Inclusive children’s book recommendations for the holidays, courtesy of the Boulder Public Library

Across the country, libraries are becoming a battleground for culture wars with children at the center…but not at the Boulder Public Library. Between the books they recommend and the diverse events they put on for kids, librarians and staff there really prioritize representation in literature. Melanie Borski-Howard is a youth services specialist, and I sat down with her yesterday afternoon to get her recommendations for children’s books this holiday season, and talk a bit about censorship across America.

Here are some children’s book recommendations, courtesy of the Boulder Public Library:

Here are some of the Boulder Public Library’s Children’s Holiday Book Recommendations:

1. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
2. Melissa by Alex Gino
3. Garvey in the Dark by Nikki Grimes
4. Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty
5. Bodies Are Cool by Tyler Feder
6. Once Upon a Book by Grace Lin and Kate Messner
7. I love you, baby burrito by Angela Dominguez
8. We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade
9. Mira, toca, siente: un primer libro sensorial para compartir con tu bebé by Roger Priddy
10. Vámonos a Tegucigalpa by Patty Rodriguez
11. ¡1, 2, 3 salsa!: English-Spanish counting book by Delia Ruiz
12. Martina tiene muchas tías by Emma Otheguy
13. Plátanos are love by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris
14. Biblioburro: Una historia real de Colombia by Jeanette Winter
15. Cuando la Tia Lola vino de visita a quedarse by Julia Alvarez

Borski-Howard also shared with us some resources to find books highlighting different aspects of representation:

1. Specific to African-American Literature
   ● The Brown Bookshelf
   ● Coretta Scott King Book Awards (American Library Association)
2. Specific to Native American Literature
   ● American Indians in Children’s Literature
   ● American Indian Youth Literature Award (American Indian Library Association)
3. Specific to Latino Literature
   ● How to Tell the Difference: A Guide for Evaluating Children’s Books for Honest
   Portrayals of Raza Peoples (De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children)
   ● Latinxs in KidLit
   ● Pura Belpré Award (American Library Association)
4. Specific to Asian Literature
   ● Common Errors in American Children’s Books with South Asian Content (Uma
   Krishnaswami)
   ● Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (Asian/Pacific American Librarians
   Association)
5. Specific to Jewish Literature
   ● PJ Library
   ● Sydney Taylor Book Award (Association of Jewish Libraries)
   General Selection Resources (Reviews, Awards, Booklists, etc.)
   ● School Library Journal
   ● Book & Media Awards (Association for Library Service to Children)
   ● Diverse Books (Colorín Colorado)
   ● Where to Find Diverse Books (We Need Diverse Books)
   ● Booklists (Worlds of Words)
   ● CCBC Recommended Book Search (Cooperative Children’s Book Center)
   ● Center for the Study of Multicultural Literature
   ● Teaching for Change
   ● See What We See (Social Justice Books)
   ● Notable Books for a Global Society (Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest
   Group of the International Literacy Association)
   ● Diverse BookFinder

The Boulder Public Library will be closed from December 19th through December 25th for the transition of technology systems to the Boulder Public Library District, and for the holidays.