The Anti-Bias Bookshelf
Welcome to the Anti-Bias Bookshelf
Where every story matters.
This space is dedicated to exploring the power of diverse books in early childhood.
Stories shape how children make sense of themselves and others. When we choose diverse books with intention, we help children develop empathy, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging. These choices matter. Books send powerful messages about who is visible, who is valued, and whose stories are worth telling.
Why This Matters
Early childhood educators “have the potential to teach children to be proud of their racial identities, to respect racial differences and to speak up for racial justice”
(Beneke & Cheatham, 2019, p. 108).
My own relationship with children’s literature began with my grandmother, who was a science fiction author for youth. Her work sparked my deep appreciation for storytelling, imagination, and the ways books can open worlds. Yet as a biracial child, I rarely saw myself reflected in the pages I loved. The books available to me did not portray families or children who looked like mine, nor did they offer authentic representations of cultural diversity.
Looking back, I understand more clearly how this absence shaped my sense of identity, belonging, and possibility. It also shaped my commitment to ensuring that the children we teach today do not experience that same invisibility.
Grounded in Research. Designed for You.
The Bias-Free Bookshelf was created to support Early Childhood Educators in exploring children’s books critically through a lens of social justice, representation, and critical literacy. Our goal is to help educators offer children inclusive, affirming, and culturally sustaining literacy experiences - ones that reflect the richness of their identities and the diverse world around them.
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Here, you will find meaningful ways to help you feel confident engaging in read-alouds and conversations about identity, culture, race, gender, language, and power, including:
Approachable Research
Practical Strategies
and Examples
Guidance for Selecting High-Quality Diverse Books
How to Use This Site
Explore tools and inspiration to nurture equity, inclusion, and critical thinking in early literacy.
You are welcome to explore these pages in whichever order feels most meaningful to you. If you’re not sure where to begin, I suggest starting with Why Representation Matters, where you’ll find the core ideas and research foundations that guide this work.