Body image is a broad, multidimensional construct that encompasses an individual's perceptions, thoughts, and feelings about their own body, most often in relation to its physical appearance (Cash & Pruzinsky, 1990; Schilder, 2013; Thompson et al., 1999). Until relatively recently, the majority of body image and body-dissatisfaction research…

In this article, the author considers the affordances of bringing theories of affect (e.g., Davies, 2014; Dutro, 2019; Leander & Boldt, 2013) to understandings of meaning-making with culturally sustaining picturebooks within an intervention setting. Culturally sustaining picturebooks are defined as books reflective of multiple languages and…

The rise in hate crimes toward immigrants across communities (Potok, 2017) has led to a focus on children's literature with immigration themes for opening up conversations in classrooms (Rodriguez & Braden, 2018). Because children's knowledge about people and the communities they live in is informed by the media, portrayals of immigrants'…

Educators and librarians have a responsibility to capture the transnational border-crossing experiences of all students, including children of the African diaspora. Narratives of African diaspora border crossings disrupt stories of linear migration. These stories feature histories of displacement, trauma, and unbelonging. And yet, they embrace…

This article examines the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as it is reflected in Israeli children's literature, utilizing critical, deconstructive, and postcolonial readings. Israel has been in a state of conflict with Palestinians since the day of its establishment. This ongoing conflict has found its way into Israeli children's books, many of which…

Sharing literature representative of students' diverse experiences opens up conversations, invites inquiry, and develops empathy (Ward & Warren, 2020). It is well documented, however, that these books can be challenging to locate in schools, libraries, and bookstores (Bickmore, Xu, & Sheridan, 2017; Crisp et al., 2016; Jipson & Paley,…

The publication of children's and young adult literature inclusive of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) characters has steadily increased in recent years (Möller, 2014; Naidoo, 2012; Sapp, 2010). Such texts provide windows and mirrors (Bishop, 1990) for children to see reflections of themselves, to have their or their loved…

The purpose of this article is to investigate representations of diversity in books included in early childhood classroom libraries. The authors hope to contribute to ongoing, critical conversations in the field by providing preliminary baseline data that verify and underscore the need for increased critical attention toward the books selected for…

Ideology is embedded in children's books; it is an unavoidable and widespread occurrence (Apol, 1998; Hollindale, 1988/1992). Neutrally described as a vital system of beliefs of any culture, ideology is often examined with regard to its incorporation into plots, character portrayals, and images in literary texts for children. More importantly,…