Empathy starts early: 5 Australian picture books that celebrate diversity 2lt.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from 2lt.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Early exposure to diverse story characters, including in ethnicity, gender and ability, helps young people develop a strong sense of identity and belonging. It is also crucial in cultivating compassion towards others.
Children from minority backgrounds rarely see themselves reflected in the books they’re exposed to. Research over the past two decades shows the world presented in children’s books is overwhelmingly white, male and middle class.
A 2020 study in four Western Australian childcare centres showed only 18% of books available included non-white characters. Animal characters made up around half the books available and largely led “human” lives, adhering to the values of middle-class Caucasians.