And yet another option comes from a much more specific source: Finding My Way Books, which publishes and promotes the stories of children with disabilities. The bookstore collaborated with online bookseller Bookshop on a list of inclusive childrens holiday books. The holidays seemed like a perfect opportunity to promote religious inclusion and understanding, said the outfits publisher and author Jo Meserve Mach. Shes been working with Bookshop throughout 2020 on various books lists, including:
For this specific list, I did not want any white Santa Clauses because they are so universal and exclusive, Mach told Shopping, noting she attempted to find a balance in the number of titles that represent any one religious group. I intentionally include under-represented people so their voices are lifted up within our society.
Best inclusive picture books
To help you gifting this year, we listed Mach’s list below in alphabetical order and along with average reader ratings from reading network Goodreads.
1. “Binny’s Diwali”by Thrity Umrigar and Nidhi Chanani
- Goodreads: 4.29 star-average rating, more than 95 ratings
2. “Christmas Makes Me Think” by Tony Medina and Chandra Cox (available Dec. 19)
- Goodreads: 3.88 star-average rating, more than 30 ratings
- Goodreads: 3.98 star-average rating, over 300 ratings
5. “I Got the Christmas Spirit” by Connie Schofield-Morrison and Frank Morrison
- Goodreads: 3.76 star-average rating, more than 250 ratings
- Goodreads: 4.50 star-average rating, over 450 ratings
- Goodreads: 4.11 star average rating, over 15 ratings
- Goodreads: 5.00 star-average rating
- Goodreads: 3.17 star-average rating, over 10 ratings
- Goodreads: 3.47 star-average rating, over 30 ratings
- Goodreads: 4.18 star-average rating, more than 200 ratings
12. “Shubh Diwali!” by Chitra Soundar and Charlene Chua
- Goodreads: 3.49 star-average rating, over 120 ratings
- Goodreads: 4.00 star-average rating, more than 20 ratings
14. “The Shortest Day” by Susan Cooper and Carson Ellis
- Goodreads: 3.87 star-average rating, over 700 ratings
- Goodreads: 3.83 star-average rating
16. “Too Many Tamales” by Gary Soto and Ed Martinez
- Goodreads: 4.14 star-average rating, 4,400 ratings
- Goodreads: 4.30 star-average rating, more than 1,300 ratings
- Goodreads: 4.43 star-average rating, more than 35 ratings
Why buy inclusive childrens books
Why opt for an inclusive picture book this holiday, whether for your kids or to gift others? For one thing, consider the same reason Mach said she found her calling in creating inclusive childrens books: The need for books sharing positive stories about children with disabilities.
In the last century, stories tended to be about animals with a physical limitation or about children being cared for. Those books encouraged readers to see children with disabilities in a dependent way and exclusive way, she explained. Children with disabilities need to see the wonderful role models who are out there and children without disabilities need to see that children with disabilities are just like them. With that in mind and so close to various gifting occasions, Mach urged parents and grandparents to consider diversity in the childrens books they shop for.
It seems like a slight shift in thinking, but it could change the perspective of the children reading books throughout their lifetime, she noted. You dont even realize how narrow your reading focus is until you stop and examine the books on your shelf.
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