MEMBERSHIP of representation ( or the lack of ) for my students . I became a collector of children ’ s picture books created by Black authors and illustrators ,” says Principal and Chief Diversity Officer Kimya Johnson ( Jackson Lewis ). Atlanta-based Partner and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Yendelela Neely Holston ( Kilpatrick Townsend ) tells us , “[ t ] he big thing about books is representation ,” she says , also recommending one of her son ’ s favorites in the fantasy genre for our list , as you can see below . “ It is important to me that my 8-year-old son can literally see himself in the stories that he reads . Thus , I try to make sure he has books where the characters look like him .” In fact , all children benefit when their bookshelf reflects authors and illustrators of diverse backgrounds , as well as books with multilingual content , helping them cultivate appreciation for lived experiences different from theirs , and to envision a properly diverse and inclusive world .
Holston pointed us to a helpful resource , Reach Out & Read ’ s Diverse and Inclusive Books List . Reach Out & Read , a non-profit organization whose network of pediatric clinicians incorporates tools to help families of young children make reading part of their routine , provides specific book recommendations as well as “ tips for choosing diverse and inclusive books ,” such as looking for books that “[ f ] eature diverse characters that are not only about race or prejudice ,” and avoiding books that “ contain hurtful racial or ethnic stereotypes , or images ” or “[ f ] ocus on the 5 F ’ s ( food , fashion , folklore , festivals , and famous people ).”
We invite you to check out a few lawyer-approved-recommendations ( including the ones our own kids like ) from 2021 and 2022 .
Please consider supporting local Atlanta bookstores and Blackowned booksellers such as Little Shop of Stories , Medu Bookstore , Charis Books & More , Good Books , or Bookish .
Book Recommendations for Older Kids
“ Class Act ” and “ New Kid ” by Jerry Craft . Award-winning graphic novels recommended by Tamareeshi Geffrard ( Snowden Geffrard ) whose son is in middle school , describes as “ excellent books that address diversity and inclusion from the perspective of a middle school age child .”
“ Dragons in a Bag ” by Zetta Elliott . Holston ( quoted previously ) recommended this award-winning fantasy fiction book that is a series , with a third book coming in Spring 2022 .
“ The Ear , the Eye , and the Arm ” by Nancy Farmer ( Smith , Gambrell & Russell ). Recommended by Patent Agent Dr . Adam Payne who describes it as “[ o ] ne of the best children ’ s books I know .”
“ The Magic Misfits Series ” by Neil Patrick Harris . The four-book series by actor Neil Patrick Harris ( a dad to preteen twins ) follows a group of kids who do magic as a hobby and includes occasional chapters that teach magic tricks . A favorite of Bonnie S . Levine ’ s ( Verse Legal ) kids ( ages six and eight ), it includes diverse and stereotype-defying representation , of which the author has said in a radio interview “ While that ' s intentional , … it ' s not something that I wanted to do and have it be the moral of the story . In fact what I think is nice about this reading level is that you can teach and you ' re teaching a group who are very anxious to be individuals and also to fit in . So it ' s a great duality .”
“ Where the Mountain Meets the Moon ” by Grace Lin . Recommened by Atlanta-area attorney Sarah F . Aufdenkampe ( FordHarrison ) says : “ The author , Grace Lin , weaves Chinese folk tales and fairy tales into an adventure story about a girl seeking a better fortune for her family and a dragon who wishes he could fly .”
“ Tristan Strong ” Trilogy by Kwame Mbalia . Mbalia ’ s protagonist , Tristain Strong , is an African-American teen who sets off on an adventure involving African gods and African-American folktales .
“ Akata Witch ” by Nnedi Okorafor . Sunny Nwazue , a twelve-yearold with albinism who excels at soccer , moves from America to Nigeria and discovers that she has magical powers .
“ Ghost Series ” and “ All American Boys ” by Jason Reynolds . Recommended by Johnson ( quoted previously ) says that her kids “ were drawn to [ these books ] because of [ Reynolds ’] unique ability to translate our most current and difficult subjects . Looking through the lens of the characters he created , allowed us to have deeper dialogues beyond what is . . . to how it feels .”
“ Dear Martin ” and “ Dear Justyce ” by Atlanta author Nic Stone . Follow Justyce McAllister through his letters to Dr . Martin Luther King , Jr ., to apply Dr . King ' s teachings to his own experiences with racism as a Black teenager in the Atlanta area .
Book Recommendations for Younger Kids
“ Stacey ’ s Extraordinary Words ” by Atlanta-based attorney and politician Stacey Abrams . Abrams ’ new autobiographicallyinspired book is about a child ’ s struggles with self-doubt and speaking up .
“ Laxmi ’ s Mooch ” by Atlanta-area attorney and author Shelly Anand . On Anand ’ s website , she describes the book as “ inspired by my own experiences growing up and having a mooch that other kids noticed . I hope kids ( and adults ) reading the book can celebrate their mooches and body hair !”
“ Antiracist Baby Picture Book ” by Dr . Ibram X . Kendi . In this
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