🪞🧡Importance of MIRROR books🧡🪞
A ‘mirror’ book is a book that shows a reader a character that is similar to them, and/or a situation and/or a plot that is similar to the readers lived experience or a landscape similar to their own.
Readers see themselves mirrored in the book.
They feel seen, validated, understood… and maybe they learn from a character that has to overcome challenges similar to theirs. Maybe they are exposed to mirror characters who break stereotypes or take unexpected turns and show readers their options too.
This is very important for young readers from minority groups including those of diverse family backgrounds, socio-economic backgrounds, geographical location, gender orientation, abilities, sexuality, family structures, those who break society expectations and norms, or those who aim to tread a ‘path less travelled’.
When readers of diverse backgrounds or minority groups are only/often offered books by mainstream creators with mainstream characters in city/town locations- they don’t get the chance to see themselves as heroes of a story, characters with strengths and autonomy. They may develop sub-conscious stories of superiority, which stories are ‘worthy’ to be told, mono-culture, mono-values.
🔸Be a role model as a diverse reader- read diverse books yourself (to show students of diverse backgrounds that their stories matter too and that you are a lifelong learner), keep books visible in your ‘to-be-read pile’, in your bag, read at bus stops or at the playground 🔸Display a range of diverse texts on bookshelves with a range of entry points- including SPELDSA books, hi-lo options, diverse books, Library4All books, as well as comics, graphic novels, Manga and other genres of books with diverse characters. Young people learn that characters of diverse books can be in any genre and can be in many roles (protagonist, antagonist, the knowledgeable Elder, the silly one). 🔸Provide time to engage with ‘mirror’ books (Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) time for example), reading for joy, guided reading opportunities, bedtime books 🔸Celebrate diverse books and reading such as book week, reading breakfasts, Premier Reading Challenge etc. As well as books related to multi-cultural celebrations 🔸Get to know children’s backgrounds so you can recommend books 🔸Visit the library together, chat with librarians, read together, go to their events especially those with diverse creators. 🔸Visit bookshops and book events (author talks, illustrator workshops, writing festivals) together 🔸Find ways to get diverse books into children’s hands- through programs such as Indiegnous Literacy Foundation, Aboriginal Literacy and Numeracy Foundation Share a Book program, Magabala Books Small Seeds program, Books and Boots Tiny Treasure program, Fremantle Press Bookaburra program.
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