For many of us, stories shape our world — starting from a young age.
Books can take us to places we've never been. They teach us how other people think, live, dream, and thrive.
Make believe hits overdrive with "Alice in Wonderland." Image by iStock.
And stories that highlight diversity, fairness, and empathy can even change people's minds about tough issues.
But while fiction books with diverse casts of characters are on the rise overall, many books still don't include any specific cultural content. And according to data from the Cooperative Children's Book Center, parents and teachers are still more likely to find a book starring an adventurous animal or automobile than a child of color.
Illustration by David Huyck in consultation with Sarah Park Dahlen and Molly Beth Griffin.
After the election, kids (and their families) need to see examples of diversity and fairness more than ever. In the weeks immediately following the presidential election, the Southern Poverty Law Center recorded more than 700 incidents of harassment, intimidation and violence around the country. It's happening at schools, places of worship, businesses, and on the street.
That’s why hundreds of children's authors and illustrators joined forces to stand up to fear and bigotry with stories.
From the dollhouse to the White House, kids need to see themselves and people from diverse backgrounds and experiences saving the day, working hard, loving fiercely, and overcoming obstacles.
Image by iStock.
These creative professionals signed their names to a powerful statement that promises to work harder to bring more diverse kids stories to the world. The statement was written by the founders of the Brown Bookshelf, a site that signal boosts African-American authors and illustrators.
Together, these writers and illustrators pledged to use their talents "to help eliminate the fear that takes root in the human heart amid lack of familiarity and understanding of others; the type of fear that feeds stereotypes, bitterness, racism, and hatred; the type of fear that so often leads to tragic violence and senseless death."
These authors and illustrators will "plant seeds of empathy, fairness, and empowerment through words and pictures." They'll be ink and paper reminders that each life is valuable and precious, regardless of origin, skin color, religion, gender, or orientation.
The list of pledgers includes several notable authors, illustrators, and influencers too.
National Book Award recipient Jacqueline Woodson; best-selling author Daniel José Older;Newbery Medal winner Marilyn Nelson;and author/actor/host LeVar Burton all pledged their support. As of this writing, the statement is supported by more than 700 authors and illustrators.
Quotation from Woodson's "Brown Girl Dreaming." Woodson at the 32nd Annual Lab School of Washington Gala honoring Outstanding Achievers with Learning Differences. Photo by Riccardo Savi/AP.
Their mission is incredible, and fighting hate with empathy in stories and books has never been more important.
To start, here's a list of books for children of all ages that promote diverse experiences, kindness, hope. and empathy. I can't wait to see the new books that will join these ranks in the coming year.
Image designed by Michael Calcagno, Upworthy.
Preschoolers (ages 2-4)
"Counting on Community" by Innosanto Nagara
"I Know a Lot!" by Stephen Krensky, illustrated by Sara Gillingham
"Round Is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes" by Roseanne Thong, illustrated by John Parra
Little Kids (ages 5-7)
"This Day in June" by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten
"Last Stop on Market Street" by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson
"I Love Saturdays y domingos" by Alma Flor Ada, illustrated by Elivia Savadier
Big Kids (ages 8-9)
"Thunder Boy Jr." by Sherman Alexie, illustrated by Yuyi Morales
"Penny and the Magic Puffballs" by Alonda Williams, illustrated by Tyrus Goshay
"Inside Out and Back Again" by Thanhha Lai
Tweens (ages 10-12)
"Cool Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Growing Up Latino in the United States" edited by Laurie M. Carlson
"Flying Lessons & Other Stories" edited by Ellen Oh
"The Tequila Worm" by Viola Canales
"One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia
Teens (ages 13+)
"Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" by Benjamin Alire Saenz
"March: Book 1" by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell
"American Born Chinese" by Gene Luen Yang
Whether you're a parent, teacher, or just someone who wants to make sure the next generation arrives at adulthood being empathetic and kind, that all begins with stories.
There's never a bad time to let children know how loved and valued they are. Change starts now.
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.