Patty Lenon was the first adult to sign up for the 2023 Summer Reading Challenge at Warsaw Community Public Library. Photo provided by Warsaw Community Public Library.

By Amy Mann
Children’s Services
Warsaw Community Public Library

WARSAW — How often have you heard the word “diversity” lately? People can be diverse in their beliefs, backgrounds and experiences. Diversity can be found in socioeconomic status, location (urban or rural) and lifestyle. It has been deemed important that diversity be found in media projects, in education at all levels and, of course, in children’s books.

You don’t have to look far to find diverse books in Children’s Services at Warsaw Community Public Library. I was perusing the picture books yesterday and found some pretty wonderful examples of our summer reading program theme, “All Together Now.” I think my favorite is “A Small Kindness” by Stacy McAnulty and illustrated by Wendy Leach. The books starts in white and shades of brown. One child is in color. When she smiles at Lucas, her classmate who uses a walker, he begins to take on color as well. When he says hello to a classmate, she begins to “come alive.” The book continues until all of the students in the class, the teacher and the custodian are in full rainbow hues. It follows a natural progression and is sweet but not preachy.

Patricia Polacco’s “Chicken Sunday” and “Holes in the Sky” are autobiographical stores about Jewish-Irish “Trisha’s” childhood in Oakland, Calif. She was enveloped into a Black family whose matriarch, Miss Eula, showed love to everyone in the neighborhood. The books are full of warmth and love. “Everything in its Place: A Story of Books and Belonging,” a picture book by Pauline David-Sax, brings together a shy young girl, a library, a cafe and a group of female motorcyclists. You’ll have to check it out to see how everything comes together and makes Nicky’s life richer.

Two more picture books that fit our theme are “I Just Life You” by Suzanne Bloom and “Ride, Roll, Run; Time for Fun!” by Valerie Bolling. In them, groups of children or animals who are different from each other, and who have different strengths and likes, find joy in being together.

Come in to the library and let’s do the same. Be sure you’re signed up for our all-ages summer reading challenge and start (or continue) reading. Our website can be found at warsawlibrary.org. We are located at 310 E. Main St. in Warsaw and our phone number is (574) 267-6011.