All primary school children across Jersey have received a donation of books to their school libraries which celebrate diverse and inclusive stories, thanks to funding from private donors and The Jersey Community Relations Trust.
The Umbrella Book Collection aims to ensure that children are represented in the literature they have access to.
Deputy Louise Doublet, the States appointed Trustee on the Jersey Community Relations Trust and Kaye Nicholson-Horn, a founder of the Facebook book group ‘Brilliant Books’, secured donations and curated a collection of inclusive book boxes via Little Box of Books, for all local primary schools and the Jersey Library. Additionally, Channel Islands Humanists kindly donated copies of ‘What is Humanism?’ to add to this Collection.
The book collection represents a variety of topics including:
- multiculturalism
- beliefs, including humanism
- disabilities
- differing family structures, including single parents & blended families
- adoption and fostering
- LGBTQ+ characters
- body positivity
- refugees
- gender stereotypes
Kaye said: “It has been fantastic to collaborate with the Jersey Community Relations Trust on the facilitation and funding of further distribution of book boxes for primary school children, which I hope will allow them to see themselves and their families represented, in addition to those who are different to them, and recognise and celebrate those differences.
“We have named this initiative The Umbrella Book Collection in recognition that while we have a variety of cultures, backgrounds, family structures, beliefs and experiences, we all still come under the same umbrella as human beings.”
Deputy Doublet, Trustee at The Jersey Community Relations Trust said: “I believe that representation is of vital importance to facilitate empathy, understanding of differences and the promotion of inclusion within our society. Books are a wonderful tool to achieve this.
“I hope that having access to this collection at school and the library will help children develop an awareness of and appreciation for the wonderful variety of people and cultures who make up our society. The books, especially when enjoyed alongside their parents, carers and teachers, will help children to become respectful, responsible and caring citizens of our island.
“We encourage teachers, pupils and their parents/carers to seek out and explore this wonderful collection and discuss them together. All of the books are age-appropriate and having used many of them when I was a teacher myself, I know that children are naturally accepting of others and enjoy learning about the topics included in the Umbrella Book Collection.”
The Umbrella Book Collection was distributed to all primary schools on Wednesday 9th March, 2022. The Jersey Library have received their box and the books are already available to anyone with a free library card.
The funding for this project was granted partly by the Jersey Community Relations Trust, and partly by private donors sourced by Mrs Nicholson-Horn.
For more diverse and inclusive book recommendations please join “Brilliant Books” on Facebook.
The main picture shows Kaye Nicholson Horn and Deputy Louise Doublet of Jersey Community Relations Trust.
