Tolerance Collection focuses on respect

The Newport Beach Public Library has a variety of books available to

help parents teach their children about respecting one another and

the beliefs and practices of others. The Tolerance Collection was

funded by a donation from the Newport Beach Public Library

Foundation.

The following four books are perfect for your independent readers

to enjoy; they also make excellent books for reading aloud.

In “Now We Can Have a Wedding,” by Judy Cox, we learn what happens

when Roberto and Sally’s wedding day arrives and all of the tenants

in the apartment building bring their own nuptial dishes to the

reception. The party is transformed into a joyous multi-ethnic event.

“Harry and Willy and Carrothead,” by Judith Caseley, tells the story

of Harry, a boy born with no left arm who wears a prosthetic to

school. At first, he is a curiosity, but soon his classmates accept

him as one of their own.

In “Whoever You Are,” author Mem Fox explains that every day, all

over the world children are playing and learning, and although they

may not look the same or speak the same language, inside they were

the same. All people feel things like joy, pain and love. Grandma

tells the story about her first trip alone into town during the days

when segregation still existed in Mississippi in “White Socks Only”

by Evelyn Coleman. She mistakenly drank out of a “whites only” water

fountain and was approached by a town bully. Luckily, several

townspeople banded together to stop any aggression.

“Somewhere Today: A Book of Peace” by Shelley Moore Thomas, is a

poem for any age. Each page of the book is filled with a verse and

pictures of children of different races interacting. “I’m Like You,

You’re Like Me: A Child’s Book About Understanding” and “Celebrating

Each Other” by Cindy Gainer provide an introduction to diversity by

briefly touching on understanding, listening, accepting, cooperating

and feeling.

For older children, try “Families: A Celebration of Diversity,

Commitment, and Love” by Aylette Jenness. The book introduces 17

children who share stories about their unique families. “Everything

You Need to Know About Discrimination” by Ezra Palmer will help a

child learn about how others are discriminated against based on

nationality, religion, sex, race and physical disability. A chapter

is also included on how to deal with discrimination.

Books from the Tolerance Collection in the children’s room will be

displayed today through Saturday. Adults should consider attending a

special program, “Why the Intolerance of America in the World?” with

Michael Nacht, dean of public policy at UC Berkeley, that will be

held at the Central Library in the Friends Meeting Room at 7 p.m.

Thursday.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public

Library. This week’s column is by Bonnie McLaren and Victoria

Campbell. All titles may be reserved from home or office computers by

accessing the catalog at https://www.newport beachlibrary.org. For

more information on the Central Library or any of the branch

locations, please contact the Newport Beach Public Library at (949)

717-3800, option 2.