Keys to selecting great children’s literature for the ECE classroom
Neighborhood Villages’s Toddler Curriculum is committed to the principles of developmentally appropriate practice, anti-bias education and social-emotional learning. One of the keys to bringing these important values together is thoughtful and intentional curation of children’s books for the toddler classroom. The co-created nature of our project meant that the experiences, expertise and opinions of educators and caregivers were central to how we selected books and materials. However-there is a world of amazing literature out there, and we couldn’t include all the books we admired! That’s why we came up with a selection criteria that guided our discussions and eventual selection of excellent children’s books.
Being mindful of the 7 forms of bias. Books which stereotype, use linguistic bias or fail to fully represent certain groups do a disservice to little learners. The curriculum team carefully studied each suggested text to make sure it was consistent with our commitment to culturally sensitive, anti-bias principles. Many books were debated at length by educators with different perspectives and lived experiences! The ones we selected act as mirrors and windows. Windows allow us to see the world beyond us, while mirrors allow us to see ourselves. We believe children deserve both.
Making strong connections to our big questions. Each area of exploration in our curriculum resource is defined by a set of “Big Questions,” rooted in ideas and concepts we know toddlers love exploring through the world around them. All the books chosen correspond with at least one big question in the curriculum, to allow many opportunities for creating strong connections between children’s lived experiences and the literature we introduce.
Introducing children to rich vocabulary, with an appropriate level of text. Toddlers are constantly exploring with all their senses, and our curriculum promotes their active engagement in this important job! That’s why we recommend books which are an appropriate length and complexity for such young learners, while also introducing a wide range of vocabulary, both those that may be new and unfamiliar as well as familiar words used in a new context
Representing authors and illustrators of color. Authors and illustrators of color are more likely to represent viewpoints and experiences which have traditionally been excluded from early education curriculum. We worked to ensure we could center their voices and illustrations.
Our collaborators are proud to have compiled the list of literature that accompanies the curriculum selected with the utmost respect for children, their families and communities. It is accompanied by a set of Read Aloud Opportunity Cards-a collection of cards with suggestions for integrating music, movement, vocabulary building and cultural awareness into educators’ practice of reading with children. We are so excited for everyone to experience the wonder and magic of excellent children’s literature through these resources!
