Eads focuses on books that reflect the diversity of her school, where many children come from immigrant families. But she still has to supplement with money from her own pocket.

Libraries tend to rely on PTA money, which means schools with the wealthier families tend to have the most up-to-date books.Įads is lucky – her low-income school got a private grant to upgrade its library. For years, Seattle Public Schools has not provided libraries with any budget for new materials. But then, after weeding the collection, 'I was left with fewer than a dozen books that were appropriate, complete, authentic representations of African-American or black children.' 'I was once in a library, and the books about black children were either about their hair or about being enslaved,' Eads said. But I also don't want to be enforcing a stereotype or a negative connotation or a demoralizing term.”Įads says in the case of Little House on the Prairie, she might suggest the child next read a book from a Native American perspective.īut a lot of books she just pulls from the shelves. I want them to know the complete history. I want them to know how people treated and talked about people. 'Do I just tell the student up-front, 'you're going to come across some words that are inappropriate,' or do I take the book off?” Eads said. Kate Eads, librarian at Northgate Elementary, says this is just one of the books she struggles with. That’s the ominous first page of 'Little House on the Prairie.'

And they never saw that little house again. 'They drove away and left it lonely and empty in the clearing among the big trees.

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