By Michelle Torgerson, President and CEO, Raising A Reader
 
Can we talk about Bruno?! Is Encanto’s soundtrack playing on loop at your house? It is at mine, and we almost have all the songs memorized!  

The movie tells the story of the Madrigal family as they navigate their special powers within their community. So many people—young and old—are feeling seen and represented by characters in the movie.
 
At  Raising A Reader  (RAR), we are committed to ensuring our book library provides books that serve as mirrors and windows for all of the children we serve every day. We’ve developed a one-of-a-kind, multi-lingual book collection and curriculum that puts equity and diversity at the center.  
 
As part of our commitment to racial equity and belonging, RAR understands that we must value, respect and support all cultures and ethnicities.    
 
Please join us and our partners at Too Small to Fail and  National Black Child Development Institute  on February 3 for a virtual conversation – Writing a New Chapter: Advancing Diversity in Children’s Books, a virtual conversation at 10:30 a.m P.T. | 12:30 p.m. C.T. | 1:30 p.m. ET.  
 
Register today:  https://lnkd.in/gCpWuHWc  
 
Tune in LIVE on Facebook: :  https://lnkd.in/gCYSvaFg  
 
Panelists will discuss:      

The state of diversity in children’s books  
Why diverse representation is critical for identity development  
Innovative efforts to promote diverse children’s literature  
Concrete steps to take action
 
Hear from panelists including:  
K.T. Horning, Director, Cooperative Children’s Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin–Madison  

Shabazz Larkin, artist, writer, and author of The Thing About Bees  

Dr.  Iheoma Iruka, Founding Director, Equity Research Action Coalition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill  

Philip Lee, Co-Founder, and Publisher, Readers to Eaters

Cynthia Leitich Smith, 2021 NSK Neustadt Laureate; children’s YA writer; author-curator of the Native-centered Heartdrum Imprint, HarperCollins Children’s Books  
 
 Amongst other amazing leaders in the space!