“When the going gets tough, the tough gets going!” This is the time when all of us working with children, children’s books, and education must toughen up and keep on going!
It is heartening to see that hundreds of signatures by children’s book creators have been collected at The Brown Book Shelf for A Declaration in Support of Children, and that a live version of this document that allows for more signatures and support can be found on their Facebook page.
Today, I publicly echo my support for all the sentiments expressed in this document, adding here my continuing commitment as an educator, a school librarian, and a children’s literature advocate that:
I will read widely works created by a diverse group of writers and illustrators that both reflect authentic lived experiences of today’s children and offer genuine opportunities to understand and empathize with experiences unfamiliar to their own.
I will constantly highlight and promote these titles directly to my students and their families and also on social media in an effort to strengthen the innate capability of hope, courage, and compassion to bring about true social justices via the power of literature.
I will create curricula and take advantage of teachable moments both in the classroom, during casual interactions, and on social media to combat the ever-growing threat of Untruth-Telling in the digital and mass media sphere.
I will model my commitment to social justices and compassion by addressing injustices intentionally, openly, and truthfully in the classroom, during casual interactions, and on social media.
Fellow librarians, educators, and children’s literature champions, join me in our work together for a better and brighter future!
Fairrosa Cyber Library 
Thank you, Fairrosa! Especially important to me is this: “I will model my commitment to social justices and compassion by addressing injustices intentionally, openly, and truthfully in the classroom, during casual interactions, and on social media.” And I would add (for myself), “and I will encourage all to do the same.” Again, thank you.
Beverly Slapin
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We all are indeed in this together – even those who have different ideologies or political leanings. The FUTURE is in our hands.
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Thank you so much for this. Thank you for taking a public stand. Here’s another Declaration, written in 1955- on the dedication page to Ride With the Sun by the United Nations Women’s Guild. Another kind of fundamental justice.
The Children’s Charter
“There shall be peace on earth; but not until
Each child shall daily eat his fill;
Go warmly clad against the winter wind
And learn his lessons with a tranquil mind.
And thus released from hunger, fear, and need
Regardless of his color, race or creed,
Look upwards, smiling to the skies, His faith in man reflected in his eyes.”
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Thank you so much for this beautiful declaration!
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Grateful foor sharing this
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