Ti Gran also tells Belle stories about the Haitian Revolution and their familyâs history. Amazing Grace By Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Caroline Binch (Frances Lincoln Children's Books) The classic picture book about the little girl who loves stories and shows us that we can be anything we want to be. Three sisters are left on their own when their parents are sent back to Mexico. Start discussions and learn whilst having fun! The Read-Aloud Revival team has put together a list of our favorite diverse picture books to celebrate the everyday. Rubina canât wait to attend her first birthday party, but her mother spoils the excitement when she insists that Rubinaâs little sister, Sana, attend too. Targeting cookies are used to make advertising messages more relevant to you and your interests. But when her dad starts his bedtime countdown, can she fit in as much fun as possible before itâs time to go to sleep? Hereâs a shortlist of some to check out. “brown-skinned”). The Diverse BookFinder data also shows an increase in the amount of picture books being published that feature characters of color whose race/culture is unspecified (e.g. When it comes to kids’ books, it’s important to make sure your reading list offers a wide array of diverse characters; it’s an easy way to show budding readers that while human beings come in all shapes, sizes and colors, we all have the same emotions and feelings. The UK is a country full of lots of different people, cultures and traditions, and this incredible book bursting with facts is a great way for you and your little reader to explore together. Bollywood-obsessed Winnie Mehta is shocked when her supposed soulmate falls for someone else. by Meg Medina, illustrated by Angela Dominguez. That is a problem. âWe read to know that we are not alone.â âWilliam Nicholson, Shadowlands. Freedom Soup will make your reader want to dance and clap their hands, as Belle and Ti Gran cook up a feast in the kitchen. it seems you've already subscribed to this newsletter. It's never too early to talk about race, and reading books with a diverse cast of characters portrayed in positive and non-stereotypical ways can help toddlers and infants to normalise and celebrate difference. Celebrate Diversity Books for Little Learners. Get reading picks, tips, and activities in your inbox. by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Weshoyot Alvitre. What books are you and your kids looking forward to reading in the year ahead? Oddly the Disney Fairies scored well here and the blimmin awful Rainbow fairies have about one ethnically diverse fairy in 10, but given there are 200 books in the series its better than it sounds. Diverse characters. We’re entering this new decade with another epic list of diverse reads to share with you. Analytics cookies help us to improve our website by collecting and reporting information on how you use it. Ghost. These board books with push-and-pull adventures help little ones play and learn about the world around them, from familiar landscapes to faraway places. by Isabel Quintero, illustrated by Zeke Peña. Instead, the issues are solving mysteries, defeating bad guys, coping with loss, following your destiny, and more. Both heartrending and irreverent, Who Put This Song On? (4 – 8) A series of books with four kids from very different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. F Is for Feminism: An Alphabet Book of Empowerment (5+ years). All are a part of an elite middle school track team that goes to the state championships. They perform functions like preventing the same content from reappearing, ensuring ads are displayed and, in some cases, selecting content based on your interests. The Skin You Live In. 7 books for toddlers with diverse characters, F Is for Feminism: An Alphabet Book of Empowerment, Industry commitment to professional behaviour. The Busy Day series shows a diverse mix of characters that make up the world around them. What he finds is a whole lot more than he bargained for. In the Ladybird Tales of Super Heroes, your young reader can discover six larger-than-life mythic and legendary heroes from around the world, from different backgrounds and worlds, all beautifully illustrated. This book points out all of the fun things kids love to do. Though Frank Liâs parents wanted him to grow up in America, they still have some traditional expectations: namely, that he only date Korean girls. When you’re picking stories with Black lead characters, it’s important to choose diverse plots. Books with a Non-Caucasian person as the/one of the lead characters. Their community changes by the day, but her Papiâs love is constant. 1,253 books — 622 voters Asexuals In Fiction . In this gorgeously illustrated picture book, a multigenerational Cherokee family go about their days and traditions in their home, while their loved one, always in their thoughts, serves as a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II. Splash the mermaid does not want to go to bed! by Tami Charles, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara. Ten Minutes to Bed: Little Mermaid (5+ years). See More. When Miaâs abuela comes to live with her family, Mia looks forward to getting to know her far-away grandmother. Lee and Low Books reports that only 7 percent of the new children’s books published in 2017 were written by Black, Latinx, and Native authors combined. by Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw. by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. As well as having diverse characters, it's also a great lesson on the importance of female friendships. (Note to publishers: keep publishing more books like these!!) Many of the books are suitable for pre-school age children. Jason Reynolds. by Ray Jayawardhana, illustrated by Raul Colón. 192 books — 107 voters The push and pull flaps are great for little ones to explore, play and learn and help develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. 10 children’s books that feature diverse characters Arts. A 2018 study out of Cooperative Children's Book Center of Education (CCBC) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that the percentage of books depicting characters from diverse … To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy, Oops! Daisy Ramona loves riding around her California neighborhood on the back of her Papiâs motorcycle, a cherished daily routine. "Diverse books are a tiny slice of what's published," said Elizabeth Perez, a children's librarian at the San Francisco Public Library. For more Black boy joy, donât miss Derrick Barnesâs newest, I Am Every Good Thing. Patina. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The son of the farmer whose land the girls are living on, Tyler, struggles with his fears and prejudices, but begins to change as he gets to know the girls better. Jump to: Books about the world | Bedtime books | Storytime books | Mealtime books | Potty training books, The latest books, activities and tips to help you grow little readers, By signing up, I confirm that I'm over 16. Every Tuesday, Lola and her mommy visit the library, check out books, and read them together at a coffee shop where Lola enjoys a special treat and the foam from mommyâs coffee. Fruits: A Caribbean Counting Poem By Valerie Bloom, illustrated by David Axtell (Macmillan Children's Books) A rhythmic counting poem that describes all manner of delicious Caribbean fruits as a little girl tries to eat as many of t… Her goal in childhood was to read every book in the children's section of the library. Eleven-year-old Scoob is in hot water with his dad, but his grandma whisks him away for a cross-country road trip, retracing the steps that she and Scoobâs grandpa took during the 1960s in the South, guided by their Green Book. We Need Diverse Books™ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and a grassroots organization of children’s book lovers that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people. Baby/Toddler (Ages 0 - 2) and Pre-K (Ages 3 - 5) The Drum by Ken Wilson-Max, £9.99, Tiny Owl ( The Drum by Ken Wilson-Max (Tiny Owl ) … That’s why it’s important kids read engaging stories with main characters that are relatable to their lives. What do grown-ups do all day? This week for Reading Wednesday, I asked media specialist Lauren Bercuson of Happily Ever Elephants to put together a list of books with diverse main characters. The characters in this book represent a variety of cultures. Please know that I value all kind of diversity (neurodiversity, physical diversity, and so forth) but this list focuses on books featuring with non-white, BIPoC characters. Super heroes come from all around the world and have always been with us, from gods with mighty powers to human heroes who don disguises to save the day. See More. From chasing bugs and eating cake, kids just want to explore and discover. by Lenore Look, illustrated by Leuyen Pham. Registered office: 20 Vauxhall Bridge Rd, London. Strictly Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. Books about ordinary childhood problems-not rooted in historical events or racial tensions– where the characters in the story aren’t white. The characters are more than their race/sexuality/identity, but their problems are still open and discussed in a thorough, understanding way. And that? By submitting my email, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random Houseâs Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Here’s a shortlist of some to check out. We use cookies on this site to enable certain parts of the site to function and to collect information about your use of the site so that we can improve our visitorsâ experience. Not just to their humanity, but also to their appearance and their culture. From tender tales that celebrate individuality to stories that offer new perspectives from history to modern-day, these books for children of all ages feature Black heroes and characters that will inspire and entertain, as well as stories that help facilitate family conversations on racial injustice. Brave Enough, Kati Gardner Author Kati Gardner is a childhood cancer survivor and amputee who looked to … You will find LGBTQ characters from different backgrounds and cultures. For little ones who can express themselves verbally, books are a great way to explore and discuss diversity together. Books with Characters of Color While people of color are still underrepresented in books for kids and teens, we've found lots of great reads with diverse main or supporting characters in all sorts of genres, including mystery, fantasy, romance, adventure, sci-fi, graphic novels, historical fiction, novels in verse -- … For more book suggestions with diverse characters like these, I recommend these blogs: Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2020. âªMelissa Taylor, MA, is a teacher, mama, and writer from Colorado. Ready? Frank seeks the help of his friend Joy Song, and things take an unexpected turn. Unfortunately in the children's book world, there are far too few stories featuring diverse characters. Children's books expert Wendy Cooling offers guidance on why you should read to your baby, along with some top tips. Scroll down for nine books where diverse characters take the lead. Kids' books that celebrate Native American heritage. Mystery Books for Kids with Diverse Characters Posted on April 11, 2016 June 6, 2020 by Pragmatic Mom It was a lot harder than you’d think to find mystery books for kids with characters … At her new school, Danbi initially feels out of place â the language and customs are all mysterious â but at lunchtime, she creates a fun new game that everyone can play. 7 books for toddlers with diverse characters It's never too early to talk about race, and reading books with a diverse cast of characters portrayed in positive and non-stereotypical ways can help toddlers and infants to normalise and celebrate difference. Wait until you try and find chapter books with diverse characters! Further, only a small percentage of books featuring diverse characters are written by authors with a shared identity. Most of the books listed here are recommended either for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and … Most of the books … Diverse Easy Readers & Early Chapter Books What Do We Do All Day: 35 Multicultural Early Chapter Books PragmaticMom: Nina Soni, Former Best Friend and Other Diverse Chapter Books PragmaticMom: Chapter Book Series Starring Diverse Girl Characters PragmaticMom: 5 Great New Diversity Easy Readers PragmaticMom: 11 New Diversity Early Chapter Books PragmaticMom: Top 10 […] With a little help from Dev, a fellow film nerd, Winnie rewrites her love story according to her own script. View all newsletter. Picture Books with Diverse Characters by KDawson_DPL - a staff-created list : Here is a list of picture books featuring people of color, different kinds of families, and other underrepresented voices in children's literature. A young boy eagerly awaits the start of kindergarten â making new friends, learning new things, and telling his parents all about it. There are many, many more children’s books with diverse characters that … From board books to picture books, these books have characters with non-white skin tones and cultures –in other words, representative of the real world. The Best Informational Books for Toddlers, Kid-Approved Books for Struggling Second and Third Grade Readers, The 50 Best Books for 11- and 12-Year-Olds, 15 Classics That 8- to 12-Year-Olds Say Are Worth Reading Today, 21 Middle Grade & Chapter Books to Dive Into This Fall 2020, 15 YA Books to Look Forward to in Fall 2020, 10 Books That Promote Positive Thinking in Teens, Pride and Less Prejudice: LGBTQIA+ Books for Teens, By submitting my email, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House's. Lu. I made the parameters for this post fairly narrow, and often just picked my favorites that covered the same subject matter. is the story of 17-year-old Morgan, whoâs struggling with growing up in a mostly white suburban community that prefers to ignore both mental health and race. Beautifully illustrated to show that everyone can be a mermaid, this is the perfect book to send your wide-awake little one to sleep. Preference and Feature cookies allow our website to remember choices you make, such as your language preferences and any customisations you make to pages on our website during your visit. As I began my research to find more books to add to our collection, I learned that people of color are grossly underrepresented in children’s books. Writing Diverse Characters for Fiction, TV or Film [Hay, Lucy V.] on Amazon.com. See More. Some of the books celebrate Pride Month, its history and the people behind it. Sunny. by Rukhsana Khan, illustrated by Sophie Blackall. I could recommend hundreds of books with diverse main characters. With diversity at the forefront of Carolyn Suzukiâs illustrations, each book gently introduces toddlers to each subject, from things they can see, touch and taste in A is for Avocado to forces for good in F Is for Feminism to feelings and senses in M Is for Mindfulness. From interactive books with fun flaps to noisy books with unexpected surprises, our ultimate list of books for two-year-olds will give a little helping hand whatever the occasion â whether itâs playtime or nap time! An unforgettable semi-autobiographical novel from an award-winning poet. Danbi and her family just immigrated to the U.S. from South Korea. For more on our cookies and changing your settings click here. Not just to their humanity, but also to their appearance and their culture. What books are you and your kids looking forward to reading in 2020? This relevant and contemporary collection is great for little ones coming to poetry for the first time. Ladybird Tales of Super Heroes (4+ years). Get the latest on books and authors from Penguin Random House. Written by an astrophysicist for his young daughter, Child of the Universe is a simultaneously poetic and scientific exploration of our stunning cosmos and a celebration of the individual brilliance of each child born into it. This series of books, which includes M Is for Mindfulness and A Is for Avocado, is a great way for little ones to learn through the alphabet. In our library, we try to have books that use diverse characters in whatever story is being told, not just as supporting players, but as the heroes too. These cookies may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages. Thatâs why itâs important kids read engaging stories with main characters that are relatable to their lives. Their language barrier may slow things down, but Mia comes up with a clever solution to help the two connect. Some grown-ups look after animals, go into space, build houses and more! Diverse Horror. When Marcus Vegaâs mother takes him and his little brother to Puerto Rico to visit unfamiliar relatives, Marcus takes off on a quest in search of his father, who left the family ten years ago. Every Children’s Library Lady book list is as diverse as possible and this one is no exception. With award-winning poets, brand new voices, hip-hop artists and spoken-word performers, these poems can be performed out loud, shared with others or simply read. "They've made some strides, but considering the diversity of the US, it's still very small." Which is why we need quality books with culturally and racially diverse main characters! ————————– Lauren Bercuson shares children’s literature reviews and other bookish fun on Instagram @happily.ever.elephants, on Facebook, on Twitter @KidLitLauren and on her blog Happily Ever Elephants. Of course, these are far from the only children’s books about diversity! Children’s books with diverse characters need to be in every home. At the party, Sana pulls all sorts of little-sister shenanigans (inspired by the authorâs own little-sister behavior). I could recommend hundreds of books with diverse main characters. What these books of all genres have in common is telling stories with diverse characters where race isn't the central issue in the storyline. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions. Dec 11, 2015 4:56 PM EST Books represent some of the first opportunities children have to explore the world. Will Yumi be able to bring her identities together? See More. A charming and amusing early chapter book series, Alvin Ho stars as a young Asian American boy who might be intimidated by just about everything at school, but at home heâs a superhero-in-training, also known as Firecracker Man! I am creating this list of diverse children’s books because I believe it is incredibly important for all families. They show a diverse mix of people across the bright and engaging illustrations, that encourage interaction and play, from In the City and On the Farm to At the Airport and To the Moon. If you’d like to find out about twenty more books featuring diverse main characters, go to Part One of the list. When coming out to his Muslim family doesnât go as planned, 18-year-old Amir Azadi packs his bags for Rome. I started this just as a middle grade list, but didn’t want to ignore the littles who are just starting out in the chapter books world, so I featured books for kids from about 1 Yumi Chung accidentally finds herself living two lives: as a dutiful daughter and quiet student, and as a stand-up comedian in training. Looking for multicultural children’s picture books with culturally and racially diverse main characters?I’ve gathered up over 70 of my favorites here. "All of Rick Riordan's books are pretty diverse. As he pursues his most authentic self, Amirâs old life and new collide in a big way.