Considering difference and diversity in children’s books: Todd Parr and Patricia Polacco

From a very young age, children begin to internalise messages about power, privilege, cultural and societal norms (Hyland, 2010; O'Neil, 2010). Children receive these messages explicitly through the things adults say, in the media they consume (e.g. television, movies, advertising) and in the books they first hear and later read. When I select children's books to read aloud in classrooms or to use in my teaching, I am particularly mindful of the way the story--through both text and image represents diversity and difference.

Which brings me to two of my all-time favourite children's author/illustrators. Both of these authors are American and each has a slew of books, popular in American classrooms, but not often seen on Australian bookshelves.