When I was growing up it wasn’t unusual for people to take a second look when it was just me and my dad. It wasn’t unusual for a parent to ask me ‘is your mum around?’ when dad was right there.
It felt a bit funny when I’d be asked ‘‘who is picking you up today?’… whilst the grown up was actually looking at MY dad.
And it felt even worse when someone would say ‘is that REALLY your dad?’. ‘Ermmm… yeah?!’ I’d say rolling my eyes, because who else would it be!
Looking back, I remember feeling confused by the questions thrown my way every now and again. MY NORMAL was being surrounded by a beautifully diverse mixture of friends and family from all sorts of backgrounds. I didn’t feel different. I didn’t feel less or more than anyone else. I was just me. But as I got older I started to notice. I noticed that there weren’t really many children like me in my class at primary school. There wasn’t really anyone like me in the books that I devoured every bedtime. And there definitely weren’t many people on TV like me either (way.. way..back in the day).
It made me question things that I probably shouldn’t have thought twice about. And whilst I was never particularly affected, I did secretly wish that perhaps I could have been one of the children to climb up the Faraway Tree. Or my family could have been the ones going on a Bear Hunt.
I suppose what I’m trying to say is that wouldn’t it be great if all sorts of families were featured in children’s books. Not necessarily being focused on as part of a very specific storyline, but more, just there.
1. Our children need to know that they should always take pride in being themselves. That they are more than good enough.
2. They need to see that it’s beautiful to be different, yet the same too.
3. They need to be able to easily find themselves (in leading roles) in plenty of children’s books with relatable characters. Whether that’s as a shy pixie, a fashionista weasel, a kind wolf, a dragon fighting princess or just a little boy going to playgroup for the first time.
4. Our children deserve to be shown that humans come in all sorts of stunning shapes and colours. That this is normal. This is everyday.
5. They need to see through the eyes of different and diverse characters to have the opportunity to understand the unfamiliar and keep developing their empathy.
6. They must be able to find role models that look just like them to help encourage their belief that they can grow up and chase their dreams of becoming an astronaut, a teacher, a dog groomer… anything that tickles their fancy.
7. Our children should have books that they can jump head first into and dive into imaginary, magical places. But they also need little windows into the real world to visit other people and places.
We loved reading We’re off To Find A Unicorn from Owlet Press that featured a mixed family.
WILD is now out in Spanish!
WILD – Our debut children’s picture book
Dad blogger Ross Good from The Stented Papa is the official storyteller for WILD!
Happy book birthday WILD!
Never ceases to amaze me the words people feel free to say to kids…
And I liked that shot of your book shelf.
Nice post. And yes, it’s funny how limited the ‘range’ of colours and genders were. #Dreamteam
I am very conscious about how I talk to my daughter about diversity and stereotypes. As a very random example, I try not to say things like ‘girls don’t burp’ which I feel is already grooming her to be ‘lady like’ and behave in a certain way. Instead trying to explain it is rude and not nice manners.
I have just bought her a book called ‘Here We Are’ by Oliver Jeffers which looks like a lovely book talking about the world and how we are all different yet the same.
#DreamTeamLinky
I agree open up for all, makes it less quiet and people not talking about it x #dreamteam
You are so right, it is important to keep kids in the real world and move with the times. #DreamTeam
So many reasons to have representation. My family norm is a very large blended one, I and my sister used to be put on the spot I explaining the dynamics of why we are different. Not that it was rocket science x x #DreamTeam
Totally agree – it’s so important. I’ve been buying lots more diverse books for the twigs recently x #dreamteam
Its so true, but thank goodness things have at least started moving forward. When I was a child I remember going to visit Westminister Abbey with my parents and seeing a leaflet about being a mixed family – this was referring to being a mix of catholic and protestant as in my family!!!! I couldn’t believe that this needed a leaflet! Clearly it is ridiculous, but people were so very bigotted really just back in the 80s which isn’t that long ago so lets hope we continue to move towards celebrating and enjoying all our differences that make us all wonderful. I am hopeful for the future for our children
Yes please to more diversity! How amazing would it be if every child could see themselves in the characters in their books? ❤️ #DreamTeam
My cousin get frustrated by Disney as she feels her mixed race daughter struggles to identify with the white princesses. I know our school has struggled to find appropriate resources that are high quality and not tokenist. #dreamteamlinky
I couldn’t agree more. We love Izzy Gizmo for featuring a black female character who is also an inventor, helping girls see that they can be anyone and do anything they want if it makes them happy
Yes to this! My friends partner was 60 when they had their baby. He went to pick his daughter up from pre-school and she was asked who is picking you up today? She said Daddy, and the lady said don’t be silly this must be your grandad. All families are different so I completely agree with you.
Following the Black Lives Matters protests, we did a book audit and almost every book my son was reading featured white main characters. His favourite authors are all entirely in that category. We are making much more effort now to diversify our reading. We are currently reading Clayton Byrd Goes Underground which my son and I are both really enjoying.
So whole heartedly agree with this post and it was something I was so conscious of working in classrooms that were so diverse.
Brilliant post! And so spot on.
My Mum’s friend had a children’s book written about her and her mixed race family and I just remember thinking this was such an important book. But thinking about it, I’m not sure if her husband actually appeared in it. I’ll have to dig out my copy.
It’s called Silver shoes by Caroline Binch x
This is so important. We all must be represented in some way so that children can understand that people are different, and we should celebrate that and also learn.
I hear you!!! I love the movement towards diversity, but I do think we need to move towards it at a faster pace.
I grew up in a very white area and when I went to college I remember thinking how much more diverse it was just 10 miles down the road…
You are certainly right. All families are different and there should be much more diversity in children’s books.
Yes so much to all of this! My eldest boy has long hair, loves pink and wants to learn to knit. I tracked down a couple of books about boys that didn’t follow the usual stereotypes, and his face lit up when he read them and he recognised himself in them. I’m always trying to introduce other diversity in to their bookshelves too, to broaden their own personal frames of reference.
Absolutely – I couldn’t agree more. I hate the idea that we are told what ‘normal’ is when lots of us come from diverse backgrounds with really different definitions of what family is.
I’m always surprised that there still isn’t as much diversity in children’s books as there could be these days. You’d think it would be second nature to include a variety of different family groups, races, and genders etc. It’s definitely something I’d like to see happen sooner rather than later.
Louise x
I totally agree with you – my mum & dad kept a lot of our children’s books which they now read to my kids when we visit & some of the stereotypes are shocking – especially mums beings the ones at home cooking/cleaning/shopping (insert eye roll here) #DreamTeamLinky
I have reviewed some great children’s books that challenge diversity@_karendeenis
I have reviewed some great children’s books that challenge diversity@_karendeenis