It is important to us that we provide her with books that show diversity and characters who represent all children, which help her to see and have a better understanding of others. One way that we are able to do this is through our time spent reading books together. We (as her parents) are responsible for developing her World View. Living in a suburb that isn’t the most diverse of suburbs means we have to be intentional about helping her see the World (capitalization intentional). As she developmentally moves away from being so focused on herself and her own little world I want her to be able to first see people for how they are similar to her, not different. Since our oldest is three she has definitely begun to notice people around her more and more. The diverse representation of kids in the photos reinforce the main concept that while we may look a little different from one another on the outside, when it comes right down to it, we’re all pretty similar. Any reader (no matter their shade!) will be able to identify with and see themselves in the photographs throughout this book. Photographs are always engaging for young readers, but what makes these so great is the familiar activities shown: recess on the playground, building sandcastles, splashing in the water, and playing at the park. There is just something about being able to see actual kids, all different sizes, shapes, and shades, doing actual ‘kid things’. If this book had been filled with illustrations, I don’t think it would be as powerful of a statement.

Part of what makes this book so powerful is the photographs throughout of kids (of all different shades!) doing what kids do laughing, playing, running, talking.

“Our skin is just our covering, like wrapping paper.Īnd you can’t tell what someone is like from the color of their skin.” What a radically positive and inclusive way to think about all people. We aren’t different colors, but different shades of the same color. Instead of saying the typical: ‘people have many different colors of skin’, which focuses on what separates us, this book takes that idea one step further by concentrating on what is the SAME about us. It is concise and honest as it explains that skin is just one part of each of us, and it really shouldn’t matter much what shade our skin may be. This book captures the idea that while none of us look exactly the same, we really aren’t all that different either. “Have you ever noticed that people come in many different shades? Another one of our daughter’s favorites is: Shades of People by Shelley Rotner and Sheila M.

Shades of people by shelley rotner