Children’s literature is becoming more and more diverse, but choosing which books to share with children can still be difficult.
KCUR’s Central Standard recently welcomed Kansas City authors Christine Taylor-Butler and Traci Sorellto a discussion of how representations of race in children’s literature have changed over time.
Here are their recommendations for books with diverse and nuanced characters and storylines.
Christine Taylor-Butler, children’s book author:
- Mama’s Boyz; The Offenders by Jerry Craft
- Gaby, Lost and Found; Allie, First at Last by Angela Cervantes
- Uncle Jed’s Barbershop; When Grandmama Sings by Margaree Mitchell
- The Laura Line; The Magnificent Mya Tibbs by Crystal Allen
- Enchanted Air by Margarita L’Engle
- Tiny Stitches by Gwen Hooks
- Whoosh; Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton by Don Tate
- Public School Superhero by Chris Tebbetts
Traci Sorell, children’s book author:
- Little You by Richard Van Camp, Dogrib Nation
- Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith, Muscogee Nation
- When the Shadbush Blooms by Carla Messinger, Lenape Nation
- Rock and Rock Highway by Sebastian Robertson, Mohawk Nation
- Thunder Boy Jr. and The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Spokane Nation
- Eagle Song by Joseph Bruchac, Abenaki Nation
- Indian Shoes and Rain Is Not My Indian Name by Cynthia Leitich Smith
- In The Footsteps of Crazy Horse by Joseph Marshall III, Rosebud Sioux
- If I Ever Get Out Of Here by Eric Gansworth, Onondaga Nation
- Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices edited by Lisa Charleyboy, Tsilhqot’in Nation, and Mary Beth Leatherdale
Anna Sturla is an intern at KCUR 89.3.