Webinar Announcement: Choosing and Using Picture Books to Engage in Developmentally Appropriate Race Talk | STAGING Compendium

The Office of Commonwealth Libraries is offering a webinar that will explore a framework for choosing and using picture books as a tool to promote developmentally appropriate race talk. In this two-hour interactive session, we will introduce the idea of race talk in early childhood and discuss the ways picture books can be used as a tool to support both adult and child learning. We will also explore the “You Work, Book Work, and Kid Work” that are needed to engage in effective, developmentally appropriate race talk.

Webinar Title: Choosing and Using Picture Books to Engage in Developmentally Appropriate Race Talk
Date: Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Time: Noon – 2:00 PM

Presenters:
Caitlin Forbes Spear, PhD, Director of Literacy and Learning, and Jennifer Briggs, PhD, Literacy and Learning Specialist
University Of Pittsburgh, Office of Child Development (OCD), Literacy and Learning Division (LLD)

Registration Link

This webinar will not be recorded. Course materials will be made available to attendees.

Learning Objectives:

  • Participants will be able to define “race talk” and be able to understand the importance of race talk in early childhood contexts.
  • Participants will learn about a framework to choose and use picture books to support race talk in early childhood contexts.
  • Participants will practice applying this framework (reflection, book analysis, planning for work with children) using a picture book during the session.

This training is deeply focused on cultural diversity and inclusion, with a core focus on working with participants to understand when how young children learn about race, and the ways in which library staff, educators, and other adults can use high quality picture books to engage in effective race talk with children from a wide range of backgrounds and communities.

Continuing Education Certificates, ACT 48 Credits, and verification of attendance hours for the Pennsylvania PD Registry will be available for those attending the live session.

This project is made possible by Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Office of Commonwealth Libraries.

Please contact Heather Warren Smith at sheather@pa.gov if you have any questions or would like additional information.