Freedom to Curate a Diverse Library to Foster Empathy and Promote Global Citizenship

Children are global citizens capable of transforming society, and books are a powerful resource that helps them become aware of issues of global significance. Good books invite children to reflect on their own identities as well as the identities of others and to discover how the world functions with the wide variety of people, animals, cultures, and environments that it offers. This panel will explore how books can help children develop global citizenship skills such as critical thinking, empathy, respect, and appreciation of different experiences and perspectives about the world. We will discuss the importance of curating diverse books, and provide mentor books, strategies, and activities that can be applied to lessons and to promote discussion.

Speakers:

Ana Siqueira
Florida Virtual School
[email protected]

Ana Siqueira is a Spanish-language elementary teacher and an award-winning children's book author based in Tampa, Florida. Her books include Bella's Recipe for Success (Beaming Books 2021), If Your Babysitter is a Bruja (S&S 2022), Abuela's Super Capa/ La Supercapa de Abuela (HarperCollins 2023), Our World Brazil (Barefoot Books 2023), Boitata: the Fire Snake (Capstone 2023), La Mala Suerte is Following Me (Charlesbridge 2024), Mami's Heart (HarperCollins 2026) among others. Ana is also a global educator and a PBS Media innovator. She's the co-founder of Latinxpitch, a pitch event to promote Latin authors and illustrators.

Lynne Marie
Seymour Agency
[email protected] 

Lynne Marie is the award-winning author of several books including The Star of the Christmas Play -- art by Lorna Hussey (Beaming Books 2018 and 2023), Moldilocks and the 3 Scares -- art by David Rodriguez Lorenzo (Sterling / Scholastic 2019) and Let's Eat! Mealtime Around the World -- art by Parwinder Singh (Beaming Books 2019), The Three Little Pigs and the Rocket Project and The Three Little Pigs and the Rocket Project Coloring Book -- art by Wendy Fedan (Mac and Cheese Press 2022), The Palace Rat -- art by Eva Santana (Yeehoo Press 2023), Broommates co-written with Brenda Reeves Sturgis -- art by Nico Ecenarro (The Little Press 2024) among others. She's formerly an editor for a small press and currently an Agent Mentee at The Seymour Agency.

Becky Greer
Manatee School for the Arts
[email protected]

Becky Greer is the School Library Media Specialist for Manatee School for the Arts, an arts-infused charter school. She was previously a youth public librarian before starting the next phase in her career. Becky has written articles for Florida Libraries Journal, reviews for School Library Journal, and wrote several chapters of Think Big!: A Resource Manual for Teen Library Programs That Attract Large Audiences by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Danielle Joseph
[email protected]

Danielle Joseph is the author of the upcoming picture biography book, RUTH FIRST NEVER BACKS DOWN (11/7/23) and I WANT TO RIDE THE TAP TAP, a Bank Street Best Children's Book and CBC Notable Social Studies Book. She is also the author of the middle-grade novel, PJ Library Selection, SYDNEY A. FRANKEL'S SUMMER MIX-UP and three young adult novels SHRINKING VIOLET, INDIGO BLUES and PURE RED. SHRINKING VIOLET was adapted into the Disney Channel movie, RADIO REBEL. Danielle has a BFA in Creative Writing and an MA in Marketing Communications and Advertising, both from Emerson College. She's a former middle school creative writing teacher and has been teaching writing workshops for over twenty years. Danielle was born in Cape Town, South Africa and currently lives in Maryland with her family. Her next book, THE MITZVAH FAIRY debuts winter 2025!

Sita Singh
Author
[email protected]

Sita Singh's debut picture book BIRDS OF A FEATHER was a Dolly Parton Imagination Library selection. Her upcoming picture books are MANGO MEMORIES (04/09/2024) and INDIGO HANDS (Fall 2024). Sita is represented by Natalie Lakosil of Looking Glass Literary Media.

Sita was born and raised in India, and moved to the United States in 1999. She currently lives in South Florida with her husband, three children, and an immensely cute and curious dog. An architect in the past, Sita now writes heartwarming picture books with a South Asian backdrop. Her writing is inspired by her experiences of living in the East, and the West. To learn more about Sita, visit www.singhsita.com and connect with her on Twitter and Instagram @sitawrites

D'Ann Burrow
Organization Teacher in Orange County Public Schools
[email protected]

Ann was born and raised in Texas, but moved to be near the Happiest Place on Earth as soon as she could. She's currently a kindergarten teacher in a Central Florida public school. As an educator for a diverse population of students, she's passionate about making sure her little learners can see themselves on the pages of the books in her classroom.

Ann has two adult children and two very floofy dogs. Spooky things make her heart go pitter patter. She writes contemporary young adult fiction with a splash of paranormal. She's been a featured author at several Texas literary events with her books PLAYING BY THE RULES (2015) and DANGEROUS GAMES (2016). She's excited to be joining the Florida literary community.

Track:

Diversity