Diversity & Inclusion

In the second column of a new series from the ABA Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, River Dog Book Co. owner BrocheAroe Fabian looks at incorporating holidays into booksellers’ stores.

Participating bookstores should consider The Yellow House by Sarah Broom or Some Places More Than Others by Renée Watson for their WRBG book clubs to try in November.

In this first installment, Angela Maria Spring of ABA’s Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion shares highlights about the team’s recent efforts.

Bookmarks’ WRBG book club will meet again on October 21 to discuss Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson, one of the titles chosen for all WRBG book clubs to read that month.

In a letter to booksellers, Edim shares her excitement about indie bookstores’ participation in the program and reveals the titles book clubs should be reading and discussing at ABA member bookstores this fall.

Attendees were encouraged to participate in an honest discussion about issues surfacing in kids’ books regarding content related to race, culture, individuality, and identity.

During the session, booksellers learned how to assess the inclusiveness of their inventory by conducting a diversity audit. A full video of the session is available on BookWeb.

At Children’s Institute, booksellers gathered to hear from Well-Read Black Girl founder Glory Edim and discuss ideas for fostering diversity and representation in stores and communities.

Elizabeth Acevedo, the New York Times bestselling author of The Poet X and With the Fire on High, spoke about the true meaning of being “well-read” at the seventh annual Children’s Institute. 

Since the incidents were reported, BookBar has been the recipient of an “overwhelming amount of e-mails, calls, visits, and comments on social media offering support,” said owner Nicole Sullivan.