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Anti-Bias Book Review: Ohana Means Family

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For my anti-bias children’s book review, I chose the book Ohana Means Family, written by Ilima Loomis and illustrated by Kenard Pak. This book is about native Hawaiian tradition, the connection of families between culture, the native land, and Hawaiian history. This book provides an anti-bias perspective from its inclusion of minority groups and people of color and underrepresented communities in Hawaii. Oftentimes, life in Hawaii is misunderstood by the mainland United States, in addition to the gentrification of native Hawaiian culture that wrongly identifies Hawaiian culture and lifestyle. This book provides an accurate depiction of Hawaiian culture, the people, and the community, and supports children of native Hawaiian or Polynesian backgrounds that are rarely correctly presented in any form of media. As shown from the cover, the illustrations and characters show people of different skin tones, hair textures, ages, ability, and a community of people who are all different, and
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Anti- Bias Book Review: More Than Peach

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Anti- Bias Book Review: More Than Peach Bellen Woodard is now an 11 year old who is the CEO and founder of the More Than Peach project. She launched this project when she was 8 years old because she wanted everyone to feel included. She did not like that people referred to the color peach as “the skin color” when in reality there are so many different beautiful skin colors. When using other colors beside peach to color skin color people can see themselves being represented as well as others. Illustrations Show different people of color.  Shows the different “Shades of the world” Shows a student in a wheelchair Shows natural hair types Also shows her mom brushing her Afro  The depictions of the characters are not exaggerated to make a specific race look bad Effects on Children’s Self and Social Identities Because of the different skin colors represented in the book many can see themselves in the book.  Also because the author's goal is to make sure everyone feels valued and finds a
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Anti-Bias Book Review: My Food, Your Food, Our Food

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  Book Title: My Food, Your Food, Our Food Author: Emma Carlson Berne   Emma Carlson Berne is the author of over one hundred and twenty books for juvenile, middle-grade, and young adult readers. Emma lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and three young sons. She is a keen horseback rider and lover of nature and animals. She enjoys running and walking, hiking, camping, and cooking. (Information from her own website) Illustrator: Sharon Sordo   Sharon Sordo is an illustrator, cat hugger, and expert soup maker. As a Mexican girl growing up in the United States, Sharon found it difficult to relate to the many characters in children’s books that were available. Since then, she strives to represent different cultural backgrounds through her art. She lives in San Diego, California with her husband and cat (Information from her own website). My Food, Your Food, Our Food by Emma Carlson Berne is a stunning book that captures the differences in food culture around the world. The author, E
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Anti-Bias Book Review: The Day You Begin

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The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodsen illustrates the story of Angelina and friends in situations that make them feel different and out of place. Their reasons for feeling this way vary, giving representation to a multitude of different perspectives and ways of life. Paired with Rafael Lopez’s lush and captivating illustrations, Woodsen’s poetic writing takes an anti-bias approach by encouraging readers to discover the opportunities that embracing differences and opening up to others can bring.  Anti-Bias Elements: Message about different lifestyles: Differences are presented in an uplifting manner. There are four specific characters in the book that show different ways that children can feel ostracized. Through these four characters, Woodsen provides representation for readers that have been in similar situations because of their different backgrounds and lifestyles. Although these characters may feel left out at first, Woodsen beautifully describes their situations in a positive l
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Anti-Bias Book Review: Saturday by Oge Mora

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 Review by Cassidy Wallace Saturday by Oge Mora describes the adventures of a single mother and her daughter on Saturday, the one day of the week that they are free to spend together. Despite several mishaps that upset their plans and threaten to ruin this special day, the duo nevertheless find joy in being at each other’s side. In representing the largely overlooked demographic of single mother-led families of color, Saturday aims to normalize their experience and acknowledge the universal reality that life doesn’t always go as expected—and that’s okay. Anti-Bias Elements: Positive & Representative Illustrations : Mora’s collage-based art style is unique and engaging, while her representations of the characters avoid stereotypes commonly associated with Black women. She also incorporates distinctive aspects of Black culture, as shown through hairstyles and clothing, that help to create a mirror for young Black girls. Empowering Relationships & Different Lifestyles : Ava and
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The Cot in the Living Room Anti Bias Book Review

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  “The Cot in the Living Room” written by Hilda Eunice Bukgos and illustrated by Gaby D’Alessandro The topic of this book is about a little girl and her family who lets children of other parents who have to work during the night sleep on a cot in their living room. The little girl wishes that she can sleep on the cot in the living room and gets jealous when other children get to sleep there and not her. I believe that there could be many messages displayed in children’s books. In this book, I believe there are two particular messages. One is that although someone else's situation might seem better than yours, sometimes it isn’t. The little girl is always jealous of the children who sleep on the cot in the living room because she thinks that it comes with so many benefits, but when she gets the chance to sleep there, she realizes it isn’t that fun and is actually scary. The second message is to always give back and try to make another person's life easier. Both of the little gir
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Anti-Bias Children's Book Review: Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You

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  review by Angeline Estrada Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor contains a story about disability inclusivity in which the author depicts herself as a child working with her friends to plant a garden. In the book, the author starts by explaining that there are thousands of plants that are not only different in their appearance, but also in the type of care that they require. She makes the connection to how all children are different too and then proceeds to share her experience with diabetes before each of her friends introduce themselves and share their own disabilities or neurodiversities. Filled with Rafael López’ illustrations, this book promotes inclusivity through an anti-bias perspective that normalizes and respects differences due to a disability or neurodiversity . Anti-Bias Elements: Author's personal context : Sotomayor  includes a letter to the readers in which she describes her journey of being diagnosed with juvenile d
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