Subject: Citizenship and PHSE
Topic: Diverse Representation
Age Group: KS1
Synopsis: On 20 January 2021 Kamala Harris realised a multitude of historic firsts by becoming the first female, first African American and first South Asian American Vice President of the United States of America.
But how many images of Black girls are there in your picture book collection? If there are any, how many of the images are merely window dressing where the Black girl is not a substantial character and plays no meaningful role in the story? Here are the top picture books showcasing powerful and celebratory stories about Black girls and women picked by Janet Noble, Primary School Librarian at Tower Hamlets.
Janet Noble
Tower Hamlets SLS
Librarian’s view:
Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
“In 2019 33.5% of the school population were of minority ethnic origins, in stark contrast only 5% of children’s books had an ethnic minority main character,” reported Reflecting Realities: Survey of Ethnic Representation within UK Children’s Literature 2019 https://clpe.org.uk/publications-and-bookpacks/reflecting-realities)
The lack of diverse representation in children’s books, as in all other areas of public life, can impact upon children just as powerfully as racist name-calling in the playground. It can leave children feeling isolated, depressed, angry or even ashamed of their race or how they look. Stories and storytelling can be a catalyst for anti-racist practice by amplifying diverse perspectives and promoting inclusive images and storylines. Exploring race, gender and culture through stories is an excellent way to raise these sensitive issues with school children.
Look Up!
by Nathan Byron
Rocket wants to be the greatest astronaut, star-catcher and space-traveller who has ever lived, just like Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space.
She’s so excited about seeing a meteor shower that she makes an announcement over the supermarket loudspeaker when the cashier isn’t looking, and hands out flyers to her fellow shoppers, much to her older brother Jamal’s disdain – after all, Jamal prefers to be looking down at his phone most of the time and not up at the stars. And when Jamal gets too into his gaming to take Rocket to the park to watch the meteor shower, what will she do? Fortunately, a knock at the door provides a joyous solution.
Sprinkled with facts about meteors and space, this charming picture book is also a lovely representation of family, sibling relationships and one girl’s infectious enthusiasm. Look Up! won the 2020 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize.
Activities
Watch the video of Nathan Bryon reading Look Up at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSkihS5mm-c
The Look Up! Puffin KS1 Inspiration Pack at https://www.puffinschools.co.uk/resources/ks1-powerpoint-picture-book-inspo-look-up/ includes:
- A prompt photograph
- Cover clues
- High-resolution illustrations from the books
- Pictures and prompts to develop text and inference skills
- Exercises to introduce pupils to picture book design and illustration techniques
- Craft ideas or a creative challenge set by the book’s creators
During a story time session use the book as the focus to:
- Celebrate diversity by discussing pupils’ difference, similarities and preferences.
- Explore the things that children dream of doing in the future and why they want to do these things. It can be one dream or many – the sky’s the limit.
Amazing Grace
by Mary Hoffman
It is hard to believe that it is 30 years since Amazing Grace was first published. This classic and award-winning story is based on Grace who is passionate about acting and pantomime. She is imaginative and fun and when school announce they are to perform Peter Pan, Grace couldn’t be more excited. However, her classmates declare that she can’t be Peter Pan, because she is a girl and she also can’t be Peter Pan, because she is black.
Grace’s family, which consists of her Ma and Nana, another unique aspect of the book for its time, sharing a single family, are evidently upset. Nana though is the one that shares wise words with her granddaughter and gently explains to Grace that you can do whatever you want, “If you put your mind to it.”
Activities
Watch the video storytelling of Amazing Grace at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GArzTjbS2ls
You can buy Amazing Grace Paper Dolls. Based on the book, these paper press-out dolls of Grace include cut-out clothes and accessories, a stage backdrop, an easy-to-assemble stage trunk, and a special page for designing and colouring original creations.
During a story time session use the book as the focus to:
- Celebrate diversity by discussing pupils’ differences, similarities and preferences.
- Explore the things that children dream of doing in the future and why they want to do these things. It can be one dream or many – the sky’s the limit.
Ada Twist, Scientist
by Andrea Beaty
Ada Marie is a curious child. Saying nothing until the age of three, she suddenly starts asking her parents, “Why? What? How?” and “When?” at every opportunity.
As Ada grows up, her curiosity wreaks havoc at school, but she has all the traits of a great scientist. One day, there is a terrible stink, and Ada must form and test a hypothesis about what might be causing it – which leads to a stint in the Thinking Chair…
A brilliant and beautiful rhyming book about supporting your child’s curiosity, Ada Twist also responds magnificently to the call for greater representation of girls – and girls of colour – in STEM subjects and industries (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Ada Twist was the Little Rebels Award Winner 2017.
Taking her inspiration from Ada Lovelace, the pioneer mathematician and programmer, Andrea Beaty has created an inspirational and entertaining book.
Activities
Watch the storytelling video of Ada Twist, Scientist at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tQcSKH37AY
During a story time session use the book as the focus to:
- Celebrate diversity by discussing pupils’ difference, similarities and preferences .
- Explore the things that children dream of doing in the future and why they want to do these things. It can be one dream or many.
I Am Brown
by Ashok Banker
A little girl celebrates her beautiful brown skin and imagines all the possibilities life has for her and her friends. Celebrating diversity and the variety of clothes, languages, aspirations, hobbies, faiths (including not having one) and cultures of a group of brown-skinned children, this delightful and upbeat book is all about being proud of your achievements, happy in your identity and comfortable within your wider community.
Activities
Watch the storytelling video of I am Brown at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntRE-sgSUu0Youtube reading by Miss Suzanne.
During a story time session use the book as the focus to:
- Celebrate diversity by discussing pupils’ differences, similarities and preferences.
- Explore the things that children dream of doing in the future and why they want to do these things. It can be one dream or many.
Izzy Gizmo
by Pip Jones
Izzy Gizmo, a girl who LOVED to invent,
carried her tool bag wherever she went
in case she discovered a thing to be mended,
or a gadget to tweak to make to make it more splendid.
Izabelle Gizmo just loves to invent, but her inventions never seem to work the way she wants them to. And that makes her really CROSS. When she finds a crow with a broken wing she just has to help. But will she be able to put her frustrations to one side and help her new friend to fly again?
Activities
Watch the story telling video of Izzy Gizmo at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwBMu7xjnxc
During a story time session use the book as the focus to:
- Celebrate diversity by discussing pupils’ differences, similarities and preferences.
- Explore the things that children dream of doing in the future and why they want to do these things. It can be one dream or many.
Sofia the Dreamer and her Magical Afro
by Jessica Wilson
This is a poetic look at the history of Afro hairstyles and, through Sofia, we see children encouraged not to be afraid to be themselves.
Every Sunday Sofia dreams as her Mum washes and styles her hair – and every style has a period and a cultural figure as an example of how styles and history sit together. Whilst feeling sleepy as her hair is done Sofia dream-travels to visit a Jamaican Rastafarian, an African ancestor and a Black Panther in Los Angeles. It’s a both a journey through history and beyond our world.
Activities
Read the interview with Jessica Wilson, the author of Sofia the Dreamer and her Magical Afro, at http://thebritishblacklist.co.uk/tbb10-with-jessica-wilson-new-author-of-sofia-the-dreamer-and-her-magical-afro/
During a story time session use the book as the focus to:
- Celebrate diversity by discussing pupils’ differences, similarities and preferences.
- Explore the things that children dream of doing in the future and why they want to do these things. It can be one dream or many.
- Acknowledge the different hair types there are amongst the pupils, but show how everyone’s hair is beautiful.
- Invite teaching staff and/or parents along to demonstrate diverse hair styles and styling techniques.
Counting on Katherine
by Helaine Becker
The inspiring true story of Katherine Johnson which focuses on a hitherto neglected figure from the Space Race. Helaine Becker’s crisp text and Dow Phumiruk’s gorgeous pictures bring Johnson’s incredible story to a whole new audience.
Katherine Johnson is the mathematical genius who helped make the historic Apollo 11 moon landings possible and made sure that Apollo 13 returned home safely when the mission was in critical danger.
As a child, Katherine loved to count. She counted the steps on the road, the number of dishes and spoons she washed in the kitchen sink, everything… Boundless, curious, and excited by calculations, young Katherine longed to know as much as she could about maths and about the universe.
Activities
Watch the story telling video of Counting on Katherine at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4aQr2HxggY
During a story time session use the book as the focus to:
- Celebrate diversity by discussing pupils’ differences, similarities and preferences.
- Explore the things that children dream of doing in the future and why they want to do these things. It can be one dream or many.