9 Ways to Celebrate Diversity in September

Our mission is to celebrate diversity everyday, but each month we recognized and bring awareness to other cultures and people we may not always pay attention too. In September we recognize Grandparent's, Step Families, Hispanic/Latin Heritage, and Mental Health.

1. Different Like Me by Xochitl Dixon

Sometimes the things that make us different can leave us feeling like a fish out of water. Take your child on this whimsical  journey where each unique child works with the others to launch a giant colorful fish balloon. Along the way, the children learn to celebrate differences and uncover what they all have in common, so that even a "fish out of water" finds belonging.

2. Where are you From? by Yamile Saied Méndez

When a little girl is asked a simple question, she can’t seem to find the right answer. With help from her abuelo, she gets a better answer than she expected. With themes of identity and home, this book is a must for anyone who has ever felt like they don’t belong.

3. Island Born by Junot Díaz 

This book is a celebration of creativity, diversity, and imagination. Every kid in Lola’s school is from somewhere else, but Lola left The Island when she was a baby — and can’t remember it! Her family’s memories help her to imagine an extraordinary journey back to The Island.

4. Don't Go Bananas (Game) by Da Vinci's Room

Based on the ABCD Model of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Kids work to identify what triggers their emotions, analyze the beliefs they have about those situations, explore their reactions and look for ways to change their thought patterns.

Tackling 5 Emotions: The game works through 5 strong emotions - anger, sadness, worry, fear and jealousy. Players answer question prompts about different emotions and situations as they play the cards

5. Bag of Feelings (Toy/Game) by Kimochi

The Kimochis Mixed bag of feelings includes 33 Kimochis plush feelings and the 64-page feel guide (with fun and easy communication tips) all in a sturdy canvas bag. Invite spontaneous play and build emotional vocabulary!

6. Her Body Can by Katie Crenshaw

“Her body is beautiful—strong, kind and wise. All bodies are lovely no matter their size.” Her Body Can is a book of poetic self-love and body positivity declarations for all young girls. Its aim is to encourage our young girls to create a reality for themselves in which they love themselves and their bodies for exactly who and what they are, instead of learning to judge themselves and hate their bodies for what they are not. Our girls should know that their bodies are absolutely amazing and CAN DO incredible things—and that their worth is not measured by anything except how big they love themselves. 

7. Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor

Feeling different, especially as a kid, can be tough. But in the same way that different types of plants and flowers make a garden more beautiful and enjoyable, different types of people make our world more vibrant and wonderful.

In Just Ask, United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor celebrates the different abilities kids (and people of all ages) have. Using her own experience as a child who was diagnosed with diabetes, Justice Sotomayor writes about children with all sorts of challenges--and looks at the special powers those kids have as well. As the kids work together to build a community garden, asking questions of each other along the way, this book encourages readers to do the same: When we come across someone who is different from us but we're not sure why, all we have to do is Just Ask.

8. Listening to my Heart by Gabi Garcia

We talk to kids a lot about how to be friends to others, but not much about how to be friends to themselves. Yet self-acceptance and positive self-talk help them build emotional resilience, happiness and well-being.

When Esperanza finds a heart shaped rock, she sees it as a reminder to spread kindness and love in the world. But when the school play doesn’t go the way she’d hoped, will she remember to show it to herself?

9. Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

Yuyi Morales left her home in Xalapa, Mexico and came to the US with her infant son. She left behind nearly everything she owned, but she didn't come empty-handed. She brought her strength, her work, her passion, her hopes and dreams...and her stories.

 

But wait!! There's more..

 

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale by Carmen Agra Deedy 

This award-winning retelling of a Cuban folktale will make you look at cockroaches differently! This is a delightful read that will introduce your family to a new fairy tale. 

La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya 

This book is a Latino twist on the classic fairy tale! It’s a charming bilingual retelling with gorgeous art inspired by Peru.