Diverse literature can be defined as books that celebrate diversity, include characters of different races, ethnicities and cultures, and/or explore the topics of racism and inequality. Including these types of books in classrooms promotes self-esteem in students that belong to minority ethnic groups, it promotes empathy and cross-cultural friendships, assists students in forming their identity, and can also help to facilitate discussions about race and inequality.

A quote on the topic of the inclusion of diverse literature that I find particularly powerful is, “Books can be mirrors in which children see and savor images and representations similar to their own lives and experiences. They can also be windows that enable young readers to gain new cultural perspectives by peering into others’ worlds” (Bishop 1990; Botelho & Rudman 2009).