Bans on diverse board books? Young kids need to see their families represented, experts say

When Wes Brown sought out children's books for his two young sons, he made sure to seek titles that reflected the family he and his husband were building.

He found that in one called “The Family Book,” a 2003 picture book by Todd Parr. It depicts families of all kinds: the traditional nuclear family, but also families with one parent or step-parents, as well as adoptive families and same-sex parents like Brown and his husband.

But across the country, books and lessons that represent different families and identities are increasingly the target of conservative pushback — even when they're for the youngest of learners. Parr's book for preschoolers and early readers is often among those challenged by parents and activists.

“It is important my kids are definitely exposed to that,” Brown said. “What these parents are really doing is demonstrating how fragile their worldview is, that a children’s book is enough to shatter it.”

Efforts to ban books have been surging at school and public libraries. Of the bans targeting picture books, about three-quarters are books that address LGBTQ+ themes and roughly half are stories that mention race, said Kasey Meehan, Freedom to Read program director at PEN America.

“There’s legislation out there that could lead to felony offenses and criminalization, (teacher) decertification,” Meehan said. “When you see this threatening environment, more and more they see educators responding in an overly cautious approach, and that shows up in how they think about their classroom libraries.”

Objections to the titles often involve arguments that they are not age-appropriate. In some of the many challenges Parr's book has faced over the years, opponents have taken issue with a line that reads, “Some families have two moms or two dads,” saying it was not suitable for young children.

Educators and free-speech advocates said the books often simply acknowledge the existence of different identities. That's crucial, they say, to help young children develop empathy and an understanding of themselves — especially for children whose families include people of color or LGBTQ+ relatives.

The disputes have spilled over into classrooms. In Wake County, North Carolina, a preschool teacher resigned last year after an uproar over flashcards that depicted LGBTQ+ families, to teach colors based on the characters' clothing.

In Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, replaced the state's early childhood learning director in April over the use of a guide for preschool teachers. The governor denounced the guide as teaching “woke concepts” because of language about inclusion and structural racism.

The book comes from the National Association for the Education of Young Children — the nonprofit professional association for early childhood education, which accredits daycares and preschools. The fourth edition of the group's “Developmentally Appropriate Practice Book” says in part that children “begin to see how they are represented in society” in preschool and that the classroom should be a place of “affirmation and healing.”

The Alabama official's ouster was the most prevalent example of how censorship and restrictions on teaching are extending beyond the K-12 sphere into early learning, said Leah Austin, president and CEO of the National Black Child Development Institute.

Research has found that children as young as 6 months old can perceive race-based differences. Limiting content denies children opportunities to learn about themselves, and to relate to other people, Austin said.

For young children, having access to books that interest them is also a crucial factor in becoming strong readers and battling disparities in literacy rates, said Michelle Martin, a youth and children’s services professor at the University of Washington. Although the diversity of children's books has grown in accurate years, representation is still lagging.

Martin recalled growing up in South Carolina, where her parents had to drink from segregated water fountains. As a child, she had little choice but to read books that depicted stories far removed from her experiences.

“There were really limited books that my generation had that reflected who they are,” she said. “Those books are beginning to be much more widely published, and those are the ones that are being targeted.”

In Florida, where Brown and his family live, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has pushed through legislation that bans mentions of gender identity and sexuality in classrooms for all grades, including public pre-K programs. Supporters of the law say parents, not teachers, should be broaching those subjects with their children.

For gay people of his generation, Brown recalled, building a family often felt like a remote possibility. When he and his husband first started dating in 2002, it was illegal in the state of Florida for gay couples to adopt a child.

“It was like a dream, but it's a dream that's so far off," he said. “It's like, ‘I want to fly like Superman.’ You don't even really think it's something you can have."

The couple revisited the question in their 30s and decided to pursue adoption. Brown said he and his husband know it is inevitable for their sons, now ages 5 and 7, to encounter questions about having two dads.

“These laws are actually not meant to keep people from talking about sexuality,” he said “It is to prevent queer families from being talked about, the queer experience from being talked about. It is very much aimed at us.”

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The Associated Press receives support from the Overdeck Family Foundation for reporting focused on early learning. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

ONE ELEUTHERA FOUNDATION: Books to help enhance your leadership skills

By Dr Kim Williams-Pulfer PhD

of One Eleuthera Foundation

IN this, their 50th year of independence, they have hopes for increased blessings, unity, and prosperity. They also sense that they have more work to do to build an inclusive nation that embodies equal opportunities, social cohesion, and full participation. While it is fitting to celebrate leaders who continue to safeguard and advance their national interests, it is also valuable to accept that humans build imperfect societal systems which can create local challenges. In this time of national reflection on their country’s triumphs and possibilities, they should all consider how they can work toward social impact to address these issues.

There is no better place for us to get to work than within civil society or what some may call the third sector. When they typically think of the third sector, formally organised local non-profit organisations come to mind. However, they should also consider how many of us participate in grassroots and informal ways to support their communities. If you are doing work that uplifts your community, seeking to make it better whether through full-time employment in a non-profit or as a volunteer, neighbourhood or student leader, board member, or donor — your efforts are needed in a world of increasing inequality, where the looming dangers of climate change, and other existential events also threaten their societal stability.

That said, in addition to a desire to help others, community leadership requires organisational and community development skills, a broad knowledge base, and emotional intelligence. Their striving foremothers and forefathers could not predict their current world, where they have rapid access to information. Today, they are responsible for taking advantage of the proliferation of knowledge and using it to grow their community leadership practices. Their access to rapid-fire technology can also make it challenging to assess fact from fiction or knowledge from entertainment. One of the ways in which they can wade through the cacophony of information is to slow down and value knowledge that requires us to identify their roots, understand nuance, enhance their awareness of global challenges, and learn from successful, inspirational leaders. Well-written and researched books of diverse genres can reveal new facts and perspectives in ways that social media cannot afford. If you see yourself as a community leader or changemaker, I recommend a few books to enhance your community leadership skills.

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (Penguin Random House)

You may know of Bryan Stevenson’s story because of the recently released film of the same title with astounding performances by Jamie Foxx and Michael B Jordan. I also encourage you to read the book to understand Stevenson’s journey to becoming an inspirational leader.

Stevenson traces his early days in starting the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) in 1989, headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama. As a thirty-year-old accurate graduate from Harvard Law School, he was compelled to use his legal education to support people who had no or limited access to legal representation and were unjustly treated by the legal system. The book weaves US social and legal history, statistics, and personal stories to show us how he painstakingly built the organisation and developed programmes and practices addressing the injustices his clients experienced. It also covers how Stevenson’s tenacity allowed him to use his legal prowess and skills as a fundraiser and advocate to draw people to his cause.

Stevenson explains how he built a network of donors and supporters who recognized that social change is arduous, there are no quick fixes, and it requires immense sweat equity and robust financial support. His philosophy of life and leadership also challenges my views on mercy, especially for those that society deems undeserving of their care, even as I extol the virtues of forgiveness. Today the organisation has grown tremendously, and EJI offers prison re-entry and poverty alleviation programmes. Recently, it established two acclaimed museums that compel visitors to contemplate the troubling aspects of one’s national history.

This year, Stevenson was awarded the US National Humanities Medal presented by President Joe Biden, noting that he is “an advocate fighting tirelessly for the poor, incarcerated, and condemned, [following] the Book of Micah’s instruction to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.” Just Mercy presents a story of third-sector leadership worthy of their attention.

Race and Class in the Colonial Bahamas 1880-1960, Dr Gail Saunders (University of Florida Press)

We must find new ways to celebrate the bevy of Bahamian writers, including scholars, poets, playwrights, journalists, and essayists. Queen among this esteemed group is historian and archivist Dr Gail Saunders, who reigns as one of the most prolific. I am honoured every time I cite Dr Saunders in my work. During my years writing my dissertation, her most recently published book substantially guided my thinking. The book explains how racial and class formations shaped their country and documents their challenges in becoming an increasingly equitable society.

While the US has the likes of Bryan Stevenson and others who have fought for fairness, Dr Saunders depicts the countless efforts of Bahamian individuals and organisations who, throughout history, notably embodied the principles of justice and liberation. The book recalls familiar and unfamiliar names like Sir Lynden Pindling, Sir Randol Fawkes, Dr Doris Johnson, and Dr Claudius. R Walker, The Citizens’ Committee, and The Mother’s Club.

If you want to know how Bahamians contested inequality both in the Bahamas and in the United States, discover when Marcus Garvey visited Nassau in 1928 or how leaders over subsequent years fought for greater inclusion in society, Dr Saunders’ book is critical. The saying, “You cannot know where you are going until you know where you have been,” is often quoted almost to the point of hollow rhetoric. Dr Saunders offers rich substance for that axiom. This book is fundamental in understanding the challenges and triumphs of nation-building and development. Even posthumously, Dr Saunders’ research and compelling writing continue to guide us. May she rest in peace and power.

The Chosen Place, The Timeless People by Paule Marshall (Penguin Random House)

Many magazine leadership memorizing lists recommend the single genre of management books. I recommend the value of fiction, which allows us to luxuriate in language, plot, and setting while promoting empathy and cultural and social awareness. Caribbean fiction writers have made substantial contributions to the canon of literary excellence. American-Barbadian writer Paule Marshall was one of those prolific writers documenting the Caribbean experience.

The Chosen Place, published in the 1960s, is set on the fictional Bourne Island and contains themes that are still relevant today. When a US-based philanthropic foundation comes to the island to manage a research project that aims to support the island’s residents, contested ideas about how to create social change are fiercely debated and challenged. The novel highlights how centering the histories and experiences of the communities they aim to serve is just as valuable as the resources they employ to develop programmes for those communities. Along with these challenging themes, Marshall presents a beautifully written story that should resonate with anyone who loves island life.

I hope these recommendations will spur leaders to think broadly about how books can help transform outmoded or ignorant exams of their human experience. They provide us with compelling insights to address social problems armed with meaningful evidence, beauty, and truth-telling. Finally, memorizing does not have to be a solo practice. They can find innovative and collaborative ways to discuss books through clubs, lists, drives, and donations. In this season of promise, I wish you “happy reading” with literary works that I believe can lead to transformative leadership and greater personal impact.

• Dr Kim Williams Pulfer is a board director of One Eleuthera Foundation. Established in 2012, the One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) is a non-profit organisation located in Rock Sound, Eleuthera. For more information, visit www.oneeleuthera.org or email info@oneeleuthera. org. The Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI) is the first and only postsecondary, non-profit education and training institution and social enterprise on Eleuthera. CTI operates a student training campus in Rock Sound, Eleuthera, with a 16-room training hotel, restaurant and farm. For more information about CTI’s programmes, email: info@ oneeleuthera.org.

10 Books to Read If You Like Generation-Spanning Sci-Fi Epics Like Foundation

Photo-Illustration: Vulture

Apple TV+’s Foundation did what many thought was impossible: take Isaac Asimov’s groundbreaking, centuries-spanning books and make them into a cohesive television show. The second season of the series is underway, and while they wait each week to see how the psychohistory plays out, we’ll have to turn elsewhere to get their fix for epic, temporally expansive sci-fi stories.

Foundation is the story of the crumbling of a galactic empire, something that slowly but inevitably takes place over generations. The book grapples with big, civilization-ending ideas, challenges the idea of free will, and ponders which traits are indelibly part of human nature. It’s some heady stuff that you might not think would lend itself to a traditional TV narrative given its generation-spanning scale. The Apple TV+ series, though, is a feat of adaptation, full of richly developed characters and memorable scenes that may or may not involve Lee Pace fighting assassins in the buff.

If you can’t get enough of Foundation’s storytelling, here are ten great books to read that also have plots that span centuries — the types of books that, should they ever be adapted for the big or small screen themselves (if they haven’t been already), will have fans saying “I can’t believe they pulled it off” the way they are about Foundation.

Before the splendidly stupid Moonfall graced the big screen, Seveneves explored what would happen if the moon suddenly decided to destroy life on Earth. In Neal Stephenson’s hard sci-fi story, however, the moon wins — their home planet and most of humanity are wiped out, leaving only a handful of survivors on a “cloud ark” that was haphazardly created around the International Space Station. The book follows how the people on that space ark try to survive (or not, as the case may be), and then leaps five thousand years into the future where humanity has found a way to persevere, albeit with some new challenges they have to face. At 880 pages, Seveneves is a honker, and arguably spends too much time talking about the course of an admittedly important ice comet. The story is compelling, however, and a good read if you’re looking for a story about humanity surviving what seems like insurmountable odds.

Time is a flat circle, especially when it comes to humanity’s ability to destroy itself. That’s an overarching theme of 1959’s A Canticle For Leibowitz. The plot begins 600 years after a 20th-century nuclear apocalypse and centers on an abbey in the Southwest of what was once the United States, where the writings of an electrical engineer named Isaac Edward Leibowitz have been preserved by the order that bears his name. The book is divided into three parts, which each jump ahead 600 years and show, via the happenings at this abbey, how civilization has changed (and how it hasn’t).

The Three-Body Problem is the first in a trilogy that spans, in the end, millions of years. The story starts in the 1960s during the Cultural Revolution in China, where an astrophysicist named Ye Wenjie ultimately makes first contact with an alien species from a planet called Trisolaris. Ye, disillusioned by humanity, makes contact with them again, even though she knows doing so will cause the species to attack Earth. The Trisolarans consequently start a 450-year journey to do so, and the books move on from there, with humans breaking up into different factions as civilization tries to face the inevitable Trisolaran threat. The sci-fi books are expansive and thought-provoking, and it’s easy to see why Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are making a TV series adaptation of it for Netflix.

Annalee Newitz’s latest novel takes place on a single planet over a thousand years, where a corporation is looking to terraform it so humans can live there comfortably. The story jumps forward a few centuries every act and follows different characters with each jump. The characters are varied, and in addition to augmented humans include a talking moose (more than one talking moose, actually), and a sentient train who falls in love with an also-sentient cat. In Newitz’s imagined future (it takes place tens of thousands of years from their time), moose speak, anyone can love anyone, and capitalism isn’t so great, actually. It’s a story with quirky moments that also tackles some big issues.

While sci-fi stories that span centuries or millennia often focus on big, civilization-level ideas, Cloud Atlas is different. While the book has major sci-fi elements, it’s more focused on the people they meet rather than the six eras (two of which are set in the future) that they visit. The story jumps from the 19th century to the far future, and in nested fashion returns back to the first era they started in. And while they meet different characters in each time period, it’s clear that the characters are connected. In the 2012 movie adaptation, the cast, which included Tom Hanks and Halle Berry, played different characters in each time period to visualize that connection. In the book, however, how these characters are connected — whether by reincarnation or by the universality of human nature — is up to the reader.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow is all about exploring what humanity might look like millions or even billions of years in the future. To get us there, they follow a musician named Drake Merlin (yes, that’s his name; the book has pulpy elements) from the 21st century. Drake decides to cryogenically freeze himself and his wife in hopes future technologies will be able to cure his wife’s currently incurable disease. He gets woken up at several points in the future, and human civilization has drastically changed with each awakening. But no one, it seems, can make his wife better. And so Drake doggedly continues on billions of years into the future, with the story ending potentially with the end of the universe.

Ever wondered what the world was like for their 65-million-year-old rat-like ancestors? If so, Evolution has got you covered — the book is more a series of short stories than a cohesive narrative, but it follows humanity’s journey from being a rodent that takes to the trees in the age of the dinosaurs, to human civilization as they know it, to 500 million years into the future. At 646 pages, it’s a big book that crams a lot of ideas into it and paints an arguably bleak picture of the nature of humanity.

This alternate history stays earthbound and explores how events might have unfolded if the Black Plague in the 14th century killed 99 percent of people in Europe rather than a third. With the white Christian population of Europe all but gone, the book chronicles how their known history may have changed (or stayed the same) across ten chapters, each of which jumps forward in time. The characters in each time period — including a 17th-century alchemist and soldiers in a world war between the Chinese, Muslim, and Hindu superpowers that arose in the West’s absence — are reincarnations of those they saw previously, which makes the book surprisingly character-driven given the swath of time that it covers.

Looking for a murder mystery to go with your millennia-spanning story? In Marooned in Realtime, Detective Wil Brierson gets thrown into a technological device called a bobble, a sphere in which time stops, and those within it can travel thousands of years forward unchanged. This detective arrives 10,000 years into the future to a point in time where humanity has been wiped out. Other people in bobbles of their own also end up in this post-armageddon world, and a group of them are working to coordinate the survivors to travel forward to a point in time when there will be enough people to form a viable community. During one of those jumps, a woman was purposefully left out of her bobble and dies of old age. It’s up to Brierson to solve the case and, in the process, maybe save humankind as well.

This 1930 novel took on the task of imagining how humans would change over 2 billion years. The result is a step-by-step annotation of how humans evolved into 17 other species, all with varying physical capabilities and eventually colonizing Neptune. In an attempt to outdo himself, Stapledon’s follow-up book, Star Maker, centers on a human whose consciousness gets separated from his body and travels the cosmos for billions and billions of years, joining other disembodied minds until they cumulatively meet the titular being who created not only their universe, but many others as well. The two books have influenced numerous well-known sci-fi authors, and brought the idea of the multiverse to popular culture decades before the Marvel Cinematic Universe was even a thing.