February is a time to celebrate Black history and cultural contributions—but it is also an important opportunity to support early literacy through representation, connection, and conversation. For young children, literacy begins long before they can read words on a page. It begins with being seen, heard, and valued.
Research shows that shared reading experiences that reflect children’s lived experiences support language development, social-emotional growth, and a sense of belonging (Baicker, 2020). When books center Black joy, family, and everyday life, children are more likely to see themselves as readers and storytellers.
Books as Mirrors, Windows, and Doors
Children need books that act as mirrors (reflecting their own lives), windows (offering insight into others’ experiences), and doors (inviting them to imagine new possibilities). Culturally responsive literacy practices help children develop motivation and identity as readers, particularly for children who have historically been underrepresented in children’s literature (Irby, 2017).
Suggested Picture Books
- Hair Love — Matthew A. Cherry
- Saturday — Oge Mora
- Last Stop on Market Street — Matt de la Peña
- Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut — Derrick Barnes
Talking With Children Builds Language and Brains
Early literacy is not about reading at children—it is about reading with them. Research from MIT shows that back-and-forth conversational exchanges during shared reading strengthen children’s brain response to language, regardless of socioeconomic background (Trafton, 2018).
Additionally, “conversational duets”—where adults pause, listen, and respond to children’s verbal and nonverbal cues—show strong support for early language development (Diamant-Cohen & Payne, 2022).
Conversation-Rich Book Choices
- Alma and How She Got Her Name — Juana Martinez-Neal
- The Day You Begin — Jacqueline Woodson
- My Papi Has a Motorcycle — Isabel Quintero
Social-Emotional Literacy and Empathy Through Story
Picture books help young children explore emotions, relationships, and fairness. Research published in Children and Libraries demonstrates that preschool children are capable of engaging meaningfully with social justice themes when supported through intentional read-alouds (Wild, 2020).
These conversations help children build empathy, emotional vocabulary, and perspective-taking skills—all foundational to literacy development.
Books That Support Emotional Growth
- The Undefeated — Kwame Alexander
- I Am Enough — Grace Byers
Shared Reading as an Act of Love and Belonging
Shared reading is more than a literacy practice—it is an act of connection. Reading together supports emotional health, strengthens resilience, and reinforces a child’s sense of belonging (Baicker, 2020). For families, these moments communicate a powerful message: You are loved. Your story matters.
Caregiver Takeaway: Supporting Early Literacy at Home
(Every Child Ready to Read® )
TALK
Ask open-ended questions and invite your child to share what they notice or wonder.
READ
Re-read favorite books and choose stories that reflect your child’s identity and experiences.
SING
Use songs and rhythm to build sound awareness and joy.
WRITE
Encourage drawing or scribbling as a way to tell stories.
PLAY
Act out stories and extend them through imaginative play.
You don’t need special tools—just time, connection, and curiosity.
Sources
Baicker, K. (2020, April 8). Using literacy to boost your child’s health and resilience. Yale School of Medicine.
https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/23748/
Diamant-Cohen, B., & Payne, R. G. (2022, March 17). Encourage “conversational duets” between babies and caregivers to foster language skills. School Library Journal.
https://www.slj.com/story/encourage-conversational-duets-between-babies-and-caregivers-to-foster-language-skills-first-steps
Edwards, P., McNair, J. C., & Smith, P. (2022). Toward culturally relevant literacies with children and families of color. In International encyclopedia of education (4th ed., pp. 180–197). Elsevier.
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818630-5.07033-0
Irby, A. (2017). How to inspire every child to be a lifelong reader [Video]. TED Conferences.
https://www.ted.com/talks/alvin_irby_how_to_inspire_every_child_to_be_a_lifelong_reader
Trafton, A. (2018, February 14). Back-and-forth exchanges boost children’s brain response to language. MIT News.
https://news.mit.edu/2018/conversation-boost-childrens-brain-response-language-0214
Wild, N. (2020). The other side: Preschool children’s experience of a read aloud focused on social justice. Children and Libraries
Today’s blog post was written by ALSC Early and Family Literacy Comittee Member Dee (Deadra) Brown, Lead Research and Instruction Librarian at Haverford College.
