Nation Diversity Book Month for Children :: family equality council

Welcome to the National Diversity Book Month for Children Action Center!

The Family Equality Council is dedicating the month of February to children’s books with diverse family themes. It’s important that our children are read stories that reflect their family constellations and that encourage open-minded perspectives, understanding, and acceptance of family molds that aren’t necessarily hetero-normative.

Celebrate with us in these five ways:

As a family, watch the video of Julia reading Molly's Family by Nancy Garden.
Browse the comprehensive list of LGBTQ-family friendly books and donate a book or two to your local library or school. Feel free to print this list off and encourage your schools to purchase as many as they can!
Read this eBook from Rhinos and Raspberries -Tolerance Tales For The Early Grades! Read how the crocodile and ghost bat realize that stereotypes can be hurtful.
Pick a book from the list of LGBTQ-family friendly books and volunteer to read it at a local story hour in a library or at your child’s school.
Have a reading party with your family. Pick a few books from the comprehensive LGBTQ-family friendly list, prepare some tasty cocoa (recipe provided below!), cuddle up and read away!

Recipe for fun family time as you read!

Hot Chocolate Mix
8 cups nonfat dry milk powder
1 package (15 ounces) instant chocolate drink mix
1-1/2 cups powdered nondairy creamer
1-1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons instant coffee granules
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 envelope unsweetened orange or raspberry soft drink mix

Chocolate Cups
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon shortening
Whipped cream in a can

What to Do

1. In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients; mix well. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

2. For chocolate cups, in a microwave, melt chips and shortening; stir until smooth. With a small pastry brush or 1/2 teaspoon measure, spread chocolate mixture on the inside of 1-in. foil or paper candy cups. Place on a baking sheet. Refrigerate for 45 minutes or until firm. Just before serving, remove foil or paper cups and add whipped cream.

3. To prepare hot chocolate: For each serving, combine 1/3 cup mix and 1 cup boiling water; stir to dissolve. Place one filled chocolate cup in each mug; stir until melted.

Yield: 11 cups hot chocolate mix and 16 chocolate cups