Social Justice at Storytime: Promoting Inclusive Children's Programs

by Shannon Adams, Lauren Hough

Overview

Youth librarians and early literacy educators will find this book a helpful tool for making storytimes more inclusive and better representative of their community and the world at large.

Written by two experienced librarians from one of the nation's most diverse metroplexes, Social Justice at Storytime provides a real-world, hands-on guide to storytimes that will help young people become more socially aware, empathetic, and confident. Storytimes can be a welcoming space for all members of the community. Anyone presenting storytime to young children can use these suggestions to broaden children's understanding of the often-confusing situations they see and hear around them. It is possible to discuss race, gender/sexuality, and diverse abilities in a child-appropriate way. Making social justice a part of an existing or new storytime practice provides an early literacy approach to including children in timely conversations.

Readers of this thoughtful book will not only become more socially aware and empathetic, but they will also be equipped to choose diverse books and songs, make thoughtful and inclusive language choices, become more in tune with their diverse communities, and handle concerns from caregivers or administrators.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440876394
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	09/28/2022
Pages:	162
Product dimensions:	6.15(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.45(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Shannon Adams, MLIS, is an amateur storyteller and librarian who enjoys learning and helping to bring social awareness to children and adults.

Lauren Hough has more than nine years of experience working with children and teens in school and public libraries and more than three years presenting social justice–themed storytimes and programming.

Table of Contents

1 What Is Social Justice? 1

References 7

2 The Importance of Social Justice 9

Foster Positive Personal and Social Development 10

Dispel Implicit Biases 12

Promote Unity, Equity, and Community Empowerment 13

Normalize Cultural Diversity 14

References 14

3 How to Implement Social Justice Storytimes 17

What Is Storytime? 17

How Does Social Justice Storytime Differ? 19

References 23

4 Storytime Components 25

Social Justice Themes 25

Body Acceptance 26

Civil Rights and Activism 27

Community Helpers 28

Diverseabilities 29

Environmental 30

Everyday Diversity 31

Families 32

Friendship 33

Gender Roles 34

Global Citizenship 35

Hair 36

Immigrant Experience 37

LGBTQ+ 38

Mental Health 39

Multicultural 41

Names 45

Poverty 46

Race 47

Women's History 48

World Cultures 49

Direct vs. Indirect 54

Choosing Diverse Books 57

Choosing Diverse Songs 58

References 59

5 Language Awareness 61

Pronouns at Storytime 61

Gender-Inclusive Language 62

Gender-Neutral Language 62

Gender-Neutral and Nonbinary Picture Books 62

Gender-Nonconforming Picture Books 63

Gender-Inclusive Songs, Flannels, and Extensions 64

Multi-Language Inclusion 66

References 71

6 Embrace Your Community 73

Demographics Matter 73

Out and About 74

Not Your Average Story … Time 77

Religious Communities 77

Immigrant Communities 78

English-Language Learners 78

Disabled Library Users 79

Communities of People Experiencing Homelessness 80

Digital Storytimes 80

Storytime Equity 81

References 82

7 Use What You Know: Sample Storytimes 83

Storytime Preparation 83

Book Selection 84

Song Selection 87

Extension Activities 88

Every Child Ready to Read® 88

Community Guidance 90

Storytime Rules 91

Sample Storytimes 92

Virtual Storytime-World Culture: Japan 92

Virtual Storytime-World Culture: West Asia 93

World Culture: India 95

World Culture: Mexico 96

World Culture: Africa 98

Multicultural: Fairy Tales Retold 99

Environmental: Nature 100

Environmental: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle 101

Environmental: Bees 103

Mental Health: Happiness 105

Mental Health: Anger 105

Mental Health: Confidence 107

Kindness 107

Friendship 109

People: General 111

People: Everyday Diversity 113

People: Community Helpers 114

People: Being Different 116

People: Being Different, Version 2 118

People: Bodies 121

People: Race 123

People: Melanin 123

Social Justice: Activism 124

Social Justice Storytime: Civil Rights 125

References 126

8 Addressing Concerns 129

Social Justice and the Library 132

Navigating Administrative and Parent/Caregiver Concern 134

References 135

Additional Resources 137

Subject Index 139

Title Index 143

What People are Saying About This

Louie T. McClain II

"This age of technology and media popularity makes it extremely easy for our children to receive a distorted picture of what life is about. Social Justice at Storytime is an opportunity not only to provide a space for marginalized communities to cope through literacy, but also to receive perspective and a paradigm for championing life in the face of surmounting challenges."

Melissa Dease

"Adams and Hough go beyond the politics of social justice to show how promoting inclusion and celebrating diversity in storytime helps build character and social literacy in our youngest patrons. This book is a valuable training resource for all library staff, not just children's librarians. It reminds us how valuable library programs can be in developing safe spaces and building community."

Editorial Reviews

Adams and Hough go beyond the politics of social justice to show how promoting inclusion and celebrating diversity in storytime helps build character and social literacy in our youngest patrons. This book is a valuable training resource for all library staff, not just children's librarians. It reminds us how valuable library programs can be in developing safe spaces and building community.” —Melissa Dease, Youth Services Administrator, Dallas Public Library

“This age of technology and media popularity makes it extremely easy for our children to receive a distorted picture of what life is about. Social Justice at Storytime is an opportunity not only to provide a space for marginalized communities to cope through literacy, but also to receive perspective and a paradigm for championing life in the face of surmounting challenges.” —Louie T. McClain II, CEO, Melanin Origins

From the Publisher