When Ashley Thomas set out to buy books with diverse characters and themes around racial justice — books that might help kids understand the time they’re living through — she struggled.
All of the most popular titles were sold out.
That meant Thomas had to really search for the books that her organization, Stand for Children Indiana, is now giving out to families. In a new campaign aimed at combating summer learning loss, the education-reform nonprofit is asking families to take a reading pledge – just 20 minutes a day – but they also wanted to spark conversations about racial justice.
“Children reading for just 20 minutes a day develops the mind, enhances vocabulary, fuels imagination and promotes creativity,” said Thomas, Stand Indiana's regional organizing director. “At this time in our history, we also know that children need an outlet to talk about race, celebrate their heritage and discuss any trauma that’s been experienced by seeing these images of police brutality.
“We see this campaign as a way to tie all of this together and support families in having these difficult discussions at home.”
Thomas, whose own children attend Indianapolis Public Schools, said it was great to see that so many families were looking to tackle these topics with their kids and introduce them to characters who looked like them – or, for maybe the first time, who didn’t.
But it also speaks to a larger problem. While there are more diverse authors in the world of children’s books today, there is still a relative lack of books written by people of color and featuring children of color. It’s clear, Thomas said, that such books benefit all kids — kids of color who are maybe seeing someone who looks like them in a book for the first time, and white children who can learn about diversity through books with characters who are different than them.
But statistics show that, while progress is being made, most books for kids and teens still feature white characters and are written by white authors. In an annual survey of new titles, the Cooperative Children's Book Center found that about 12% of books examined in 2019 were about Black/African characters, subjects, and/or settings and only around 6% were about Latinx characters, subjects or settings.
Struggling to find books for Stand for Children Indiana's giveaway, which continues this week, Thomas reached out to local bookseller Indy Reads Books and looked for titles by local authors. She ended up purchasing 132 books with diverse characters and social justice themes at a variety of reading levels.
Some of those were handed out to families last week at a drive-thru event at Phalen Leadership Academy at School 103. Another will be held today from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Stand Indiana’s office, 546 E. 17th Street.
Margarito Cuautle was happy to receive books at different reading levels, catering to his four kids between the ages of 2 and 15.
“The kids wanted new books,” he said, parked outside Phalen Leadership Academy at School 103 as volunteers brought age-appropriate books aimed at sparking conversations around racial justice to the car. Because of concerns about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, masked and gloved volunteers bring the books up to families' parked cars; kids and parents can stay in their vehicles.
Cuautle said he and his wife are excited to take the reading pledge, making sure everyone gets in at least 20 minutes of reading each day for the rest of the summer.
Stand will hand out books today until they run out. Thomas said the nonprofit is always looking for donations to support additional book-buying and other initiatives. Donations can be made at their website.
Some families may be struggling to find ways to talk with their kids about the Black Lives Matter movement and the deaths that have sparked it, Thomas said. She encourages families to use books to start the conversation.
“There’s no such thing as too much for Black and brown families,” she said, “when we’re being killed and losing our lives.”
The Indianapolis Public Library also has a collection of kids books to help start conversations about racial justice, on its website.
Stand is also hosting two virtual book readings with local authors, whose books are included in the giveaway. The readings will be hosted over Zoom and access codes will be posted on Stand Indiana’s Facebook page. The next one is Wednesday at 6 p.m. with author India Hui and her book Marisol's Hair. Another is planned for July 14 with Brandon Warren and his book B Inspired, also at 6 p.m.
Even families who can’t make it to the book event or have plenty of books at home already are encouraged to take the 20-minute reading pledge. Learn more at Stand Indiana’s website, stand.org/indiana.
Call IndyStar education reporter Arika Herron at 317-201-5620 or email her at Arika.Herron@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @ArikaHerron.
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