These carefully selected books about celebrating differences but sharing our common bonds should spark some conversations about tolerance & diversity.
advertisementby Andrew Clements; illustrated by Yoshi Kogo
One very small and one very large fish learn that they can be friends, and use their different sizes to good advantage to learn new things. Shrimpy, the tiny fish, uses his problem-solving powers to rescue Big Al, and, in so doing, unites all the fish in friendship.
advertisementby Pat Thomas; illustrated by Lesley Harker
This book dispels stereotypes and assumptions based physical differences. For example, a girl who uses a wheelchair likes sports but a boy who is not disabled does not. Age-appropriate questions about disabilities appear in boxes throughout the text.
- Do you know anyone at school who has a disability?
- Do you play together?
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advertisementby the Cheltenham Elementary School kindergartners; photographs by Laura Dwight
Written by children and for children this book celebrates diversity by featuring children's drawings and photographs that reinforce multicultural and bias-free learning as it really happens at the Cheltenham Elementary School.
- Who do you know that has the same color eyes and hair as you do?
- Who has eyes and hair that are different? How are they different?
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advertisementby Mem Fox; illustrated by Leslie Staub
This book provides a a global perspective on the ties that bond and connect all of us. Beautiful, magical pictures add to the feelings that the world is a wonderful place full of human diversity.
- Do children all over the world go to school?
- Do they laugh or cry just like you?
What else do you think makes children from all over the world alike different?
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advertisementby Cindy Gainer; illustrated Miki Sakamoto
Multicultural illustrations that depict the many things children from various places and situations have in common and the ways that they are different. Diverse family structures, manners, sharing, kindness are all addressed in language that is calming and comforting for young children.
- Do you know someone who lives in a family like ours?
- In what ways are some families different from ours?
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advertisementby Guido Van Genechten
Flop-Ear is taunted and teased because one of his ears does not stand up like most rabbit ears. He devises funny ways to make his ear stand up with no success. After being assured by a doctor that his ear is fine, Flop-ear gains confidence in the way his ears are made.
- Why did the other rabbits tease Flop-Ear?
- How did the doctor to help him feel better about himself?
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