Here we share conversations with librarians, educators, and readers about the children's books that can be bridges across our cultural divides… the books that can open minds and the books that can be the lifeline a child needs to remember they're not alone.

In today's episode, Saadia Faruqi shares some good book recommendations about South East Asia and refugee issues in her segment "Books You've Never Heard Of." And Ann Braden shares her conversation with Kiran Waqar, a high school senior and a member of the slam poetry group Muslim Girls Making Change. They discuss the power of seeing yourself in the pages of a book and the incredible rise of youth voices we're currently seeing in our country with the March for Our Lives and beyond.

In Episode 1, Saadia Faruqi shares some good book recommendations about kids struggling with poverty in her segment "Books You've Never Heard Of." Ann Braden shares her conversation with elementary school librarian, Eileen Parks. Many of the students that Eileen's library serves come from families that are struggling to make ends meet. Also, since the majority of the community is white, children of color can easily feel isolated. She discusses some of the issues she faces in working to serve all of her students. Finally, Ann will reflect on the power of stories in bridging the class divide.