36 Children's Books About Diversity and Inclusion
These wonderfully inclusive children's books help us teach our kids to appreciate and respect the many cultures, races, families and abilities that make up our world.
Diverse movies and books can be a powerful tool to help us raise kids who are open-minded and embrace people who are different from them.
Fill your library with inclusive and multicultural children's books that feature diverse characters, celebrate our differences, reflect the world around us, and open the door for learning about diversity!
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The Family Book
Age 3-6
Kelly R:
I love how Todd Parr's books teach about differences in a colorful and approachable style that is perfect for young kids. The Family Book celebrates families, and all of the different varieties in which they come.
My Name is María Isabel
Erynn: Through telling the story of María Isabel's new school - and a teacher who doesn't understand the meaning behind her name - author Alma Flor Ada shows how it's possible to stand up for yourself without bringing others down. Plus, the author herself knows a bit about making waves - Alma Flor Ada is a professor, advocate for peace, and writer of books that encourage kids to embrace their culture and the magic of being bilingual. A Spanish version is also available.
Whoever You Are
Age 4-7
Erin P.: This book by Mem Fox teaches little ones that there are kids just like them all over the world. While their homes, their schools, their languages and their skin may look different, we also share much that is the same. Just like your child, these kids all over the world laugh and cry, play and learn, eat and sleep. The illustrations take the reader all over the world, and the message of unity is such an important one for all of us!
One Family
Age 4-8
Yoli B: One Family is primarily a counting book, but as you look closer you will notice that the illustrations represent the world that we live in. The story includes diverse families in their daily lives and counts the background items up to ten. It keeps the theme of "one" throughout and it all keeps coming back to the lesson that we are "one family."
Stella Brings the Family
Age 5-8
Yoli B: Stella's class is having a Mother's Day celebration, but Stella has two daddies and brings them along! The book, by Miriam B. Schiffer, shows that there is no difference between Stella's family and "traditional" families. Stella's papa and daddy take care of her in this book about love, acceptance and the true meaning of family!
The Sneetches
Age 5-9
Yoli B: The Sneetches live elite lives because of the stars on their bellies. They don't talk, play or mix with the plain bellied Sneetches at all. One day a everything changes and all the Sneetches face their biased ideas. I love this tale and the video shouldn't be missed. It is classic Dr. Seuss told in a way that even the youngest minds can understand!
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures
Age 5-10
Sue Krawitz Tandoc: Temple Grandin was born with autism and she used her special abilities of working with animals and using pictures instead of words. In The Girl Who Thought in Pictures, by Julia Finley Mosca, we learn about her struggles as a child, and how she transformed farms for the better, earned three college degrees, became a speaker, professor, best-selling author, and advocate for animal science and autism. This book teaches that anyone with differences can be a star. Focus your energy, wisdom and efforts on your talents and the things you enjoy to succeed in life.
I Am Enough
Age 4-8
Vanessa M.: The beautiful, empowering poetry and eye-catching illustrations of I Am Enough by Grace Byers encourage young readers to be kind to themselves and inclusive of others. "I know that we don't look the same - our skin, our eyes, our hair, our frame. But that does not dictate our worth; we both have places here on earth." The gentle message about acceptance of self and others is a great conversation starter for families or school groups.
My Mother's Sari
Age 4-8
Yoli B: My Mother's Sari tells the tale of a little girl using her imagination while wrapping herself in the 6 foot cloth. This book is a favorite in our home and I read it in my daughter's preschool class and allowed the kids to play with one of my own saris.
And Tango Makes Three
Age 4-8
Sue Krawitz Tandoc: And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson is the true story of two male penguins, Roy and Silo who live in the Central Park Zoo in New York City. The pair followed the other penguin couples and built a nest with a rock as an egg until the zookeeper gave them a real egg so they were able to become parents.
This book illustrates that animals pick and choose their mate based on love and not gender. The story teaches diversity, love and acceptance of others. It also shows the kindness of the zoo employees who enabled the partners to be parents.
Shades of People
Age 2-5
Erin P.:
This book uses vibrant pictures and minimal text to introduce young children to the concept of shades of skin. The message is that our skin is just our covering, like wrapping paper, and you can't tell what someone is like on the inside from the color of their skin.
All the Colors We Are
Age 3-6
Erin P.: This nonfiction book, by Katie Kissinger, is about how skin color occurs. It explains that there are three factors that combine to give us our skin color: our parents, the sun, and melanin. This book includes lots of diverse pictures.
Yasmin Series
Age 5-8
Lisa R: This is a great series for kids who are just learning to read longer books on her own. Yasmin is a spunky second grader solving typical second grade problems. The books are relatively short and engaging. Yasmin's family is Pakistani, so little details about Pakistani and Muslim culture are woven through the stories, like that fact that her mom wears a hijab and her family speaks Urdu. The focus, however, is always on Yasmin and her adventures. As a grown-up sometimes reading these books with my daughter, I really enjoy all of the cultural details and that my daughter has asked to try new foods that she read about in the books.
Little Humans
Age 2-6
Yoli B: Little Humans is a feel good photographic journey of kids in New York City. The author, Brandon Stanton, is the creator of the popular blog "Humans of New York." In this book, he managed to capture the spirit of children from different backgrounds in their natural element around the city. The photographs are raw and the story is heartwarming, so take a look!
You Be You
Age 4+
Erin P.: This is a great book for introducing young children to the concepts of diversity, individuality, and acceptance. In this book by Linda Kranz, a fish sets out to explore the ocean and discovers that fish come in all shapes, sizes and colors!
Primary photo: Upparent
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