One sign of quality in a child care program are the children's books on the bookshelves. As a former teacher, I love to look at the books on the shelves just because I love children's books, but also because it's a picture, kind of like a window into the program's philosophy as well as curriculum. So what do you look for on a bookshelf? Look for books with racial and ethnic diversity. Ask yourself is my child represented? Consider other types of diversity, including gender and disability diversity. Books on emotions and how to manage those emotions are a must. Lastly, all bookshelves need a good mixture of fiction and non-fiction books.