An anonymous donor recently helped the Sag Harbor Elementary School acquire new books that will help teach children about diversity and inclusivity.
In collaboration with the John Jermain Memorial Library, the donation allowed the school to buy more than 125 books promoting "a better understanding of people, how others live, and cultures other than our own," said Betty Reynoso, the assistant principal, who co-chairs the school district's diversity and inclusion committee. The books have been sorted by grade-appropriate reading levels, and only teachers handle them.
"By having the teacher read aloud, our hope is to provoke thoughtful discussions, inquiry, [and] reflection," Ms. Reynoso said in an email to The Star.
Among the titles are "Bilal Cooks Daal" by Aisha Saeed, "Too Sticky! Sensory Issues With Autism" by Jen Malia and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff, and "Bunnybear" by Andrea J. Loney. Ms. Reynoso pointed to "Bunnybear," which is about a bear that believes he is a tiny, fluffy rabbit instead of a big, burly bear, as an example of a story that allows children to explore the concept of identity.
"The feedback already from the teachers has been so positive and tremendous," she said during Monday's school board meeting. The district will now take steps to boost Pierson Middle and High School classroom libraries with books of a similar nature for readers at those levels, she said.