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Reading books with children at a young age not only helps them be better prepared for school, but it also opens their minds to new cultures and experiences. Exposing children in first grade to both "mirror" and "window" books - that is, books in which they can see themselves, and books in which they can learn about others- is the best way to create engaged readers and support social and emotional learning.

Lee & Low Books is a children's book publisher specializing in diversity. We offers hundreds of great books for first graders, along with free teacher guides and lesson plans for each book! Our books include English, Spanish, and bilingual titles; books about many different cultures; books that span a wide range of subjects and themes; and both fiction and nonfiction. Browse all our books and collections for grades PreK - 2, and check out our other book lists by grade:
Our 10 Favorite Multicultural Books for Preschool Our 8 Favorite Multicultural Books for Kindergarten
Everyone's favorite mismatched heroine is back! Marisol is turning eight, and it's time to plan a birthday party that will be fabulous, marvelous, and divine. She also hopes that Abuelita, who lives far away in Peru, will be able to come to the celebration. See the Teacher's Guide.
2. Rainbow Weaver/Tejedora del arcoíris by Linda E. Marshall, illus. by Elisa Chavarri:
Ixchel wants to follow in the long tradition of weaving on backstrap looms, just as her mother, grandmother, and most Mayan women have done for more than two thousand years. But Ixchel's mother is too busy preparing her weavings for the market. Suddenly, she has an idea! She collects and washes the plastic bags floating around her neighborhood and uses them to create a colorful fabric that looks like a beautiful rainbow! See the Teacher's Guide.

3. Sparkle Boy by Lesléa Newman, illus. by Maria Mola:
4. Ghosts for Breakfast by Stanley Todd Terasaki, illus. by Shelly Shinjo:
Casey loves to play with his blocks, puzzles, and dump trucks, and he also loves things that shimmer, glitter, and sparkle. Casey's older sister, Jessie, thinks this is weird. Shimmery, glittery, sparkly things are only for girls. Right? This sweet and refreshing story speaks to us all about acceptance, respect, and the simple freedom to be yourself.

Three unexpected guests - Mr. Omi, Mr. Omaye, and Mr. Ono - arrive at the Tanaka home, complaining of having seen ghosts. They claim there are dozens of them - in Farmer Tanaka's field! The ghosts were long and thin and white, very white, and they were dancing in the moonlight. Set in California in the 1920s, this delightful father-son story speaks to all young children who yearn to overcome their fears. See the Ghosts for Breakfast Word Scramble.

Maya is searching for all the colors of the rainbow, inspiring little readers to look around and ask themselves, where can I find the colors in my world? See the Teacher's Guide.

From our Dive Into Reading early reader series featuring the Confetti Kids, Music Time is about a young boy named Henry who finds a way to combine his love of music and playing with his friends. When his mother finishes work, they figure out how to enjoy music together. See the Confetti Kids Activity Guide.
8. Under the Lemon Moonby Edith Hope Fine, illus. by René Moreno:
Upon the arrival of her new baby brother, Elizabeti decides she needs a doll she can care for the way her mother cares for the new baby. After looking around her village, Elizabeti finds the perfect doll to love, and names her Eva. See the Teacher's Guide.

One night, Rosalinda is awakened by a noise in the garden. When she investigates, she sees a man leaving with a large sack-full of fruit from Rosalinda's beloved lemon tree. After consulting with family and neighbors about how to save her sick tree, Rosalinda sets out in search of La Anciana, the Old One, the only person who might have a solution to Rosalinda's predicament. See the Teacher's Guide.

Carnival is coming, and the villagers of John John, Trinidad, are getting ready to jump up and celebrate with music, dancing, and a parade. Best of all, the Roti King has promised free rotis-tasty fried pancakes filled with chicken, herbs, and spices-for the best band in the parade. Young Winston dreams of feasting on those delicious rotis. But there's a problem: he's not in a band! Pondering his predicament as he wanders through the village junkyard, Winston makes a curious musical discovery that may be just the ticket to realizing his dream. See the Teacher's Guide.

Who needs a backyard when you've got brownstone steps, double dutch, and freeze tag beneath the sizzling summer sun? There's nothing like summer time in the city when you've got your friends, family, and imagination to keep you company. See the Activity Guide.

Free Customized Orders
Contact Veronica Schneider at vschneider[at]leeandlow[dot]com to get started!
Want to create a book order based on reading level, theme, and/or student demographics? We can help! Our in-house Sales & Literacy Team can help you build a free custom book order for your school or district.

Further Reading
Building Classroom Community in First Grade What Does Close Reading Look Like in First Grade?
Bebop Books: Guided Reading Book Sets for the Classroom

Also check out our amazing PreK-2 collections:

Diverse Background English Collection for PreK-2

Asian American English Collection for PreK-2

English Fiction Collection for PreK-2

Poetry Collection for PreK-2

Diversity Starter Pack Collection for PreK-2

Building Classroom Community for Kindergarden Collection

Family Diversity Collection

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Our 10 Favorite Multicultural Books for First Grade

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Reading books with children at a young age not only helps them be better prepared for school, but it also opens their minds to new cultures and experiences. Exposing children in first grade to both "mirror" and "window" books - that is, books in which they can see themselves, and books in which they can learn about others- is the best way to create engaged readers and support social and emotional learning.

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It is important that every preschool teacher ( and parent) have access to great picture books. Picture books that not only explore the alphabet or counting or our students' favorite characters. You also need books that help children develop their own character. Social-emotional learning is an important, if not the most important part of early childhood education. Having access to the right books to share with your students is a must.

This list focuses on building community through inclusion and the strength that comes from a diverse community. Some of the books teach this explicitly, and some are more implicit with the lesson. All have wonderful messages for young children. I have a related book list about Books That Teach Children To Include Others that you don't want to miss. I'll link it again at the end of this list!

All our book lists include affiliate links.

Books that Promote Diversity and Inclusion

Morris Micklewhite and The Tangerine Dress By Christine Baldachinno. Morris is just who he is. Who he happens to be is a boy who loves to dress up in an orange dress. The adults in the story don't pass judgment. They support Morris for who he is without labeling or shaming. It takes some time for all the kids to be accepting, but soon their similarities and mutual interests overcame the differences. Everyone plays better together, and Morris doesn't have to change who he is to be part of the group.

The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates is an incredibly simple book that could be used with a wide range of ages to teach about inclusion. It is a rainy day, and a child goes out with their umbrella. Soon the umbrella that loves to help is taking in everyone from the rain, no matter who they are or what they look like. The umbrella is, of course, a symbol for an inclusive society but with young children, it can be used as a great tool for discussion. " How would you feel if there were lots of people under that umbrella, but you weren't allowed under?" "Why do you think the umbrella lets anyone in?"

Calvin Can't Fly: The Story of a Bookworm Birdie by Jennifer Berne is a story about a starling Calvin who can't fly and really isn't even interested in learning. Calvin loves books and the library, and while all the other birds are flying in a pack, he is off on his own. The other birds find a way to make sure to include Calvin when they migrate. Soon it is Calvin's turn to use what makes him different to help the whole flock stay safe from a hurricane! I love that this book showed his strengths and weaknesses and how real inclusion means accepting both in a group.

It Takes A Village by Hillary Rodham Clinton is a book that is focused on equity and inclusion. The text is a simple look at what being part of a community is about and what villages of people need to thrive; the right tools, kindness, sharing, and a shared purpose. The purpose, in this case, is building a playground for the children to play and build their own community with. The illustrations by one of my favorite inclusive illustrators, Marla Frazee, add such depth to this book. Every time I read it I find new little stories in the illustrations. There are interracial couples, children, and adults in wheelchairs, young men with babies, a breastfeeding mama, and a man with tattoos all over this arms in addition to all ages, sexes, and races working and playing together.

Last Stop On Market Street by Matt de la Pena is an award-winning book that deserves every award it gets. The story is simple. A little boy and his Nana take the bus after church to a shelter. There they help serve food to people living there. The inclusiveness comes in how Nana speaks to CJ her grandson about all the different people they encounter on their journey. She models how to be part of a diverse community that not only accepts but celebrates everyone.

Egg by Kevin Henkes is a perfect little book about inclusion for very young children. Four little eggs are waiting to hatch. When they do three birds pop out, and the last egg doesn't hatch. The little birds can't wait for their fourth sibling. So they start pecking away at the egg only to discover it isn't a bird after all. When the birds fly away from the different hatchling, readers can explore the negative feelings this spark. But in the end, the birds become friends with the other hatchling who is happy to be part of the family.

Lovely by Jess Hong is well...lovely! The book asks "What is lovely?" and the illustrations that follow answer that with a diverse group of opposites, all accepted as lovely. It celebrates being different and more importantly accepting different as lovely. The illustrations are the backbone of this book, and they do a fantastic job at including many of the fabulous differences in the world.

Brontorina by James Howe is brilliant because it combines dinosaurs with how to make an environment that isn't inclusive into one that is inclusive with a great story. Brontorina is a dinosaur who wants to dance, but she is too big for the dance studio. At first, they turn her away. Soon, it becomes clear that the studio needs to change. Then she and others realize their dreams of dancing. I love this book, I can't read it without tearing up, and I have read it many many times. Kids love it too!

This Is How We Do It by Matt Lamothe is a great look at seven children around the globe and what their life is like. To be inclusive, we first need to learn to appreciate differences. Because, it is not inclusive to pretend we are all the same. We are different, and that is a strength, not a weakness. My daughter loved this non-fiction look at what life is like in places like Iran, Japan, and Italy. Children will naturally compare their lives to these children's lives and note the similarities as well as the differences. What is great is that at least with my daughter we found many with all the children.

Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev deserves a post all of its own; it's that good and that important. This book is about a little boy and his elephant who are banned from the local pet club because well, elephants are not allowed. They don't share a reason why elephants are not allowed, just that they aren't. This lets parents and teacher reiterate the fact that sometimes people are excluded for no reason. It's not about them. It's about the people excluding them. In the book, after being banned, they find others who have been made to feel unwelcome, different, and lesser and start their own pet club. One that welcomes everyone and their pets no matter what.

Come With Me by Holly M. McGhee is a look at how inclusion can work as a force against hate and fear. The kindness that is a part of inclusion and the inclusion that is part of kindness is what this book focuses on. How little gestures and acts of kindness can create a shared sense of well being and community. This book would be a great addition to a lesson about random acts of kindness.

I'm New Here by Ann Sibley O'Brien is a book about being new told through the stories of three recent immigrant children; Maria from Guatemala, Jin from Korea, and Fatimah from Somalia. Readers see the struggles that the children face learning a new language, feelings of isolation, and then each child gaining confidence in their new home. All children can relate to new experiences. This book helps to go a little further and imagine not knowing the language. It also shows the power of kindness and inclusion children can show to someone new. Also, how a little goes a long way. None of these children feel included at the beginning of the book. However, as the other children in their classrooms take steps to include them, they begin to blossom.

A Family is a Family is a Family by Sara O'Leary is fantastic! This book starts off with a child nervous to talk about their family because it's not like everyone else. Soon as all the students share things that make their families unique the child sees all families are different, but they are all families.

I love that what the children share about their families isn't the label most adults would put on the diverse family in the illustration. It explains a same sex family as "Both my moms are terrible singers..." instead of "I have two moms. They are lesbians." This is a much more inclusive way to present families, not to mention more natural. It includes many different family structures from same sex, to single parents, big families, families with a new baby, interracial families, families with divorced parents, families with foster children, and more.

All The World by Liz Garten Scanlon has a message about diversity that is subtle and goes so much further than simply human differences. Diversity is everywhere. All of our differences come together to keep the world going. This book is very poetic; it leaves the readers both old and young feeling peaceful and connected. I love this book and its ambiguous but lovely images of people of all different backgrounds working, eating, and playing together. Oh and this is a fantastic book to calm a busy preschool class.

Want more books about inclusion? This book list focuses more on children taking action and learning how to include others and is a great companion to the list above.

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Picture Books That Promote Diversity and Inclusion

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It is important that every preschool teacher ( and parent) have access to great picture books. Picture books that not only explore the alphabet or counting or our students' favorite characters. You also need books that help children develop their own character. Social-emotional learning is an important, if not the most important part of early childhood education.