Our mission is to provide children and families with access
to books that celebrate diversity, inclusion, and kindness.
We believe that every child deserves to see themselves
in a book, and we work tirelessly to make that happen.
As a Librarian, I have dedicated 18 years to youth services at a public library, with 10 years as the Head of Teen Services before being promoted to lead the entire Youth Services department. I aim to offer diverse and inclusive materials to my community by analyzing community trends to ensure all areas of the public are served. By doing this I am ensuring all of my budget allocated correctly.
In 2020 I created Library for the Kind. The Library for the Kind is a nonprofit organization that promotes children’s books focusing on diversity, inclusion, mental illness, LGBTQ+, and kindness. Studies show that children who see themselves or other people who are similar to them in books are more likely to feel part of a community and feel more empathetic to differences in others as adults.
I also serve as the Director of Outreach for Storytime Solidarity (SS), collaborating with SS and LFTK to conduct Zoom and Facebook Live interviews. One of our successful initiatives is "Ask Autistics", where I interview autistic individuals on various aspects of their lives.
Outside my professional role as a librarian, I host a fundraiser. This event has supported fundraising for the Lavelle School for the Blind, The Trevor Project, and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. With my extensive experience, I aim to make a positive difference through my various projects.
Children have so many questions when they see people in wheelchairs. Books like this normalize all the different ways people get around. It's a great book for any child!
The author of this book is also co author of the wonderful book " What Happened to You" which is about a child who has one leg who just wants to play with the other kids and not get asked any questions or be treated differently.
Community is an ecosystem. In this book classmates go on a trip to the forest. Each student finds a part of the forest that connects with them. A student with adhd found commonalities with a squirrel while one student in a wheelchair found lichens and their need for teamwork and electric look to be exciting. The book also has themes of depression, anxiety and mindfulness.
Readers will also learn facts about all nature found in the forest.
When Noah learns that his friend Emma has cancer, he is uneasy about how he should deal with it. Can he get sick too? How should he act when visiting her in the hospital? With the advice of his parents, he is able to be a true friend and support for Emma. There are a select few books that are on the subject of children and sickness that I feel are written in a way that is comforting to children. This book stands out because it focuses on the connections children need while going through treatment. My Brave Friend explains to children that cancer is a sickness that is contagious and the bond of friendship is more important than ever. The use of technology is shown as an important accessibility tool to keep the child with cancer connected to their life and their peers.
