Supporting Books for Children that Celebrate Diveristy

We have launched the Army of Nannies Diversity Reading Room to showcase books for children celebrating diversity.

It’s a simple idea – create an online library space for nannies and families to showcase and discover books for children that embrace diversity.

Our community of nannies, families, and little ones recommend all the books on the shelves. And friends of Army of Nannies have picked some to get going!

Click here to visit the AoN Reading Room

How Does the Diversity Reading Room Work?

Reading Room visitors can browse the books on the shelves. And click on the covers to read the synopsis and choose whether to purchase with Waterstones.

We loosely arrange the books to consider reading ages: the top shelf for older children and the bottom shelf for little ones.

I wonder if anyone will click on the cat or the radio? (hint, hint)

How Does a Book Get on the Reading Room’s Shelves?

The rule is that every book on the shelves must have an aspect of diversity embedded within its core narrative.

If our community recommends a book, we will review it; if it meets the test, it will have every chance of getting listed.

Whether that’s race, gender, disability and more – providing the book is of good enough quality and it presents diversity naturally and authentically – it stands every chance of making it to the shelf.

Click here to recommend a book on Facebook

Click here to recommend a book on Instagram

Why Is This So Important?

There are three simple thoughts that underpin this activity:

• All children should be able to see a reflection of themselves in the books they read
• All children should see a reflection of the world around them in books they read
• Seeing diversity in children’s books – in all its forms – is just one of many influences that brings people together and helps to normalise differences.

The AoN Diversity Reading Room is one of many projects that helps us to live our values around equality. You can read about them here.

Help Us Fill Our Shelves

The AoN Diversity Reading Room is a community space. We encourage our nannies, families and little ones to send us their recommendations on our social channels.

Please do remember to post your book suggestions on our Facebook page @armyofnannies here under the tag #AoNReadingRoom

We very much look forward to building the AoN Reading Room with you.

Together, we can create a beautiful collection of books for children that educate, entertain and celebrate the world around us.