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| |    Choosing Non-Racist, Non-Sexist Books by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. Books carry powerful messages, both in what they say, and how they say it. Books that portray people of all colors, cultures, and ethnicities with respect, and that avoid sexual stereotypes, help children take an accepting and positive view of themselves and the rest of humanity. Here are some specific things to think about as you choose books for your child: Look at the illustrations. Are characters drawn stereotypically? Do people of color have Caucasian features except for tinted skin? This token concession doesn't really help your child realize that people have many different physical characteristics. Look at the story line. Are people of color or females given subservient roles? Are cultural beliefs and practices portrayed accurately? Are negative judgments implied in the way different lifestyles are depicted? Look at the characters. How are individual characters presented? Who has the power? Who are the heroes in the story? Who are the villains? Consider a child's self-image. What messages does a child receive from the story? Does the story glorify violence or revenge? How does the story support or undermine a child's self-esteem? For example, stories in which the hero's only virtue is brute strength do not help children value their own positive qualities. By contrast, heroes who also show compassion, resourcefulness, and courage do allow a child to feel that she might be like the hero in her own small way. Think about your child's total experience with books. It's not important that every single book be multicultural. But, as a whole, the books you and your child share should reflect our multicultural world. If you're black, for example, it's important that many (but not all) of the books you choose portray people with black features. Children need to be able to see themselves in books. If you're white, it's easy to find good books with Caucasian characters. But white kids need to experience books where the main characters are black, brown, yellow, and red, and from diverse ethnic backgrounds, too. *This list was adapted from the Reach Out and Read Handbook, and the Council on Interracial Books for Children. The full document can be found at Ways to detect Racism and Bias. Reach Out and Read is a national organization of children's doctors and others who promote reading aloud as part of a healthy childhood. For more, see www.reachoutandread.org.
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