Show Your S(h)elf is a series at Diversify Your Shelves that was created to amplify marginalized voices in the book community and to give authors, readers, and creators, who promote diversity, a space to show themselves. There is nothing we love more than sharing our favorite books – and learning more about the ones who wrote them!
We’re so excited to welcome Shetal Shah, the author of Shakti Girls, to Diversify Your Shelves. In her guest post, she talks about the importance of inclusivity in children’s literature, and how we must take action to see the change we’re advocating for. Shetal Shah’s debut Shakti Girls introduces children to 13 Indian women who embody “shakti”: feminine energy and strength, power, and a force to be reckoned with. The stories about the inspiring women who made impact in fields such as science, politics, math, activism, and sports are told in verse and accompanied by colorful illustrations.
Representation Matters:
How One Former Teacher Is Creating More Inclusive Children’s Books
a guest post by Shetal Shah
“Books open windows to the world and have the power to transform lives.”
Ralph Lauren
A story is a window that offers children a fresh perspective on the world, into its past, present, and future. It is where readers hear stories that have been untold. It is where they build their capacity to be compassionate, empathize, and become an agent of change. It is where they begin to dream and imagine their life unfold. That is the magic of a story.
Five years into my teaching career, I received an invitation to attend a summer professional development workshop on diversity, equity, and inclusion. As an Indian-American woman and a world studies educator who often reflected on inclusion and equity in the classroom, I was immediately drawn to this opportunity. After several days of insightful workshops and discussions, I realized that teaching students to become change-makers meant I needed to become one myself. I walked away from this first of many workshops I would attend and lead feeling empowered to ask myself three critical questions: Whose voice is present? Whose voice is excluded? And what can I do about it?
These three questions eventually became a critical part of my professional and personal life. Understanding the value and benefits of inclusive literature in promoting safety, belonging, and academic achievement in children, those three questions compelled me to assess the availability of diverse children’s books. What I discovered was troubling. I found that only 8.7% of children’s literature featured an Asian protagonist or theme1, and even fewer depicted South Asian females. It reminded the young Indian girl that still lived within me of what it felt like to be excluded. As a teacher and mother, I could not sit idle while my children were not represented in the books they read. I knew I had to be part of the solution.
That’s why I wrote Shakti Girls, a nonfiction children’s book, celebrating the accomplishments of remarkable women from India. These lyrical stories uplift and empower young readers to follow their passion and achieve great things, regardless of their gender or where they come from. Shakti Girls reminds us that diverse voices and stories matter, make a difference, and deserve a place on every bookshelf.
Working towards systemic change and being part of a solution is not always easy, but it is necessary. At times, I feel deflated and exhausted, but I know that intentional efforts can make a difference. I want my children and their peers to grow up in a world where diversity and inclusion are the norms and where their stories are recognized as an essential part of the fabric of American society. I want them to grow up with the confidence in knowing that they matter and belong. If I am not part of making that happen, then who will?
References
About the Author
SHETAL SHAH grew up to the sounds of Bollywood and the delicious smells of her mother’s Indian cooking in the suburbs of New York City. As a second-generation Indian-American, Shetal hoped to one day see more stories of girls like her fill the shelves of local bookstores.
A former educator, Shetal taught world history in all-girls schools where she was reminded how curriculum and literature inclusive of women from diverse backgrounds can have a positive impact on girls’ self-esteem, identity development and belonging. Shetal also developed and led numerous educator workshops, presenting at national conferences covering topics on pedagogy and diversity and inclusion.
Shetal currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and her two young boys while pursuing her writing and mission to bring diversity to bookshelves with stories that inspire. “Shakti Girls” is her inspiring debut.
About the Book
From the globally well-known producer Mindy Kaling to India’s freedom fighter Kasturba Gandhi, Indian women have been breaking ceilings and ushering in powerful change for decades.
Shakti Girls is a collection of children’s rhyming stories of 13 Indian women that reflect the diversity of India and its diaspora, including representations of over 10 different industries, such as women in science, politics, math, activism, and sports.
A collection of poetic stories that allow children to imagine limitless possibilities, Shakti Girls engages with rhyme and lyrical prose that is both accessible and enjoyable to young readers.
Thank you so much for joining us at Diversify Your Shelves, Shetal! And congratulations on your wonderful debut – don’t miss Shakti Girls, out NOW!
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