All About Diversity; Felicity Brooks, illustrated by Mar Ferrero

Usborne produce brilliant non-fiction books for children and this addition to the ‘All About’ series is an absolute delight.

Imagine what the world would be like if everyone was exactly the same. If we all wore the same clothes, ate the same food, looked the same, had the same pets, played the same games, had identical families. Pretty boring, right. Luckily, the world is made up of billions of people who are all unique, different and special. This is called diversity and it is a wonderful and beautiful thing…

In a joyous celebration of the traits that make us all the unique individuals that we are, All About Diversity is a book that all children should experience to help them understand, respect and value differences of every kind. Every child deserves to see themselves and their life represented in a book and this is the purpose here. It is wonderfully delivered in a fun and engaging manner with 
kindness and equality shining on every single page.

This is the perfect tool for introducing children to the big subject of diversity and why it is important. Through a variety of topics ranging from bodies and brains to families and food to celebrations and clothing to looks and language, children are gently educated as they learn all about recognising, accepting, valuing and celebrating their fellow humans.

Beginning with a question or statement, each double spread is a beauty, showcasing the uniqueness of all different adults and children. Simple wording explains everything clearly and in a way that is appropriate and relatable to children, speech bubbles add some wonderful personality and insights to the diverse cast of characters and the colourful illustrations are brilliant - you could easily spend hours looking and chatting about each page. Aiding this conversation are question prompts, which appear on most pages, that encourage discussion and provide the opportunity for children to reflect on their own lives.

All About Diversity is a brilliant book for adults and children to share together. It is a valuable resource to always have on the shelf as it could be dipped into and used as children experience different situations. It provides the answers to many of the questions and wonderings that children will have about the people they meet and seamlessly develops empathy and enhances understanding. A glossary of ‘diversity words’ and brilliant ‘notes for grown-ups’ are included at the end; the notes are superb and are full of useful and practical advice that will help to continue and scaffold these important conversations.

In an incredibly diverse world, the need for children to grow-up being respectful and aware of others whose experiences and lives are different to their own is paramount. All About Diversityis a wonderful starting point that shares the most valuable of messages. Diversity is awesome!

Recommended for 5+.