ABOUT US
Ilaynna
My name is Ilaynna Brown, a graduate of Elizabethtown College with a B.S in Early Childhood Education and will have an M.Ed. in Special Education in May. My hometown of Steelton, PA has fueled my desire to become an educator. While I had a positive school experience, my education was not inclusive or culturally responsive. As a Black woman in education, I am aware of the gaps in our student's learning that do not include all identities. I believe that a welcoming and affirming learning environment begins with including students in all aspects of the curriculum. Rebecca and I created this book list as a starting point for teachers. Students deserve to see themselves and others in the materials they are exposed to. The lessons and resources that will be added to this website will explicitly demonstrate how to engage your students in culturally and linguistically responsive learning.
Rebecca
Hello! My name is Rebecca Wortmann, a graduate of Elizabethtown College with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and will have an M.Ed. in Special Education. Since I was a young child, I have always loved reading and it has always been my dream to be a teacher. Beginning in the summer of 2020, yes the summer we were all stuck at home, I began to realize that my hopes to include books representing all identities, background, and worldviews was limited due to the lack of awareness of these books. Many book lists that I found were 10... 20... 40 books long, but I wanted a more comprehensive list that was longer and had even MORE identities represented. This was when I reached out to Ilaynna asking if she wanted to embark in the process of compiling a massive list of books that represent as many identities as we could find.Â
We are so glad that you are interested in including these books in your classroom, library, or home. Here's to creating a more inclusive world!