Books help us understand our world and our place within it. For young people of any age, stories that reflect themselves, their friends, their families, and their communities are a vital source of validation.

In this episode, you will meet Kathleen Barker, a library and information specialist and historian, to explore the value of LGBTQ-inclusive books in the classroom—for students as well as teachers.

This History UnErased podcast is funded by the New York City Council Committee on Education. It was developed by History UnErased in partnership with Making Gay History and produced by Deb Fowler; Inge De Taeye; Ali Lemer; and Eric Marcus.