Diversify Your Reading Challenge.
Cindy Pon and Malinda Lo, authors of young adult fiction, have a
blog and a challenge for librarians: to highlight the diversity in your library collections. All you need to do is create a display, book list, book club activity or something else you thought to do and send a photo or copy of the list and enter. You could enter as a reader or blogger instead. Just read some diverse teen titles and write a 500 word essay about them. Your library could win a collection of young adult and middle school titles. Visit
here for the entry forms, other details and more information.
Speaking of diversity, I recently finished the third book in Nikki Grimes series about Dyamonde Daniel. In
Almost Zero, Dyamonde makes a big mistake in telling her mother she wants a brand new pair of red tennis shoes and it is her mother’s job to provide what she needs. The next day after school, Dyamonde has no other clothes or shoes. Her mom says she is providing what Dyamonde needs, but nothing more. Dyamonde is mad and sad, until a school classmate’s family loses everything in a fire. Then Dyamonde gets busy helping. This early chapter book delivers a wonderful message in an easy-going way. Large type, plenty of white space, and one or two illustrations per chapter will appeal to readers in grades one and two.
(The Nebraska Library Commission receives free copies of children’s and young adult books for review from a number of publishers. After review, the books are distributed free to Nebraska school and public libraries.)
