Who gets to feel seen in our classrooms? Culturally inclusive practice through books

How do books shape children's sense of identity, belonging and understanding of others? In this podcast episode and article, we explore the importance of representation in children's literature and why inclusive storytelling matters in early childhood education. Reflecting on personal experiences, this conversation considers how books can help children feel seen, valued and included. We also discuss the role of sensory storytelling, immersive learning and culturally inclusive resources in supporting empathy, accessibility and belonging for all children. How can educators ensure every child sees themselves reflected in the stories around them?

Read the article here:

https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/who-gets-to-feel-seen-in-our-classrooms-culturally-inclusive-practice-through-books/

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Listen to more:

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:

· Stories that connect us: How books foster belonging in the early years – Laura Henry-Allain MBE https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/stories-that-connect-us-how-books-foster-belonging-in-the-early-years-2/

· Supporting children's language through shared stories and sustained dialogue – Fufy Demissie https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/supporting-childrens-language-through-shared-stories-and-sustained-dialogue/

· Extremely early literacy – Dan Berman https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/extremely-early-literacy/

Get in touch and share your voice:

Do you have thoughts, questions or feedback? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/

Episode break down:

00:00 – Introducing Sukhy Kaur and culturally inclusive children's books
02:21 – Representation, visibility and belonging
03:53 – Creating sensory stories that are accessible to all children
07:55 – Normalising diversity through children's literature
10:03 – Encouraging children to ask questions about difference
11:23 – Understanding children's curiosity about difference
13:01 – Sukhy's personal journey and Sikh identity
14:37 – Experiencing bullying for wearing a turban
16:07 – Becoming a teacher to make a difference
16:39 – Developing the first book during COVID
17:19 – The story behind Is That Paras's Turban?
18:15 – Bringing books to life through workshops and puppet shows
19:50 – Supporting children and educators through immersive workshops
20:40 – Extending learning through resources and lesson plans
21:39 – Moving from teaching into authorship
22:47 – The year-long process of producing a sensory book
23:45 – Seeing the books in libraries and hearing from families
24:48 – Forthcoming books about festivals and cultural foods
25:25 – Advice for aspiring authors
26:53 – The challenges of marketing children's books
27:42 – Sharing culturally inclusive practice at educational events
28:36 – Using props and storytelling to support different ways of learning
29:17 – Sukhy's workshop at the TVOEC Conference 2027
30:05 – "Every child should be able to open a book and feel that they exist within the story"

For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com