Reach Out and Read, Northeast

Why Mirrors And Windows Matter

• Children's literature has the power to shape a child's ​sense of identity and self-worth. When children do ​not see positive and affirming representations of ​their own culture or identity, it can negatively impact ​their self-esteem and self-concept.

• Stories written by individuals from diverse ​backgrounds can provide authentic and nuanced ​portrayals of their own experiences and cultures, ​offering fresh perspectives and enriching the literary ​landscape.
  

• When children are exposed to a limited range of ​perspectives, it can limit their ability to relate to and ​empathize with individuals from different ​backgrounds making it difficult for them to navigate ​and understand their place in an increasingly ​diverse world.
  

• Access to literature with diverse characters fosters ​critical thinking, cultural awareness, and acceptance ​of differences.

What Makes A Good

Mirror & Window Book?

• They depict a wide range of characters living ​everyday lives today -- without their identities being ​a point of conflict or the focus of the story

• They are about something other than the “5 Fs” ​(food, festivals, folklore, fashion, and famous people)

• They center characters from marginalized groups ​with texture and specificity, rather than including ​them as sidekicks, extras, or stereotypes

• Their creators share the characters’ identity and ​wrote/illustrated the story from their perspective, ​based on similar lived experiences.