Funded May 13, 2019I cannot thank you enough for your generosity in helping me bring this project to fruition. Over ten years ago my now 19 year old daughter came across a book in her classroom where the main character had brown skin like she does. Her excitement for that book is what helped me realize how important it is for children to see themselves in the stories they read. When I began teaching I wanted to make sure every student in my school was afforded the same opportunity. I want everyone of my students to be the hero in a story.
The books I chose have diverse themes and characters. Diversity is so much more then race, it encompasses culture, socioeconomic status, abilities, religion, and identity to name a few. Like the books, my students come from many different backgrounds and life experiences and I wanted the books to represent that.
By reading these books my students are learning about themselves and seeing that the opportunities available to them are limitless. They also teach empathy and acceptance to all my students. Learning about other cultures, lifestyles, religions, etc. allow my students to put themselves in someone else's shoes. I believe this is one small step to erasing all the hatred in the world today. Thank you for supporting my dream.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Coore