Children's Book Campaign
MERGE believes that all boys – and all children – are born loving, caring and sensitive. We believe children learn about gender from many sources including books, media, teachers, and family. And, we believe children are often limited and harmed by gender norms and stereotypes. Books in this campaign are selected to help children and adults learn about and appreciate gender equality, together.
Current Books in our Book Campaign:
Be Boy Buzz
by bell hooks & Chris Raschka
Famed author bell hooks brings us a tight, exuberant story that captures the essence and energy of what it means to be a boy. Chris Raschka’s soulful illustrations buzz with a force that is the perfect match for these powerful words. --Disney Books
Drum Dream Girl
by Margarita Engel and Rapael Lopez
Girls cannot be drummers. Long ago on an island filled with music, no one questioned that rule―until the drum dream girl. In her city of drumbeats, she dreamed of pounding tall congas and tapping small bongós. She had to keep quiet. She had to practice in secret. But when at last her dream-bright music was heard, everyone sang and danced and decided that both girls and boys should be free to drum and dream. Inspired by the childhood of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl who broke Cuba's traditional taboo against female drummers, Drum Dream Girl tells an inspiring true story for dreamers everywhere.
Sparkle Boy
by Lesléa Newman & Maria Mola
Casey loves to play with his blocks, puzzles, and dump truck, and he also loves things that shimmer, glitter, and sparkle. Casey's older sister Jessie, thinks this is weird. Shimmery, glittery, sparkly things are only for girls, right?
When Casey and Jessie head to the library for story time, Casey proudly wears his shimmery skirt and sparkly bracelet. His nails glitter in the light. Jessie insists that Casey looks silly. It’s one thing to dress like this around the house, but going outside as a “sparkle boy” is another thing entirely. What will happen when the other kids see him? This sweet and refreshing story speaks to us all about acceptance, respect, and the simple freedom to be yourself. Shimmery, glittery, sparkly things are fun—for everyone! --Lesléa Newman
Made by Raffi
by Craig Pomranz & Margaret Chamberlain
“I am delighted that Made by Raffi has been selected as the first book for the MERGE for Equality Children’s Book Campaign. I was inspired to write this book by the experience of my godson, who felt “different” because he didn’t love sports and liked to sew and knit – one day he asked his mother if there is such a thing as a tomgirl. His question reminds us of how society creates labels and boundaries. How much misery and wasted talent is caused by these outdated notions of gender norms and stereotypes?
I hoped to share a message of inclusiveness and creativity as well as offer the notion that everyone has limitless opportunities to try on different identities. I have been deeply gratified that the book, which has been translated into eight languages in 11 countries, has resonated across many cultures.
Thank you, MERGE for Equality, for keeping the conversation going and for the work you do to open minds and improve the world! —Craig Pomranz, author
Recommended uses of books in our children’s book campaign:
- Read and discuss with a child
- Gift to a family with young children
- Gift to a classroom, children’s program or library
Campaign Goals
- To advance the MERGE mission by promoting literacy and adult-child connection through children’s books which highlight themes of positive masculinity and gender equality
- Increase literacy and adult-child connection through reading and discussion
- Expand partnerships with early childhood serving programs and agencies
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Advisory Team
The Children's Book Campaign was designed with support by early childhood and literature expert Megan Dowd Lambert. In addition, an advisory team assisted in creating framework for and identifying titles for the campaign. Keeping in mind the MERGE mission of gender equality and healthy boys, as well as a commitment to diversity, this enthusiastic group began the challenging process of identifying 3 titles that exemplify our campaign goals and provide excellent tools for teachers, families and caregivers.
Thank you to Megan Dowd Lambert for her leadership and our volunteers (as pictured above): Lori Chaves of Head Start, Ashley Kerekes of Square One, Sumanth Prabhaker of Pioneer Valley Books, Kathie Lange of Head Start, Maria Bedard of Square One, Kieran Slattery of Northampton Public Schools, Andrew Grant-Thomas of EmbraceRace, Megan Dowd Lambert of Simmons College, Maria Garcia of Northampton Public Schools, James Arana of MERGE for Equality, and Jean Canosa Albano of the Springfield City Library.
