Diverse Representation

Diversity in books is defined by We Need Diverse Books as "...diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIA, Native, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities." Disability includes but is not limited to, "physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities, chronic conditions, and mental illnesses (this may also include addiction)."

Diverse representation may also be due to the author's identity, in addition to the characters'.

In addition to the representation of identities and lived experiences in books, we also use categories inspired by Diverse Book Finder to analyze how characters are represented in stories. These categories are featured below:

Categories Inspired by Diverse Book Finder
Categories adapted from Diverse Book Finder which analyze how under-represented identities are featured in stories.

How do I find Diverse Books?

Diverse Book Finder
A searchable catalog that has analyzed picture books since 2002 for stories with human characters representing black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC).
We Need Diverse Books
We Need Diverse Books has compiled a list of links which pull together diverse titles into one easy location. A great way to see example titles, but limited ability to filter results.
Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Diversity Statistics Book Search
Search for titles published since 2018 that are by or about Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Filter by diversity subjects, author, illustrator, and more.
NoveList Plus
Among many other features, NoveList Plus allows you to filter for books with characters who are: Culturally diverse, Religiously diverse, LGBTQIA diverse, and Ability diverse .

TCH 208 - Reading and Language Development

Diverse Representation

How do I find Diverse Books?

Diversity of Children's Books

Additional Links