When I was a kid, I never saw characters in stories or books that looked like me. I never saw books with families that looked like my family. Now, as a mother with a new generation of kids, we’ve come such a long way. It’s not perfect, but children’s toys, tv shows, and books show so much more diversity then in years past. Today, I wanted to share a few of my favorite books that teach (and show) diversity to kids. Here are nine of my favorites…
(left to right, top to bottom): The Skin You Live In, Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, I Like Myself, This is How We Do It, Mommy, Mama, and Me, The Last Stop on Market Street, Love Family (a customizable book for multiracial families), Pepper Zhang, and Zero.
If there are any others you love, please share in the comments!
I’d also recommend Little Quack’s New Friend for the little little ones. I read it to my 18 month old and he loves it.
https://www.amazon.com/Little-Quacks-Friend-Lauren-Thompson/dp/1416949232
The Tinyville Town series by Brian Biggs is also great. My kids and I love them.
Joy, thanks for sharing these wonderful recommendations. This is very close to my heart and my organization is currently featuring a #RebelBooks campaign that focusses on empowering girls and challenging gender stereotypes. For a complete list of books recommended, please visit: http://sayfty.com/empower/rebelbooks/
Hi Joy! I’m katy, and I’m part of the team at Sayfty! I’m helping with the #rebelbooks campaign, and we would love for you to submit to it. We’re looking for books that empower girls or challenge gender stereotype to be submitted via social media under the hashtag #rebelbooks! The goal is to compile a list of books for teachers and parents to utilize. You can learn more at this link:http://sayfty.com/empower/rebelbooks/
Thanks for these suggestions! I recently bought “My Amazing Day” for my toddler. It features a mixed-race child (like my daughter) but is otherwise not about identity. What’s also nice is that the little girl is dressed in gender-neutral clothes, and it has a lovely theme about being grateful and feeling good about oneself. https://www.amazon.com/My-Amazing-Day-Celebration-Gratitude/dp/0989614514
Hi! great post! I’m an illustrator from Southern California. I’m also bi-racial and I have illustrated a number of bilingual english and Spanish books for a wonderful diverse publishing company called Lectura books. http://www.lecturabooks.com/product-category/infant-and-toddler/
I would also recommend We’re Different, We’re the Same. It’s a Sesame Street book that talks about the ways we are different, but also what we have in common. Also teaches about the different parts of the body. My 2.5 year old loves it. It gives us a lot of things to talk about! https://www.amazon.com/dp/0679832270/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_m6HPzbFW7J90D
You would love this book which beautifully describes growing up with two very different cultures while at the same time dealing with delicate topics like ageing and death. It’s so lovely! http://www.saffrontree.org/2014/10/my-two-great-grandmothers_14.html
Snowy Day is a favorite at our house. And it’s now been made into a short movie on Amazon Prime.
We like “Snowy Day” as the previous poster mentioned. When my daughter was two, she really enjoyed “Shades of People.” Older kids (3-7 years) might enjoy “Suki’s Kimono” and “The Name Jar.”
We have ‘Goodnight stories for rebel girls’ for my three year old and she loves it! Love that books like these are more prevalent than when I was growing up!
I also <3 "Last Stop on Market Street"! Children's books are close to my heart. I have been compiling a pinterest board of books that address themes of empathy, diverse perspectives, girls' empowerment https://www.pinterest.com/sharonmsn/books-against-hate/
One of my favorites is “We’re All Wonders,” a picture book version of “Wonder,” about a boy who looks different because of a facial anomaly.
hmm half my comment was deleted.
I also <3 "Last Stop on Market Street"
Children's books are close to my heart. I have been compiling a pinterest board of books that address themes of empathy, diverse perspectives, girls' empowerment.
https://www.pinterest.com/sharonmsn/books-against-hate/
still deleted?
I also love “Last Stop On Market Street”
Children’s books are close to my heart. I have been compiling a pinterest board of books that address themes of empathy, diverse perspectives, girls’ empowerment.
https://www.pinterest.com/sharonmsn/books-against-hate/
One of my favorites is “We’re All Wonders,” a picture book version of “Wonder,” about a boy who looks different because of a facial anomaly.
love! thanks for sharing!!!
joy
We love this is how we do it!
LOVE this post! I’d also like to say in the design blog world it’s a lot of blond women and it means a lot to see someone that looks like they could be in my family 🙂
thank you 😉
The Liberty Porter series from Julia DeVillers is a great grade-school series featuring a smart, spunky African-American First Daughter.
Hi Joy!!! My mom is Asian…Hawaiian, Chinese, Filipino. We grew up with these books that I now read to our kids…The Five Chinese Brothers, Ping, Tiki Tiki Tembo. In high school when I was on the speech and debate team…I used Tiki Tiki Tembo as my storytelling piece. ?
Love that!!
Joy