(intro music plays)

- When children reachabout age five or six,

they begin to wonder why

some people look different than they do,

they worship God differently,

or celebrate different holidays.

ABC news correspondent LinseyDavis is helping families

teach their children aboutdiversity with a new book.

Take a look.

- [Narrator] As a reporter,

Linsey Davis covers major news stories

for ABC World News, Nightline,and Good Morning America.

She's also the author of thebestselling children's book,

"The World is Awake: A Celebrationof Everyday Blessings,"

a book she wrote with her then

three-year-old son Aiden in mind.

Today, Linsey is back witha second children's book

inspired once again byAiden, who's now five.

This time, the topic is diversity.

It's called "One Big Heart:

"A Celebration of BeingMore Alike Than Different."

- Well Linsey Davis is back with us now.

Welcome to The 700 Club.

- Thanks for having me.- I just have to hold this up

'cause it's so fun.

I mean this is just abeautifully done book.

In the book, you writeall about diversity.

Boy, do we live in a time wherewe need a message on that.

Is that what compelled you

to address--- 100%,

was just the climate in our country

and raising my son during this time

and just wanting to make sure

that there were gonna be certain values

that he was gonna grow up with.

And people will say, "Oh, it's anecdotal

"that our country is divided,"

but when you look at hate crimes arising

year after year in the last three years,

and I just wanted to get backto what's wholesome and good

and make sure my son is filled with that.

I think what's interesting is

children already inherently feel this way.

They're not worried aboutsomebody's background

or skin color or religious beliefs.

They just want to knowwhat do we have in common,

what kind of toys do youlike, will you be my friend.

And when my son talks about a new friend

he doesn't bring up anythingabout their background.

He just says, "Well, youknow, they like LEGOs too.

"Can they come over?"

(women chuckling)

In the first part of the book,

you talk about the variousways that we're different,

and then in the second part of the book,

you talk about all the wonderfulways that we're the same.

What made you decide to

do it in that order?- Sure.

Well I think that it's important

because kids notice differences.

A lot of times

- They do.- people will say,

"Oh, kids are colorblindand they don't notice,"

but they 100% do.

They just don't assign avalue to what's good or bad.

And so I thought it wasimportant to be upfront

and say yes, we have different skin color

and different hair and features

and likes and dislikes and beliefs,

but then let's turn thepage to what unites us

and the greater good and the bigger issues

that we have in common,

and that God gave us allthis one special part,

he gave us a big heart, andthat's the most important part

because that's where the love starts.

- You talked for just a second there

about assigning a value.

As you said, kids are gonnanotice the differences.

I mean they'd have to be blind

not to.- Right, right.

- However, what are someof the things that we do

as grown-ups, whether we'reparents, grandparents, teachers,

church leaders, that assignvalues to these scenarios

that are negative.- I think we end up

with a them-versus-usattitude quite often.

Just for people, we decidethat people who are like us

and believe like us that it's better

for us to be in those groups.

I think that that's justkind of like a faction

that we end up doing.

And people say you haveto be taught to hate.

I think that it's not just that simple.

I think, quite often, it's what's caught,

what the childrenobserve in your behavior,

in your body language, andwho you associate with.

And so I think thatthat's what so important

is, for me, making sure thatmy son is in a diverse area,

whether it's at churchor in a school system,

and I think that other parents

need to be aware of that same thing,

that it's so important forchildren to have that exposure

to people who are different

from who they are.- Understand the value

- Exactly.- of that.

You say that it's really important for us

to address diversity in achild's life at a young age.

Why?

- Well, I think first of all,

this is kind of a prime example

of the student becomes the teacher.

We, as adults, could learn from children

and their open heartsand their willingness

to love and be such eager and passionate.

But I think that when youdon't establish early on,

then their hearts are hardened

and they grow up to become adults

who are not willing to embrace diversity

and not willing to beaccepting and open and loving.

I think that that's just so important.

I think that when we're talking about

a lot of the hate crimes andstuff that are happening now,

I think that that comes in large part

where you just don't know.

We quite often fear what we don't know.

So if you've never been exposed

to somebody with a different belief system

or background from you,then you might decide,

like oh, they're different,

you know, I don't likethat group of people.

But maybe if you had had, at an early age,

that friend who you said,

"oh you know, no they'renot all bad people.

"I remember my friend Johnny."

- I think also that just the pronouns

that you talk about using, the "we, they"

puts a dividing wall up.- Right. Exactly.

- So, I find with my, becausewe have a very diverse family,

that with my children,

if I talk about God's perspective on it,

his enjoyment of diversity and uniqueness

and the way he created things,

it's such an upliftingconversation that we have.

What do you do for childrenwhen they've been exposed

to something that's not been positive

at school or in the marketplace?

How do we counter that?

- Well I think that it'simportant that we talk about it.

I think that that's first.

And I love what you said thatyou said to your granddaughter

about God loves variety.

And I think that that's the messaging.

I think that a lot of times,

just as important it is that children

see themselves reflected in the books,

I think it's important that they see

kids who don't look like them.

And I think that that helps them

to be more compassionate people.

And so when they haveexperienced something,

that they're beingchastised or in some way

they feel like they're separatefrom a different group,

I think that we have to talk to them about

some people haven't been exposed to people

who don't look like them,

and some people are afraidof that, or however it is.

But I think that the mostimportant thing is that

you address it head on.

- One of the things I loved somuch about your book is that

it just brings forth the concept

of value too in every single person,

and what an opportunity we have as parents

and grandparents and teachers and pastors

to instill that in our children.

The artwork in the book is so fun.

Your message is sobeautifully put together,

and it is called, "One Big Heart."

It's available whereverbooks, it's a celebration

of being more alike that different,

and you can find itwherever books are sold.

Linsey, thank you, anothergreat children's book.

- Thank you, Sarah.

- Are you going to do another one?

- Yes, I'm working on oneright now as we speak, yes.

- Well, let us know.

- I'll make sure you get a copy.