Celebrating Identity and Inclusion with More Than Peach
by by Sarah Zaslov, Stefanie Gervasi, and Caitlin Palmer
More Than Peach, written by young activist Bellen Woodard, is a powerful and inspiring picture book that invites readers to see themselves, and each other, in all their beautiful diversity.
Woodard’s story begins in a classroom where her classmates repeatedly called a single crayon the “skin-color” crayon. She realized that this assumption excluded the many shades that make up the colors of real people’s skin. Rather than simply accepting it, she challenged her classmates (and eventually her whole school) to rethink what “skin color” means and recognize that skin comes in many beautiful hues.
This message of inclusivity and belonging underpins her project and mission: to ensure everyone feels seen and represented. Drawing from her own experience, Woodard also founded the More Than Peach Project, which creates inclusive art supplies — like multicultural crayons — and encourages young people to lead with confidence and compassion. More Than Peach not only shares her journey but also motivates young readers to stand up for change and celebrate the power of being themselves.
Across multiple schools, students have been engaging in a meaningful and creative activity inspired by the themes of More Than Peach. Students are creating self-portraits that celebrate their individual identities and highlight the beauty of the skin we’re in. This activity invites learners to think deeply about who they are, beyond a single color or label, and to express that uniqueness through art.
As students draw and personalize their portraits, they are encouraged to reflect on what makes them proud: their culture, background, features, interests, and character. These self-portraits are then displayed to showcase the diversity of our school communities and to reinforce a message of pride and belonging for everyone.
Schools that participated in the More than Peach Project this year:
Westpark Elementary School
Allion Elementary School
Clearpoint Elementary School
Terry Fox Elementary School
Sherbrooke Academy Senior
Sherbrooke Academy Junior
Lasalle Elementary Senior
Lasalle Elementary Junior
Christmas Park Elementary School
