51st Ward Books is here to partner with you to curate and expand your anti-racist, bilingual, and culturally-relevant school and home libraries. We believe that reading expands worldviews, supports the critical consciousness of children, and helps to develop the next generation of leaders who will lead us all toward a transformed and more just future.

 

Our books are highly vetted and curated. We prioritize:

• Books that align with the standards of anti-racist, anti-bias and culturally-relevant education for children and young people.

• Books that feature people, not animals. In 2020, over 70% of children’s books featured White or animal characters. Only 37% featured characters who were Black, Latinx, Native American, Asian/Asian American, or Pacific Islander. Chicago is a BIPOC city with a multicultural future. Our books must reflect our reality.

• Books written and/or illustrated by individuals who are members of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disabled communities. We believe people should tell their own stories and that there is no substitute for one’s lived experiences.

• Access to bilingual (English/Spanish) and Spanish language books. We believe that access to languages other than English is an equity issue. We work to source the highest quality Spanish and bilingual books. Whether sourced from Latin American publishers or are books in translation they are effective in facilitating language learning.