Welcome to the monthly children’s book review feature with a focus on diverse books here at Bird Meets Worm! My team of reviewers—Cara Chow, Joan Charles, Sharon Calle—and I are so excited to be championing books celebrating everything from gender diversity, people of color, the LGBTQ community to ethnic, cultural and religious minorities, people with disabilities and developmental challenges to controversial topics, unique family situations and anything and everything I did not include. It is to say we take a rightfully board view of diversity! We aim to shine a light on books that bring both familiar experiences to those who do not often see themselves represented in books and new experiences to those looking to expand their worldview. Here at Bird Meets Worm we believe in the power of story to build empathy and thus a better world for you and me and everyone. Look for a new review on the second Wednesday of every month.
CAN I TOUCH YOUR HAIR? POEMS OF RACE, MISTAKES & FRIENDSHIP
By Irene Latham & Charles Waters • Illustrated by Sean Qualls & Selina Alko
Poetry picture book (ages 6+) • 40 pages
Published by Lerner Publishing Group • 2018
ISBN 978-1-5124-0442-5
One of the very first things children notice while they are growing up is differences between themselves and their peers. Can I Touch Your Hair? stands out from other children’s books that tackle the subject of diversity. Through beautifully illustrated poems, we see the real problems that children are facing when learning that the world is made up of a rainbow of colors, creeds, shapes, sizes, and orientations.
In a key scene, a girl and a boy of different races are paired up to complete a poetry assignment. The children decide to pick topics they can both write about. At first, their poems just reflect their differences. They soon discover they have much more in common than they initially suspected.
“Sometimes we say the wrong thing, sometimes we misunderstand. Now we listen, we ask questions.”
Can I Touch Your Hair? opens very necessary doors to discussion and questions, which ultimately lead to understanding. This unique book inspires tolerance, while guiding young minds toward understanding that despite our differences, we have much more in common than we think.
Published by Lerner Publishing Group • 2018
ISBN 978-1-5124-0442-5
One of the very first things children notice while they are growing up is differences between themselves and their peers. Can I Touch Your Hair? stands out from other children’s books that tackle the subject of diversity. Through beautifully illustrated poems, we see the real problems that children are facing when learning that the world is made up of a rainbow of colors, creeds, shapes, sizes, and orientations.
In a key scene, a girl and a boy of different races are paired up to complete a poetry assignment. The children decide to pick topics they can both write about. At first, their poems just reflect their differences. They soon discover they have much more in common than they initially suspected.
“Sometimes we say the wrong thing, sometimes we misunderstand. Now we listen, we ask questions.”
Can I Touch Your Hair? opens very necessary doors to discussion and questions, which ultimately lead to understanding. This unique book inspires tolerance, while guiding young minds toward understanding that despite our differences, we have much more in common than we think.