The websites listed below may provide additional information or resources for your Mirrors and Windows project. Please let us know if you have any additional resources to share!
Age-appropriate Book Recommendations
Start with these links for recommended book lists and searchable guides to find diverse books.
Inclusive Books for Children (IBC)
Lists of inclusive children’s books based on age, type, representation, themes/genres, and formats available with purchasing links.
Diverse Book Finder
A comprehensive collection of children’s and young adult books featuring Black and Indigenous Peoples and People of Color (BIPOC). The categorization is very specific, so you can search for books on Anishinaabe culture, for example, or a book with a lead character who is both Black and non-binary.
Rainbow Book List
Compiled annually by the Rainbow Round Table of the American Library Association (ALA), the Rainbow Book List showcases quality LGBTQIA+ literature for readers from birth to age 18. This resource guide is meant to assist librarians, educators, parents, and others to ensure that everyone from babies and children to tweens and teens have access to selecting quality books with significant content regarding LGBTQIA+ inclusion.
The Diverse Bookshelf
Features information about mirrors and windows and why we need diverse books, including videos that can be used in presentations. Also includes recommended book lists for young readers, including LGBTQ+ books, books exploring learning differences and neurodiversity, and reading lists for a number of different cultural identities.
Welcoming Schools
Welcoming Schools, a program of the Human Rights Campaign, offers recommendations for diverse books for elementary & secondary schools, as well as for caregivers and educators.
Free Digital Books for Students
Books Unbanned
Inspired by the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Statement and the Library Bill of Rights, Brooklyn Public Library founded Books Unbanned in 2022 to support the rights of teens nationwide to read what they like, form their own opinions, and work together with peers across the nation to defend and expand the freedom to read. Partnering libraries provide free library cards so teens can access their full digital collections.
Resources that Provide Books to Teachers and Classrooms
We Need Diverse Books
A nonprofit that takes a holistic approach in improving literacy and building compassion by affecting change across the entire reading pipeline— turning diverse manuscripts into published books and then donating diverse titles to readers nationwide.
Open Books
Works in partnership with school districts to bring LGBTQ+ affirming books to all of the elementary and middle schools in that district.
Annie’s Foundation
Provides $500 book grants to schools, libraries, and organizations in Iowa.
Resources for Teachers About Providing Culturally Responsive Teaching in Their Classrooms
Learning for Justice
Extensive resource and information center for educators interested in culturally responsive teaching, education about difficult or controversial topics, and learning for civic and political action. Includes articles, lesson plans, teacher guides and much more.
Reading Rockets
Library of evidence-based classroom strategies to help young children become skilled readers.
Hope in a Box
Equips educators with LGBTQ-inclusive curricula, training, and mentorship.
National Association of Educators (NEA): Just and Equitable Schools
Offers educators curriculum, toolkits, professional development events, resources, and advocacy and leadership opportunities to create and support just and equitable schools nationwide.
Welcoming Schools Guide to 10 Actions Educators Can Take
A list of 10 actions that ALL classroom educators and school staff can do to support LGBTQ+ youth and families directly.
Organizations that Oppose Censorship and Protect Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Information
American Library Association
The ALA champions the freedom to read and freedom of information, tracks book bans, and provides resources for challenging censorship.
PEN America
Fights to protect freedom of expression in the United States and around the world.
Unite Against Book Bans
Collaboration of organizations that advocate for the right to read and support actions towards defeating governmental censorship. Includes book resumes to help educators, parents, and librarians defend particular titles against censorship.
American Booksellers for Free Expression
Promotes and protects free expression, particularly expression within books and in literary culture, through legal advocacy, education, and collaboration with other groups with an interest in free speech.
Americans United for Separation for Church and State
Organization dedicated solely to defending the separation of church and state, protecting the foundational American principle of freedom of religion—including the right to believe or not believe— for all.
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
Defends and sustains the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought—the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights, promotes a culture of respect for these rights, and provides the means to preserve them.
Freedom to Read Foundation
Protects and defends the First Amendment to the Constitution and supports the right of libraries to collect—and individuals to access—information.
Public School Strong
Parents, educators, and students around the country are organizing to strengthen our public schools so that all children can thrive.
