Race, Equity, and Inclusion Center

The power of books for positive impact and change,
brought to you by Reading Is Fundamental.

 

Tips & Tools
Research & Rationale

Research & Rationale

This section provides materials that support the work of ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion in children's literature. From academic and pedagogical approaches to data that drives decision making, these resources can help you communicate the need for diversity in children's literature.

RIF has engaged a powerful and diverse National Advisory Board to guide its work in communities that have been historically underserved and those that are the most marginalized. Meet the members, below.

RIF's National Advisory Board
14609
Kathy Burnette

Founder, Brain Lair Books

click for bio
14610
Charnaie Gordon

Author; Diversity & Inclusion Expert, Here Wee Read

click for bio
14611
Violet J. Harris

Professor Emerita, Curriculum & Instruction, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

click for bio
14614
Nicole A. Johnson

Owner, Extraordinary Changes

click for bio
14612
Carmen Rubin

Author; Founder, One Blue Village; Founder & President, Peppermint Candy Publishing

click for bio
14613
Don Tate

Author & Illustrator

click for bio
Statements from RIF and Other Organizations
Race, Equity, and Inclusion and RIF

A Message from RIF's CEO, Alicia Levi
American Academy of Pediatrics

Statement on Racism and Adolescent Health
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

A collection of NCTE's statements on diversity
Literacy Research Association

The Role of Literacy Research in Racism and Racial Violence: Statement Endorsed by the Literacy Research Association
Studies & Statistics
CCBC Diversity Statistics

Books by and about Black, Indigenous and People of Color
Diversity in Children's Books Infographic 2018

Blog post featuring infographic created by David Huyck and Sarah Park Dahlen.
Lee & Low: 2019 Diversity Baseline Survey

Before the Diversity Baseline Survey (DBS), people suspected publishing had a diversity problem but, without hard numbers, the extent of that problem was anyone’s guess.
The Diverse Book Finder: Research & Data

DiverseBookFinder has collected, coded, and cataloged thousands of trade picture books published since 2002 depicting Black and Indigenous people and People of Color (BIPOC).
Sesame Workshop Identity Matters Study

Parents' and educators' perceptions of children's social identity development (completed in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago)