Love in Action: Children’s Literature to Promote Hope and Counter Fear
Congressman John Lewis uses the phrase “love in action” when speaking about the nonviolent revolution of the 1960s. When faced with systemic oppression, Congressman Lewis and fellow civil rights marchers led with love. Today, we are faced once again as a nation with divisive, harmful rhetoric and actions that threaten the values of civil liberties this country is founded upon. Yet, millions of Americans and people around the world are countering these actions by demonstrating “love in action”. At The Classroom Bookshelf, we believe that our classrooms should always be places fueled by hope, inclusivity, understanding, and most of all, love. We also believe that classrooms are spaces where all children should find connection and a sense of belonging. Books can help us get there. Books transmit values and let young people know they are not alone. Books are our ally if we want to promote hope and counter fear.
To support your work in fostering classroom conversations that build compassion and empathy and work toward activism, we have curated the following resources.
Building Sociocultural Understandings Through Children’s Literature
Resources for Locating Children’s Books with Muslim Characters
Kitaab World: Countering Islamaphobia Through Stories
The Horn Book: Refugees Welcome Here
Lee & Low: Picture Books About Muslim or Middle Eastern Characters
School Library Journal: Islam in the Classroom
Millikin University: Arab / Arab American Children’s Literature
Resources on the Refugee Experience
The Child as Refugee, The Classroom Bookshelf
The Refugee Experience: Books for Children, Colorin’ Colorado
How Do You Explain the Refugee Crisis to Children? New Picture Books Can Help
The Refugee Experience: Books for Children, The New York Public Library
Resources for Locating Diverse Books
International Board on Books for Young People
Notable Books for a Global Society
USBBY Outstanding International Books
Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children
The Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction
The International Children’s Digital Library
Multicultural Children’s Book Day
Resources for Teachers
Classroom Bookshelf Entries:
Malala: A Brave Girl/Iqbal: A Brave Boy
“Courage, Compassion, Connection: Building Community Through Powerful Characters”
Filed under: Announcements
About Katie Cunningham
Katie is a Professor of Literacy and English Education at Manhattanville College. There she is also the Director of the Advanced Certificate Program in Social and Emotional Learning and Whole Child Education. Her work focuses on children’s literature, joyful literacy methods, and literacy leadership. Katie is the author of Story: Still the Heart of Literacy Learning and co-author of Literacy Leadership in Changing Schools. Her book Start with Joy: Designing Literacy Learning for Student Happiness will be released September 2019. She is passionate about the power of stories to transform lives.
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