Giving Tuesday: We Need Diverse Books
We Need Diverse Books is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and a grassroots organization of children’s book lovers that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people.
Books Save Lives employs a three-pronged strategy to directly address book bans and champion diverse titles. We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) will raise awareness, provide resources, and create positive change, all while supporting the educators, authors, and children most affected by the bans.WNDB recognizes the power of a diverse book.
They make a child feel seen. They teach empathy and resilience. They even save lives.
But diverse books are under attack. As book bans and censorship sweep the country, they disproportionately target diverse stories.WNDB watched in alarm as more and more titles are removed from shelves – but they are going to fight back.
With their new Books Save Lives initiative, WNDB will take meaningful action that will make our world a better, more empathetic, and more accepting place. And, like WNDB itself, Books Save Lives is a positivity campaign. Their approach is threefold:
Books Save Lives Grant
The Books Save Lives Grant will allocate up to $10,000 for schools to purchase diverse titles for their libraries and classrooms. They will prioritize grants for schools located in areas impacted by book bans and censorship.
Support for grassroots organizations fighting bans
Working with the grassroots organizations in battleground states, WNDB will produce educational materials for their on-the-ground efforts, arrange author visits, and support media specialists as they navigate the efforts of groups attempting to ban books. WNDB will produce a guide for educators to help them navigate conversations around banned books.
Support for Authors
Finally, they will offer support and resources to diverse authors in the form of education, publicity for challenged books, and paid school visits to bolster their income.
Here's how you can help:
-Join their social media campaign starting December 1. Take a photo of yourself with the book that saved your life and share its impact in your life. Post your text and image to your social media accounts starting on December 1 with the hashtag #BooksSaveLives. Let's show the power of a story and why the book bans must stop.
-Champion diverse books in your community. Speak up at school board meetings; recommend diverse books at your library; purchase and review books by diverse authors. Every little bit helps!
If you have any questions, please reach out to Kaitlyn Patterson at kaitlynpatterson@diversebooks.org
We Need Diverse Books - Links:
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