducing diversity from a very young age is crucial, because our world is a beautiful place and we as adults, who are the biggest role models for the next generation, need to introduce this beauty to our children from many different aspects. As also Louis Armstrong sings in his song ‘What a Wonderful World’:
“The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying how do you do
They’re really saying
I love you”
It’s a heartwarming song which spreads love and kindness, but as colorful the rainbow is as colorful our society is. Here are some books which could be great conversation starters to bring diversity and inclusion to our bookshelves and lives.
✅ Intersection Allies: We Make Room for All
by Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, and Carolyn Choi.
A book teaching our children about allyship, equality and how to support each other and how to accept each other’s differences.
Purchase from local Black-Owned Bookstores, like Marcus Books, the nation’s oldest Black-owned independent bookstore in Oakland, CA (where The PEACE Program is based).
✅ Come Over to My House
by Eliza Hull
Wonderful way to introduce disability to our little ones on a respectful and lifelike way by introducing seven different families.
Purchase from local Black-Owned Bookstores, like Marcus Books, the nation’s oldest Black-owned independent bookstore in Oakland, CA (where The PEACE Program is based).
✅ Autism: I See Things Differently
by Pat Thomas and Claire Keay:
An informative book explaining children about autism.
Purchase from local Black-Owned Bookstores, like Marcus Books, the nation’s oldest Black-owned independent bookstore in Oakland, CA (where The PEACE Program is based).
✅ The Same but Different
by Molly Potter:
Beautiful pictures and easy language for primary aged children about all types of differences of people.
Not available for purchase from Marcus Books, the nation’s oldest Black-owned independent bookstore in Oakland, CA (where The PEACE Program is based). Amazon link here.
✅ All About My Life-Family, Friends, Feelings and Diversity
by Felicity Brooks:
Lovely collection, I would definitely highlight two of them: one about different families and the other one about diversity.
Not available for purchase from Marcus Books, the nation’s oldest Black-owned independent bookstore in Oakland, CA (where The PEACE Program is based). Amazon link here.
About The PEACE Program
Our Montessori Masterclass lives into our values of self-reflection, self-care, responsiveness to being/becoming Anti-Bias / Anti-Racist, and a deep commitment to the whole child within the whole family. We offer a holistic program meant to provide inclusive, practical, and supportive guidance for parents & educators from birth to six.
