Selected as a Best Book of 2018 by NPR, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, and Shelf Awareness! A young Muslim girl spends a busy day wrapped up in her mother’s colorful headscarf in this sweet and fanciful picture book from debut author and illustrator Jamilah Tompkins-Bigelow and Ebony Glenn. A khimar is a flowing scarf that my mommy wears. Before she walks out the door each day, she wraps one around her head. A young girl plays dress up with her mother’s headscarves, feeling her mother’s love with every one she tries on. Charming and vibrant illustrations showcase the beauty of the diverse and welcoming community in this portrait of a young Muslim American girl’s life.

Abdul loves telling stories but thinks his messy handwriting and spelling mistakes will keep him from becoming an author, until Mr. Muhammad visits and encourages him to persist.

A family, separated by duty and distance, waits for a loved one to return home in this lyrical picture book celebrating the bonds of a Cherokee family and the bravery of history-making women pilots. At the mountain's base sits a cabin under an old hickory tree. And in that cabin lives a family -- loving, weaving, cooking, and singing. The strength in their song sustains them through trials on the ground and in the sky, as they wait for their loved one, a pilot, to return from war. With an author's note that pays homage to the true history of Native American U.S. service members like WWII pilot Ola Mildred "Millie" Rexroat, this is a story that reveals the roots that ground us, the dreams that help us soar, and the people and traditions that hold us up.

In a Malaysian kampung, or village, lives little Aleeya and her dear Mommy sayang. Aleeya and Mommy do everything together, and in Aleeya's dreams, they dance among enormous hibiscus flowers. Aleeya loves to ask Mommy if she will always be by her side. Mommy assures her that she will, Insh'Allah. But one day, Mommy becomes sick. Alone, Aleeya waits for her return, and it's in this moment that Aleeya realizes she can always be by Mommy's side. With a hibiscus flower in hand, Aleeya goes to Mommy's bedside to bring her love and hope. Little by little, Mommy sayang gets better.

Introduce diversity and social-emotional learning to elementary students through a wide array of culturally relevant, quality children's literature. This valuable resource shares recommendations for books that explore race, ethnicity, gender, (dis)ability, religion, and more. The authors pair activities with book suggestions to promote healthy self-affirmation, self-assertion, and conflict resolution so students learn how their actions impact others. Gain a basic understanding of social-emotional learning and concepts. Discover why literature is an effective tool for conveying diversity issues and social-emotional concepts. Engage young students with literature and activities to help them understand complex issues. Integrate literature from a vast array of diverse groups into classroom learning to broaden cultural understanding. Create an environment in which students can learn, process, and celebrate cultural differences. Contents: Introduction Section I: Using Diverse and Culturally Relevant Children's Literature for Social-Emotional Development Chapter 1: Developing Social-Emotional Skills in Young Children Chapter 2: Using Diverse and Culturally Relevant Literature Section II: Affirming Others and Self and Asserting Self Through Diverse and Culturally Relevant Literature Chapter 3: Affirming Others Chapter 4: Affirming Self Chapter 5: Asserting Self Section III: Dealing With Aggression and Conflict Through Diverse and Culturally Relevant Literature Chapter 6: Responding to Aggression Chapter 7: Playing and Working Cooperatively With Others Chapter 8: Questioning Unfair Practices Epilogue Appendix: Integration of Digital Media References and Resources Index

Perspectives and identity are typically reinforced at a young age, giving teachers the responsibility of selecting reading material that could potentially change how the child sees the world. This is the importance of sharing diverse literature with today’s children and young adults, which introduces them to texts that deal with religion, gender identities, racial identities, socioeconomic conditions, etc. Teachers and librarians play significant roles in placing diverse books in the hands of young readers. However, to achieve the goal of increasing young people’s access to diverse books, educators and librarians must receive quality instruction on this topic within their university preparation programs. The Handbook of Research on Teaching Diverse Youth Literature to Pre-Service Professionals is a comprehensive reference source that curates promising practices that teachers and librarians are currently applying to prepare aspiring teachers and librarians for sharing and teaching diverse youth literature. Given the importance of sharing diverse books with today’s young people, university educators must be aware of engaging and effective methods for teaching diverse literature to pre-service teachers and librarians. Covering topics such as syllabus development, diversity, social justice, and activity planning, this text is essential for university-level teacher educators, library educators who prepare pre-service teachers and librarians, university educators, faculty, adjunct instructors, researchers, and students.

Today’s educators are aware of the need for social emotional learning in their classroom and can share the tenets of a culturally responsive pedagogy. However, what they lack is the practical strategies for implementation of these pivotal classroom practices. Pursuing Practical Change: Lesson Designs That Promote Culturally Responsive Teaching is an answer to this need! This book goes beyond just providing theory and data, but delves into the actual practices needed to be successful in today’s classroom. Within the chapters of this book, both novice and veteran teachers will find support through the lesson plans of practitioners, their reflections, and various strategies for classroom instruction.

Support and Retain Educators of Color sets school leaders on the path to creating a culturally diverse environment where all students and teachers can thrive. Multiple studies have explored the benefits of teacher diversity and strategies to recruit educators of color, but few focus on how to retain them. As professional demands on teachers intensify, many are leaving the classroom—and educators of color, already underrepresented in the field, are walking away at higher rates than their white counterparts. Research indicates the presence of educators of color benefits all students, so we must act now to lessen this financially and culturally costly turnover. Andrea Terrero Gabbadon presents six principles to guide school leaders in their efforts to support and retain educators of color: * Acknowledge that teacher diversity matters. * Cultivate reflection and self-awareness. * Assess and plan for action. * Commit to sustainable and high-impact instructional supports. * Foster supportive environments for culturally responsive approaches. * Lead for an inclusive community. Featuring voices from teachers in the field, research-based strategies and solutions, and recommendations for resources to enhance understanding and practice, Support and Retain Educators of Color is a vital tool for leadership intent on cultivating an affirming, validating, and inclusive school environment to serve a diverse population of staff and students.

Youth librarians and early literacy educators will find this book a helpful tool for making storytimes more inclusive and better representative of their community and the world at large. Written by two experienced librarians from one of the nation's most diverse metroplexes, Social Justice at Storytime provides a real-world, hands-on guide to storytimes that will help young people become more socially aware, empathetic, and confident. Storytimes can be a welcoming space for all members of the community. Anyone presenting storytime to young children can use these suggestions to broaden children's understanding of the often-confusing situations they see and hear around them. It is possible to discuss race, gender/sexuality, and diverse abilities in a child-appropriate way. Making social justice a part of an existing or new storytime practice provides an early literacy approach to including children in timely conversations. Readers of this thoughtful book will not only become more socially aware and empathetic, but they will also be equipped to choose diverse books and songs, make thoughtful and inclusive language choices, become more in tune with their diverse communities, and handle concerns from caregivers or administrators.

"Illustrations and easy-to-read, rhyming text encourage the reader to speak up about everything from their own name being mispronounced to someone bring a weapon to school. Includes author's note about real people who have found their voices, when to speak up, and how to express oneself without speaking"--Provided by publisher.