I love combining math and literacy! Too often, we teach subjects in isolation and then wonder why students don’t see the connections between the two. It is also critically important for me to have books that highlight diverse characters, settings, and authors. I work at finding “own voices” works written by diverse authors about their own experiences. While I love that many white authors and illustrators are now incorporating diverse characters into their stories, it is important to recognize the difference.
In the math classroom, it can be difficult for teachers to find diverse books on math topics. Until recently, many math-related picture books featured animated shapes and animals as characters. I love these books and have used them for years! However, I am always seeking out other options. Thankfully, there are projects like Storytelling Math that publish own-voices math stories. Recently, other math-specific books have been published, so if you don’t have these in your class library, check them out. I have organized these books by topic to get you started.
