Diversity

Educators can teach Amanda Gorman's inauguration poem "The Hill We Climb" and share Gorman's story with students.

Some educators abandon teaching the Bard's work, while others update and enhance Shakespeare curricula.

From the pandemic and a presidential election, to school boards and systemic racism, SLJ's cover design and illustration helped tell the tale that was 2020.

The CDC recommends teachers and support staff get the coronavirus vaccine in the next round of distribution; the Black Caucus of ALA has put out its Best of the Best 2020 booklist; applications are being accepted for the Library of Congress Librarian in Residence program; and more in this edition of News Bites.

In an unprecedented year, managing the pandemic dominated attention. SLJ covered the gamut, from publisher policies adjusted to accommodate remote learning, to tips on running a virtual book club for middle schoolers. Despite all, fostering literacy and celebrating great books persisted as key topics of interest for our readers.

The stories I heard growing up shaped my sense of family and community, as well as my place in the world. As a result, I knew early on that America did not love us. Yet, at the same time I knew how much my family respected and revered this country, loved being Black and believed that nothing, even Jim Crow and his offspring, could ever stop our assent. My family made sure I understood that.

Latinx creators have been receiving more recognition in recent years, and there is now a flourishing Latinx comics scene that includes a strong body of work for young people.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested in Alabama for refusing to give up her seat to a white bus passenger. Her arrest sparked a 381–day boycott of the Montgomery bus system. Dr. Duchess Harris provides a resource list to mark the anniversary of this historic event and dispel common narratives about Parks.

I hope through my new book young readers will learn that there is a special book out there for everyone. Sometimes it can be hard to find, and sometimes the best stories are found within ourselves.