Anti-Bias Children's Book Review

  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 juven...

 Our class (UCSD, EDS 131 Early Childhood Education Practicum) is studying the role of literature in young children's lives to reduce racism and bias in society. Students are reading and reviewing literature written for young children to help them learn to counter racism, to see windows to the world, and mirrors of themselves.  We are reading  Louise Derman Sparks Guide to Selecting Anti-Bias Books  and Don't Look Away: Embracing ANTI-BIAS Classrooms by Iheoma Iruka, Stephanie Curenton, and Tonia Durden.    We hope these reviews bring new insights, connection, and joy to you and the children in your life.