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Let's start with a definition: WHAT IS MULTICULTURAL LITERACY? 

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Let's start with a definition: WHAT IS MULTICULTURAL LITERACY? 

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Multicultural Literature is "literature which embraces many cultures and where culture itself is an integral part of the story."

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Pardee School of Global Studies African Studies Center at Boston University

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Article #1/Need for Diversity in Collections: Your Multicultural Literature Guide

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Article #1/Need for Diversity in Collections: Your Multicultural Literature Guide

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This article from Boston University provides a thorough, in-depth look at multicultural literature with step by step support for your library.

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Pardee School of Global Studies African Studies Center at Boston University

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Article #2: Need for Diversity in Collections:          Why You Should Teach Multicultural Literature 

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Article #2: Need for Diversity in Collections:          Why You Should Teach Multicultural Literature 

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This blog highlights the important reasons why teachers should incorporate multicultural literature in their curricululum.

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Prestwick House - English information curators for educators and writing enthusiasts!

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Why You Should Teach Multicultural Literature

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Multicultural and diverse literature can help your students understand and learn about people from other cultures. It can also help them learn about themselves.

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Article #3: What does "multicultural literature" REALLY mean? 

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Article #3: What does "multicultural literature" REALLY mean? 

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A look from student's perspective at University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse as they ask the question, "What does Multicultural Literature really mean?")

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"The Raquet Press" UWL's Student News Source - April 12, 2024

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Multicultural literature is a term that you've heard regardless of whether you are part of an English department or not. Throughout your course work and life, multicultural literature is a common term, but does anyone really know what it means?

The problem with the term is rooted in its definition. Some may consider literature to be multicultural literature if the author who wrote it is a person of color. Others may think that literature with a character who is a person of color can be considered multicultural literature.

There are still more who believe that multicultural literature can extend to all individuals of diverse backgrounds - including sexual orientation, gender, religion, SES, disability.

This creates a problem, though. Literary critics (and literary amateurs) may question works considered multicultural literature if they do not seem to fit the mold of the culture which they are writing from.

I've listened to people in my literature classes dissect books which are considered multicultural literature, and when these books include details considered American or white, my classmates will criticize why the authors are trying to emulate American culture instead of embracing their own cultures. My classmates were curious as to why these authors would want to purge their culture.

Multicultural authors come under attack when they write the stories they wish to tell. Instead, we want them to deliver us their culture. We make it their job to teach us how to interact with their ethnicity.

Take, for example, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a Nigerian writer who wrote a novel about an abusive relationship. At one of her book signings, an American woman walked up to Adichie and began speaking about how awful it is that all Nigerian men are abusers. The American woman failed to understand that Adichie's writing is not a textbook about Nigerian culture and that, in fact, Adichie's ethnicity is not an obligation for her content; the two are unrelated.

Yet white, American authors write about people of color (largely inaccurately) all the time, and they receive little ridicule for purging their culture or not fitting the mold. American authors, as Adichie pointed out, often write about stories which do not emulate who they are as a mass - take for example, the novel American Psycho.

Multicultural literature has its problems in English departments too - lumping together Japan, Cuba, Zimbabwe, India, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Indonesia as one, as if they all check the same box, that box being nonwhite. In what other world would a smorgasbord of countries fulfill the same checkmark; in what other world would diverse be defined as one thing instead of its what it really is - a million things.

Multicultural literature is the "other" of English departments. It was created to fulfill this need of an "othered" lens. It means nonwhite.

But that doesn't mean that it is sufficient. To articulate this point, I reached out to professors in UWL's English department.

Dr. Hart, an English professor who teaches classes such as Caribbean Literature and Culture and World Literature, asserts that "the power to include various and diverse narrative perspectives of the world we live in should not require a category of othering called multicultural literature."

In his explanation, the term multicultural literature is a byproduct of a society that is lost in its own privilege - only telling stories which the privileged deem relevant.

Dr. Crutchfield, whose area of focus is largely on female authors, explained that although "literary works by various diverse authors  should be  integrated into courses across the literary studies curriculum . . .to do away with courses that focus on multicultural literature is to ignore the fact that there is still unequal space given to these authors in the curriculum." In this way, the distinction is appropriate.

There is, however, a purpose to multicultural literature. Regardless of its connotations and the gaps that it allows, this type of literature also allows perspective. For so long, canonical texts were solely from the viewpoint of the white, rich male.

Now readers can bypass that perspective and see their own culture come to life in a novel. The opportunity also arises to see a culture outside of their own.

Voices get to be used. Voices get to be heard.

"We can become better human beings when we immerse ourselves in a story-world in which we understand diverse people's perspectives, reflect on our personal investment in these perspectives, and relate this to the real lived experience of our society," Dr. Hart states.

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Viewpoint: why the term Multicultural Literature is insufficient

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Multicultural literature is a term that you've heard regardless of whether you are part of an English department or not. Throughout your course work and life, multicultural literature is a common term, but does anyone really know what it means? The problem with the term is rooted in its definition.

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Ethnic Minorities Resource List (Multicultural Area #2)

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Ethnic Minorities Resource List (Multicultural Area #2)

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Source #1: We Need Diverse Books

Source #2: Little Free Library

Source #3: Social Justice Books

Source #4: High School Ethnic Studies Initiative Library Guide (UCal - Berkley)

Source #5: Children's Book Council

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By Megan Hanson

This list of Read in Color recommended reads explores experiences from the African American/Black community. These titles are recommended by Little Free Library's Diverse Books Advisory Group and others. The list of books includes options for early readers, middle and YA readers, and adults and advanced readers.

View all of the Read in Color Recommended Reading lists. These lists are far from exhaustive, but they offer a starting point for exploring different perspectives. We recognize that categorizing books can be limiting and are working to show the intersectionality within our reading lists.

African American/Black (Early Readers)

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Nana Akua Goes to School

Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Elam Walker, illustrated by April Harrison (40 pp, Anne Schwartz Books, 2020). It is Grandparents Day at Zura's elementary school, and the students are excited to introduce their grandparents and share what makes them special. Aleja's grandfather is a fisherman. Bisou's grandmother is a dentist. But Zura's Nana, who is her favorite person in the world, looks a little different from other grandmas. Nana Akua was raised in Ghana, and, following an old West African tradition, has tribal markings on her face. Worried that her classmates will be scared of Nana-or worse, make fun of her-Zura is hesitant to bring her to school. Nana Akua knows what to do, though. With a quilt of traditional African symbols and a bit of face paint, Nana Akua is able to explain what makes her special, and to make all of Zura's classmates feel special, too. Ages 4 - 8.

There Was a Party for Langston

Back in the day, there was a heckuva party, a jam, for a word-making man. The King of Letters. Langston Hughes. His ABCs became drums, bumping jumping thumping like a heart the size of the whole country. They sent some people yelling and others, his word-children, to write their own glory.
Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, and more came be-bopping to recite poems at their hero's feet at that heckuva party at the Schomberg Library, dancing boom da boom, stepping and stomping, all in praise and love for Langston, world-mending word man. Oh, yeah, there was hoopla in Harlem, for its Renaissance man. A party for Langston. Ages 4 - 8.

Under the Mango Tree

Under the Mango Tree by Valdene Mark, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud (Sugar Apple Books, 2021).

Vee and Sanaa are the best of friends.

Under a full mango tree, they play, dream, and plan for a future spent together, always. However, life can change quickly, and the girls must face the challenge of separation when Vee moves away.

Join Vee and Sanaa as they learn how powerful friendship can be and how far it can reach. Ages 5 - 8.

African American/Black (Middle Readers)

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Hands

Hands by Torrey Maldonado (144 pp, Nancy Paulsen Books, 2023). Trev would do anything to protect his mom and sisters, especially from his stepdad. But his stepdad's return stresses Trev-because when he left, he threatened Trev's mom. Rather than live scared, Trev takes matters into his own hands, literally. He starts learning to box to handle his stepdad. But everyone isn't a fan of his plan, because Trev's a talented artist, and his hands could actually help him build a better future. And they're letting him know. But their advice for some distant future feels useless in his reality right now. Ultimately, Trev knows his future is in his hands, and his hands are his own, and he has to choose how to use them. Ages 10 - 12.

Poemhood: Our Black Revival

Poemhood: Our Black Revival edited by Amber McBride (160 pp, Harperteen, 2024). Featuring an all-star group of thirty-seven powerful poetic voices, including such luminaries as Kwame Alexander, James Baldwin, Ibi Zoboi, Audre Lorde, Nikki Giovanni, and Gwendolyn Brooks, this riveting anthology depicts the diversity of the Black experience by fostering a conversation about race, faith, heritage, and resilience between fresh poets and the literary ancestors that came before them. Ages 13 - 17.

Twins

Twins: A Graphic Novel by Varian Johnson (256 pp, Graphix, 2020). Maureen and Francine Carter are twins and best friends. They participate in the same clubs, enjoy the same foods, and are partners on all their school projects. But just before the girls start sixth grade, Francine becomes Fran - a girl who wants to join the chorus, run for class president, and dress in fashionable outfits that set her apart from Maureen. A girl who seems happy to share only two classes with her sister!Maureen and Francine are growing apart and there's nothing Maureen can do to stop it. Are sisters really forever? Or will middle school change things for good? Ages 8-11.

African American/Black (Adult Readers)

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The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story

Don't Cry for Me

Don't Cry for Me by Daniel Black (304 pp, Hanover Square Press, 2022). A Black father makes amends with his gay son through letters written on his deathbed in this wise and penetrating novel of empathy and forgiveness, for fans of Ta-Nehisi Coates, Robert Jones Jr. and Alice Walker.

I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness

Maame

It's fair to say that Maddie's life in London is far from rewarding. With a mother who spends most of her time in Ghana (yet still somehow manages to be overbearing), Maddie is the primary caretaker for her father, who suffers from advanced stage Parkinson's. At work, her boss is a nightmare and Maddie is tired of always being the only Black person in every meeting. So when her mum returns from her latest trip, Maddie seizes the chance to move out of the family home and finally start living. A self-acknowledged late bloomer, she's ready to experience some important "firsts" She finds a flat share, says yes to after-work drinks, pushes for more recognition in her career, and throws herself into the bewildering world of internet dating. But when tragedy strikes, Maddie is forced to face the true nature of her unconventional family, and the perils-and rewards-of putting her heart on the line. Smart, funny, and affecting, Jessica George's Maame deals with the themes of our time with humor and poignancy: from familial duty and racism, to female pleasure, the complexity of love, and the life-saving power of friendship. Most important, it explores what it feels like to be torn between two homes and cultures―and it celebrates finally being able to find where you belong.

Red at the Bone

Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson (224 pp, Riverhead Books, 2020). An unexpected teenage pregnancy pulls together two families from different social classes, and exposes the private hopes, disappointments, and longings that can bind or divide us from each other, from the New York Times-bestselling and National Book Award-winning author of Another Brooklyn and Brown Girl Dreaming. Moving forward and backward in time, Jacqueline Woodson's taut and powerful new novel uncovers the role that history and community have played in the experiences, decisions, and relationships of these families, and in the life of the new child.

A Sitting in St. James

This astonishing novel from three-time National Book Award finalist Rita Williams-Garcia about the interwoven lives of those bound to a plantation in antebellum America is an epic masterwork-empathetic, brutal, and entirely human-and essential reading for both teens and adults grappling with the long history of American racism.

The Warmth of Other Suns

You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism

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African American/Black Read in Color Recommended Reads - Little Free Library

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This list of Read in Color recommended reads explores experiences from the African American/Black community. These titles are recommended by Little Free Library's Diverse Books Advisory Group and others. The list of... Continue reading African American/Black Read in Color Recommended Reads

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LGBTQIA Resource List (Multicultural Area #1)

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LGBTQIA Resource List (Multicultural Area #1)

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Source #1: Colours of Us

Source #2: The Children's Book Council

Source #3: LibGuides

Source #4: The American Council of Learned Societies

Source #5: Social Justice Books

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June is Pride Month - a time when LGBTQIA+ communities all over the world celebrate love, identity and solidarity!

A good time to put together this list of multicultural children's books featuring LGBTQIA characters (although these gorgeous and inclusive books are of course relevant all year round)!

75+ Multicultural LGBTQIA Books For Children & Teenagers

Babies & Toddlers

This cute little board book features a city baby whose parents happen to be two dads. With tabs and brief text, Baby's First Words follows the baby's daily activities of a city baby while featuring terms for objects, actions, and sounds. ~ Diverse -Babies & Toddlers

Love is baking a special cake. Love is lending a helping hand. Love is reading one more book. Love Makes A Family is an exuberant board book that shows a range of diverse families throughout a day, from an early-morning wake-up to a kiss before bed. Whether a child has two moms, two dads, one parent, or one of each, this simple read-aloud demonstrates that what's most important in each family's life is the love the family members share. ~ Diverse - Babies & Toddlers

Related: 12 Multicultural Picture Books about Love

"1 parade in the month of June / 2 DJs spin fabulous tunes / 3 families of all different types / 4 activists fight the good fight." Teach your little ones about the Pride Parade with this colourful, energetic counting book! Featuring a diverse cast of characters and families, Pride 123 celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community and love. ~ Diverse - Babies & Toddlers

The Family Book is an inclusive children's book that celebrates families in all the different varieties they come in. With Todd Parr's signature quirky style, it assures little readers that every family is special and unique, whether you have two moms or two dads (a reference that this amazing book was actually banned for!), a big family or a small family, a clean family or a messy one. ~ Diverse -Babies & Toddlers

Related: 15 Must-Read Banned/Challenged Multicultural Children's Books

With gentle rhymes and colourful photographs of adorable children, Pride Colors sends children the powerful message that they are free to be who they are and that they'll always be loved. Includes an explanation of the meaning behind each color in the Pride flag. ~ Diverse -Babies & Toddlers

Playing off "The Wheels on the Bus," The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish is a nursery rhyme celebration of being your most fabulous self. Written by a founding member of the nationally recognized Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH), this playful picture book is a fun frenzy of fierceness that encourages little readers to boldly be who they are. ~ Diverse -Babies & Toddlers

Rainbow: A First Book of Pride is a sweet ode to rainbow families, and an affirming display of a parent's love for their child and a child's love for their parents. With bright colors and joyful families, this book celebrates LGBTQ+ pride and reveals the colorful meaning behind each rainbow stripe. ~ Diverse - Preschool

Inspired by the author's son, My Princess Boy tells the story of little Dyson who loves all things pink and sparkly and sometimes wears dresses. Challenged for 'promoting perversion and the gay lifestyle', My Princess Boy is a touching picture book about a loving family who supports their son unconditionally, and a call to end gender-stereotyping and celebrating our differences instead. ~ Diverse - Preschool

Related: 15 Must-Read Banned/Challenged Multicultural Children's Books

"I have something that can't be bad/... I don't have one..., I have two dads!" With lively text and colourful illustrations, Two Dads is an affirming story told from the perspective of the adopted child of two fathers, one white and the other black (or mixed race). ~ African - Preschool

Related: 28 Multicultural Children's Books about Adoption

As a child, playing dress-up was little RuPaul's favourite game. He went on to study performing arts and found drag as a way to express himself. Part of the acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series, RuPaul tells the story of the performer, supermodel, and host of RuPaul's Drag Race. ~ African - Preschool

"Girls perform to fairy songs. / Boys play football all day long. / Boys yell, "Boo!" and run away. / Girls like kittens and ballet. / Except when they don't." This stereotype-breaking book invites children to examine what they're told "boy" and "girl" activities are and encourages them to play with whatever they want to and to be exactly who they are. Except When They Don't is published in partnership with GLAAD to accelerate LGBTQ inclusivity and acceptance. ~ Diverse - Preschool

In this radiant sequel to acclaimed Julián Is a Mermaid, Julián is excited to be part of a wedding - and he even makes a new friend! Julián and Marisol set off for some magic and mischief of their own, and when things take an unexpected turn, the pair learns that everything is easier with a good friend by your side. Julián at the Wedding is a joyful story of friendship and individuality . ~ Hispanic - Preschool

Related: 18 Multicultural Children's Books about Friendship

With rhyming text and child-like drawings, Two Dads Are Better Than One tells the story of little Suzie who lives with her same-sex parents. Suzie describes all the fun she has with her dads and how they support and love her, and also mentions the hurt when other children say mean things: "When people are mean, / That makes me sad, / They don't understand, / The Family I have!" ~ Diverse - Preschool

Related: 60+ Multicultural Children's Books about Fathers

A young child and their family are having a wonderful time together celebrating Pride Day―meeting up with Grandma, making new friends and eating ice cream. But then something terrible happens: their dog gets lost in the parade! Luckily, there are lots of people around to help reunite the pup with his family. Pride Puppy! is a rhyming alphabet book that offers a joyful glimpse of a Pride parade and the vibrant community that celebrates this day each year. ~ Diverse - Preschool

This whimsical and exuberant book invites little readers to experience a pride celebration in the LGBT community. It also includes a reading guide full of facts about LGBT history and culture as well as advice on how to talk to children about sexual orientation and gender identity. Award-winning This Day In June is a fantastic tool for teaching respect, acceptance, and understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. ~ Diverse - Preschool

Trinity, a Black transgender girl, likes to play with her siblings, her dolls, and her pet pig, Peter Porker. One day, she realizes that she needs long hair to express who she truly is. So her family takes a trip to the beauty supply store, but none of the wigs is the perfect fit. Determined, Mom leaves with bundles of hair in hand, ready to craft a wig as colorful and vibrant as her daughter. Written by mother-daughter advocate duo Trinity and DeShanna Neal, My Rainbow is a powerful story about showing up as our full selves. ~ African - Preschool

Related: The 50 Best Multicultural Picture Books Of 2020

"Mommy, how are babies made?" It Takes Love (and some other stuff) To Make A Baby is a picture book for little kids in lesbian families born via donor insemination. With simple language and bright illustrations, it introduces the basics of reproduction and the concept of the donor. ~ Diverse - Preschool

Gramps and Grandad were adventurers. They would surf, climb mountains, and tour the country in their amazing camper. Gramps just made everything extra special. But after Gramps died, granddad hasn't felt like traveling anymore. So, their amazing granddaughter comes up with a clever plan to fix up the old camper and get Grandad excited to explore again. Grandad's Camper is a beautiful picture book that honours love and reminds us not only to remember those we have lost, but to celebrate them. ~ Diverse - Preschool

Related: 40+ Multicultural Children's Books about Grandparents

"Sunday waking / Day is breaking / Let's go to our church for all!" In simple lyrical words and with colourful illustrations, A Church For All celebrates diversity with a Sunday morning at an inclusive church that embraces all people regardless of age, class, race, gender identity, and sexual orientation. All are welcome at the church for all! ~ Diverse - Preschool

Follow a little boy and his two moms as they go about their day, from having fun at the beach to saying grace before dinner. With colourful illustrations and rhyming text, My Two Mommies is a warm and delightful book about family, love and inclusion. ~ Diverse - Preschool

Related: 40+ Multicultural Children's Books about Mothers

When Chloe's favorite uncle announces that he's getting married, everyone is excited - except Chloe. She worries that Uncle Bobby will no longer have time for picnics, swimming, or flying kites. Can Uncle Bobby and his boyfriend Jamie show Chloe that she is not losing an uncle but gaining one? With expressive illustrations, Uncle Bobby's Wedding is a warm and gentle story about family and love. ~ Diverse - Preschool

Plenty Of Hugs is a cheerful picture book that follows a family from morning to night in lively rhyme that rolls off the tongue. "There's a buzz for each bug, / and a breeze for each tree, / and plenty of hugs for you and me." The toddler and mommies take a morning bike ride to a farm stand, they visit a zoo in the afternoon, and in the evening there's the bath and storybook routine before the child is tucked cozily into bed. ~ Diverse - Preschool

Related: Top 10 Multicultural Bedtime Stories for Babies & Toddlers

Two Moms and a Menagerie is a delightful story about two moms (one Black, one White), their two adopted sons and their ever-expanding animal family. With lively text and dynamic illustrations, this picture books is a fun read that will appeal to little readers. ~ Diverse - Preschool

Keesha and her two moms head out for a fun day at the pool where they meet up with Trevor and his two dads. While the illustrations and text of are not of the greatest quality, Keesha & Her Two Moms Go Swimming is still an affirming story that normalizes LBGT families and promotes tolerance. ~ Diverse - Preschool

After learning about South Africa in school, Keesha dreams of travelling there one day. She gets the surprise of a lifetime when her two moms decide to take her there for her birthday. Keesha's South African Adventure follows the family as they experience the diverse landscapes, cultures and people of South Africa. ~ Diverse - Preschool

More books about South Africa: 23 Children's Books set in South Africa

A young boy is being bullied about having two dads. He is being told that he doesn't have a real family. When he confides in his friend, he discovers that his friend's parents―a mom and a dad―and his two dads are actually very much alike. Love Is Love is a gentle yet straightforward story that shows that love is what makes a family. A great resource to discuss discrimination! ~ Diverse - Preschool

Related: 20 Multicultural Children's Books about Bullying

When the rain spoils Zak's plan for a safari adventure, he invites readers on a very special tour of his family instead. We learn about how his two moms met, fell in love, and wanted more than anything to have a baby-so they decided to make one using a sperm donor. Zak's Safari is a fun and informative book that explains sperm donation in simple but accurate language and that celebrates family. ~ Diverse - Preschool

Elementary School

Penelope knows that he's a boy. (And a ninja.) The problem is getting everyone else to realize it. Born Ready is the exuberant companion to Jodie Patterson's adult memoir, The Bold World. She shares her son Penelope's frustrations and triumphs on his journey to share himself with the world. Penelope's experiences show children that it always makes you stronger when you are true to yourself and who you really are. ~ African - Elementary School

"Why do I have two moms?" Angel goes on a journey to find an answer to this question. She won't stop until she's questioned every member of the family. Not only does Why Do I Have Two Mommies? feature LGBT characters but also a range of other diverse characters, from the Middle-Eastern neighbour to the Asian best friend and the interracial grandparents. ~ Diverse - Elementary School

Riley is Papa's princess and Daddy's dragon. She loves her two fathers! When Riley's classmate asks her which dad is her real one, Riley is confused. She doesn't want to have to pick one or the other. Papa, Daddy, & Riley is a delightful celebration of diversity, family and love. ~ Diverse - Elementary School

Ayesha is excited to attend her cousin Ritu's wedding. She can't wait to dance at the baraat ceremony! But not everyone is happy that Ritu is marrying her girlfriend Chandni. Some have even vowed to stop the celebrations. Will Ayesha be able to save her cousin's big day? Acclaimed Ritu Weds Chandni is a warmhearted book that celebrates the power of young voices to stand up against prejudice and bigotry. ~ Asian - Elementary School

A reclamation of the Mexican serenata tradition, When We Love Someone We Sing to Them tells the story of a young boy who asks his father if there is a song for a boy who loves a boy. This award-winning bilingual book shows how a tradition expands as limitations are lifted to include everyone, all the way to remembering Xochipilli, the Mesoamerican deity of creativity, song, and dance. ~ Hispanic - Elementary School

Related: Pura Belpré Award Winners 1996 - 2021

"Archie loves Zack!" "Zack loves Archie!" Everyone said it was so. But Archie hasn't told Zack yet. And Zack hasn't told Archie. They spend just about every minute together: walking to and from school, doing science and art projects, practicing for marching band, learning to ride bikes, and so much more. Archie tries to write a letter to Zack to tell him how he feels: "From A to Z." None of his drafts sound quite right, so he hides them all away. One by one, Archie's friends (Zelda, Zinnia, and Zuzella) find the letters . . . but they know exactly whom they're meant for. From Archie To Zack unapologetically celebrates young, queer love in a whimsical, kid-friendly way. ~ African - Elementary School

In the early-morning hours of June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn was raided by police in New York City, and members of the LGBTQ+ community began to protest and demand their equal rights as citizens of the United States. Movingly narrated by the Stonewall Inn itself, and featuring stirring and dynamic illustrations, Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution is an empowering picture book about a historic moment in the gay civil rights movement. ~ Diverse - Elementary School

Just like any other family, Marmee, Meema and their three kids like to cuddle, cook and dance together. Some people don't accept them but the family gains strength from their love and lives by their own rules. With expressive drawings of loving family interactions, In Our Mothers' House teaches children that different isn't wrong and that love is what makes a family. ~ Diverse - Elementary School

Once in a faraway kingdom, a strong, brave maiden is invited to attend the prince's royal ball, but she's not as excited to go as everyone else. After her mother convinces her to make an appearance, she makes a huge impression on everyone present, from the villagers to the king and queen, but she ends up finding true love in a most surprising place. Maiden & Princess is a modern and inclusive fairy tale that young readers will love. ~ Diverse - Elementary School

Mother's Day is around the corner, and Antonio searches for words to express his love for his mother and her partner, Leslie. When his classmates make fun of Leslie, a tall artist who wears paint-splattered overalls, Antonio feels hurt and confused. Complemented by richly hued paintings, Antonio's Card is a warm and tender story about standing up for yourself and the people you love. ~ Hispanic - Elementary School

"Someday girls like us will be able to wear whatever we want. People will call us by the names we choose. They'll respect that we are women." Sylvia and Marsha Start A Revolution! introduces children to the story of Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, the two transgender women of colour who helped kickstart the Stonewall Riots and dedicated their lives to fighting for LGBTQ+ equality. Includes a reading guide and teaching materials. ~ Diverse - Elementary School

Related: 80 Picture Book Biographies About Bold Black Women & Girls

When the heroic princess Amira rescues the kind-hearted princess Sadie from her tower prison, they discover that they bring out the very best in each other. Together, the two very different princesses embark on a journey to defeat their greatest foe yet: a jealous sorceress, who wants to get rid of Sadie once and for all. Princess Princess Ever After is a queer, feminist and multicultural graphic novel that children will love! ~ Diverse - Elementary School

Related: 14 Multicultural Children's Books About Spunky Princesses

Ho'onani feels in-between. She doesn't see herself as wahine (girl) OR kane (boy). She's happy to be in the middle. But not everyone sees it that way. When Ho'onani finds out that there will be a school performance of a traditional kane hula chant, she wants to be part of it. But can a girl really lead the all-male troupe? Based on a true story, Ho'onani: Hula Warrior is an empowering celebration of Hawaiian culture, identity and acceptance. ~ Diverse - Elementary School

Related: 75+ Native American Children's Books

Middle School

After discovering a lost tea dragon, blacksmith Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners. As she befriends them and their shy ward, Greta sees how the craft enriches their lives-and eventually her own. From the award-winning author of Princess Princess Ever After comes The Tea Dragon Society, a charming graphic novel with a diverse cast of LGBTQIA characters and people of colour. Includes "Extracts from the Tea Dragons Handbook", explaining more about tea dragons. ~ Diverse - Middle School

Don't miss the adorable follow-up: Aquicorn Cove

With short, engaging bios and dynamic artwork, Rainbow Revolutionaries brings to life the vibrant histories of fifty pioneering LGBTQ+ people from around the world. Readers can delve into the lives of Wen of Han, a Chinese emperor who loved his boyfriend as much as his people, Martine Rothblatt, a trans woman who's helping engineer the robots of tomorrow, and many more. Includes an introduction, map, timeline, and glossary. ~ Diverse - Middle School

Twelve-year-old Kingston James is sure his brother Khalid has turned into a dragonfly. When Khalid unexpectedly passed away, he shed what was his first skin for another to live down by the bayou in their small Louisiana town. Khalid still visits in dreams, and King must keep these secrets to himself as he watches grief transform his family. It would be easier if King could talk with his best friend, Sandy Sanders. But just days before he died, Khalid told King to end their friendship, after overhearing that Sandy might be gay. Award-winning King And The Dragonflies is a heartfelt story about loss, grief, and finding the courage to discover one's identity. ~ African - Middle School

When sixth grader Silas Walker does a school presentation on Glenn Burke - the first professional baseball player to come out as gay - it's more than just a report on the inventor of the high five. For Silas, it is his own first step toward coming out. Soon he tells his best friend Zoey, but the longer he keeps his secret from his baseball teammates, the more he suspects they know something's up. Kids get pulled from the team, fingers point at Silas, and he stages one big cover-up with terrible consequences. A High Five For Glenn Burke is a heartfelt novel that weaves the real history of Los Angeles Dodger Glenn Burke into the story of a middle-school kid learning to be himself. ~ African - Middle School

Avery Williams can sing, but that doesn't mean she can sing in front of people. She likes to stay backstage at her new school, which is where, to her surprise, she finds a cat tucked away into a nook. Avery names the stray Phantom and visits any time she's feeling stressed (which is a lot these days). As she sings to Phantom one day, her crush, Nic, overhears her and ropes Avery into auditioning for the school's musical. Meow or Never is a heartwarming story of secret pets and secret crushes... and learning to take center stage! ~ African - Middle School

12-year-old Caroline Murphy struggles with being bullied by students and teachers alike at her small school on St. Thomas of the US Virgin Islands, a spirit that keeps following her, and the fact that her mother left home one day and never came back. When Caroline befriends Kalinda, a new student from Barbados, she soon realizes that her feelings for her are more than platonic. Although those feelings are not being reciprocated, Kalinda wants to help Caroline look for her missing mother and so the girls set out in a hurricane to find her before it is too late. Award-winning Hurricane Child is a moving and suspenseful coming-of-age novel that young readers will love. ~ African - Middle School

Related: 36 Children's Books set in the Caribbean

Héctor Muñoz couldn't feel more alone at his new school in Orangevale. Most days, he just wishes he could disappear. And he does. Right into the janitor's closet. (Yes, he sees the irony.) But one day, when the door closes behind him, Héctor stumbles into a room that shouldn't be possible. A room that connects him with two new friends from different corners of the country-and opens the door to a life-changing year full of magic, friendship, and adventure. The Insiders is a hilarious, hopeful and heartfelt coming-of-age story for anyone who's ever felt like they didn't fit in. ~ Diverse - Middle School

The start of 7th Grade in a small town in Indiana is making Rahul Kapoor feel increasingly anxious, so his grandfather, Bhai, gives him some well-meaning advice: Find one thing you're really good at and become the BEST at it. While Rahul is not quite sure what that special thing is, he is convinced that once he finds it, bullies like Brent Mason will stop torturing him at school. And he won't be worried about staring too long at his classmate Justin Emery. With his best friend, Chelsea, by his side, Rahul is ready to crush this challenge.... But what if he discovers he isn't the best at anything? Stonewall Honour Book The Best At It is a hilarious and heartfelt story about friendship, family, and the courage to live your truth. ~ Asian - Middle School

Related: 180+ Asian & Asian American Books For Children & Teenagers

Avery Bloom, who's bookish, and afraid of many things, particularly deep water, lives in New York City. Bett Devlin, who's fearless, and loves all animals as well as the ocean, lives in California. What they have in common is that they are both twelve years old, and are both being raised by single, gay dads. When their dads fall in love, Bett and Avery are sent, against their will, to the same sleepaway camp. Soon things go off the rails for the girls (and for their dads too), and they find themselves on a summer adventure that neither of them could have predicted. To Night Owl From Dogfish is a moving, exuberant, and laugh-out-loud novel about friendship and family, told entirely in emails and letters. ~ African - Middle School

A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true-but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend's mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbour. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out. From wind-breathing dragons to first crushes, This Is Our Rainbow is the first LGBTQA+ anthology for middle-graders featuring stories for every letter of the acronym, including fantasy, historical, and contemporary stories. ~ Diverse - Middle School

Related: 30 Diverse Children's Anthologies About Trailblazing Women

High School

Felix Love has never been inlove-and, yes, he's painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it's like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. Even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he's one marginalization too many-Black, queer, and transgender-to ever get his own happily-ever-after. As he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself. Stonewall Honour Book Felix Ever After is an honest and layered story about identity, falling in love, and recognizing the love you deserve. ~ African - High School

Set in a Bangladeshi community in Ireland, The Henna Wars is a fast-paced novel about the love between two teenage girls, racism and homophobia. Nishat doesn't want to lose her family, but she also doesn't want to hide who she is, and it only gets harder once a childhood friend walks back into her life. Flávia is beautiful and charismatic, and Nishat falls for her instantly. But when a school competition invites students to create their own businesses, both Flávia and Nishat decide to showcase their talent as henna artists. As the competition heats up, Nishat has a decision to make: stay in the closet for her family, or put aside her differences with Flávia and give their relationship a chance. ~ Asian - High School

Liz thinks she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. She plans to get out of Campbell, Indiana, attend the elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor. But with limited finances, Liz's only option is the school's scholarship for prom queen. Despite her fear of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, she does whatever it takes to get to Pennington. Stonewall Honour Book You Should See Me In A Crown is a fresh queer romcom celebrating diversity and individuality. ~ African - High School

Related: 250 Children's Books Celebrating Black Girls

Sixteen-year-old Sana Kiyohara always figured that the hardest thing would be to tell people that she wants to date a girl, but as she quickly learns, telling the truth is easy...what comes after it, though, is a whole lot more complicated. When Sana and her family move to California, she meets Jamie Ramirez. But Sana's new friends don't trust Jamie's crowd; Jamie's friends clearly don't want her around anyway; and a sweet guy named Caleb seems to have more-than-friendly feelings for her. Award-winning It's Not Like It's A Secret is a charming and bittersweet coming-of-age story featuring two girls of colour falling in love. ~ Diverse - High School

Growing up in London as a mixed-race gay teen, Michael struggles to navigate his Greek-Cypriot and Jamaican, never quite feeling Greek or Black enough. As he gets older, Michael's coming out is only the start of learning who he is and where he fits in. When he discovers the Drag Society, he finally finds where he belongs. Told with raw honesty and insight, The Black Flamingo is a fierce novel-in-verse that explores cultural and sexual identity. ~ African - High School

For three teens in 1989 New York City the world is changing. Reza is an Iranian boy who has just moved to the city with his mother to live with his stepfather and stepbrother. He knows he's gay, but all he knows of gay life are the media's images of men dying of AIDS. Judy is an aspiring fashion designer who worships her uncle Stephen, a gay man with AIDS who devotes his time to activism. Judy meets Reza and they start dating. Art is Judy's best friend, their school's only out and proud teen. He'll never be who his conservative parents want him to be, so he rebels by documenting the AIDS crisis through his photographs. As Reza and Art grow closer, Reza struggles to find a way out of his deception that won't break Judy's heart-and destroy the most meaningful friendship he's ever known. Stonewall Honour Book Like A Love Story is an epic love letter to queerness, self-expression, and individuality. ~ Asian - High School

On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They're going to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they're both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There's an app for that. It's called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure-to live a lifetime in a single day. Critically acclaimed bestseller They Both Die At The End is a devastating yet uplifting story about two people whose lives change over the course of one unforgettable day. ~ Hispanic - High School

Seventeen-year-old Rukhsana Ali has always been fascinated by the universe around her and the laws of physics that keep everything in order. But her life at home isn't so absolute. Unable to come out to her conservative Muslim parents, she keeps her girlfriend, Ariana, a secret. Luckily, only a few more months stand between her carefully monitored life at home and a fresh start at Caltech in the fall. But when Rukhsana's mom catches her and Ariana together, her future begins to collapse around her. With a mix of humor, heart, and high-stakes drama, The Love And Lies Of Rukhsana Ali is an honest portrait of what it's like to grow up feeling unwelcome in your own culture. ~ Asian - High School

Related: 180+ Asian & Asian American Books For Children & Teenagers

Julián Luna has a plan for his life: Graduate. Get into UCLA. And have the chance to move away from Corpus Christi, Texas, and the suffocating expectations of others that have forced Jules into an inauthentic life. Then in one reckless moment, with one impulsive tweet, his plans for a low-key nine months are thrown-literally-out the closet. And when Jules's fears about coming out come true, the person he needs most - Mat, his empathetic Twitter crush from L.A. is fifteen hundred miles away. Jules has to face them alone. Fifteen Hundred Miles From The Sun is a poignant and funny novel about coming out, first love, and being your one and only best and true self. ~ Hispanic - High School

One of nineteen children in a blended family, Hari Ziyad was raised by a Hindu Hare Kṛṣṇa mother and a Muslim father. Through reframing their own coming-of-age story, Ziyad takes readers on a powerful journey of growing up queer and Black in Cleveland, Ohio, and of navigating the equally complex path toward finding their true self in New York City. Black Boy Out Of Time is an eloquent, restless, and enlightening memoir by one of the most thought-provoking journalists today about growing up Black and queer in America, reuniting with the past, and coming of age their own way. ~ African - High School

Juliet Milagros Palante is a self-proclaimed closeted Puerto Rican baby dyke from the Bronx. Only, she's not so closeted anymore. Not after coming out to her family the night before flying to Portland, Oregon, to intern with her favourite feminist writer-what's sure to be a life-changing experience. And when Juliet's coming out crashes and burns, she's not sure her mom will ever speak to her again. In a summer bursting with queer brown dance parties, a sexy fling with a motorcycling librarian, and intense explorations of race and identity, Juliet Takes A Breath follows the strong Hispanic protagonist as she learns what it means to come out-to the world, to her family, to herself. ~ Hispanic - High School

In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first sexual relationships, All Boys Aren't Blue is a compelling young-adult memoir that weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys. ~ African - High School

There are no monsters anymore, or so the children in the city of Lucille are taught. But when Black transgender girl Jam meets Pet, a creature made of horns and claws, who emerges from one of her mother's paintings and a drop of Jam's blood, she must reconsider what she's been told. Pet has come to hunt a monster, and the shadow of something grim lurks in Jam's best friend Redemption's house. Jam must fight not only to protect Redemption, but also to uncover the truth, and the answer to the question: How do you save the world from monsters if no one will admit they exist? Award-winning Pet is a riveting and timely young adult debut about identity and justice. ~ African - High School

Since Darius's trip to Iran, he's been getting along with his dad, and his best friend Sohrab is only a Skype call away. Between his first boyfriend, Landon, varsity soccer practices, and an internship at his favourite tea shop, things seem to be falling into place. It's everything he's ever wanted-but what if he deserves better? Stonewall Honour Book Darius The Great Deserves Better is the follow-up to the award-winning Darius the Great Is Not Okay. ~ Asian - High School

Related: 180+ Asian & Asian American Books For Children & Teenagers

When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they're thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister. Struggling with an anxiety disorder compounded by their parents' rejection, they try to keep a low profile in a new school. But then Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan's friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life. At turns heartbreaking and joyous, I Wish You All the Best is a celebration of life, friendship, and love. ~ Diverse - High School

Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can't remember exactly when the feeling took root-that desire to look, to move closer, to touch. Whenever it started growing, it definitely bloomed the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club. But America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chinese Americans like Lily. With deportation looming over her father-despite his hard-won citizenship-Lily and Kath risk everything for their love. Last Night At The Telegraph Club is a gripping historical romance novel that teenagers won't wanna put down. ~ Asian - High School

When his traditional family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel wants to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs a ritual to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. But the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, who is not about to go quietly into death. He's determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave. Cemetery Boys is a paranormal young adult novel about about family, gender identity and love. ~ Hispanic - High School

Nathan Bird doesn't believe in happy endings. Although he's the ultimate film buff and an aspiring screenwriter, Nate's seen the demise of too many relationships to believe that happy endings exist in real life. Ever since his father died and left his mom to unravel, Nathan's been playing it safe to avoid a broken heart - until Oliver James Hernández, his childhood best friend, comes along. Can Nate find the courage to pursue his own happily ever after? This Is Kind Of An Epic Love Story is a charming rom-com about finding the courage to pursue your own happily ever after. ~ Diverse - High School

Skye Shin has heard it all. Fat girls shouldn't dance, wear bright colours, call attention to themselves. But Skye dreams of joining the glittering world of K-Pop, and to do that, she's about to break all the rules that society, the media, and even her own mother, have set for girls like her. She nails the audition for an internationally televised competition looking for the next K-pop star, and is immediately swept into a whirlwind of countless practices, shocking performances, and the drama that comes with reality TV. Featuring a bisexual Korean American protagonist, I'll Be The One is a delightful rom-com celebrating confidence and body positivity. ~ Asian - High School

Will Tavares is the dream summer fling―he's fun, affectionate, kind―but just when Ollie thinks he's found his Happily Ever After, summer vacation ends and Will stops texting Ollie back. To complicate things further, a family emergency sees Ollie uprooted and enrolled at a new school across the country. Which he minds a little less when he realizes it's the same school Will goes to...except Ollie finds that the sweet, comfortably queer guy he knew from summer isn't the same one attending Collinswood High. This Will is a class clown, closeted―and, to be honest, a bit of a jerk. Only Mostly Devastating is a funny and heart-warming boy-meets-boy spin on Grease. ~ Hispanic - High School

"When people ask me what this anthology is about, I'm often tempted to give them the complicated answer: it's about race, and about how being different from the person you love can matter but how it can also not matter, and it's about Chinese pirate ghosts, black girl vigilantes, colonial India, a flower festival, a garden of poisons, and so, so much else. Honestly, though? I think the answer's much simpler than that. Color outside the Lines is a collection of stories about young, fierce, brilliantly hopeful people in love." (Sangu Mandanna) ~ Diverse - High School

Nandan's got a plan to make his junior year perfect, but hooking up with his friend Dave isn't part of it-especially because Nandan has never been into guys. Still, Nandan's willing to give a relationship with him a shot. But the more his anxiety grows about what his sexuality means for himself, his friends, and his social life, the more he wonders whether he can just take it all back. Is breaking up with Dave-the only person who's ever really gotten him-worth feeling "normal" again? Featuring a Native American protagonist, We Are Totally Normal is a contemporary novel about the complexities of gender and sexuality. ~ Diverse - High School

Related: 75+ Native American Children's Books

Eighteen-year-old Amir Azadi always knew coming out to his Muslim family would be messy-he just didn't think it would end in an airport interrogation room. But when faced with a failed relationship, bullies, and blackmail, running away to Rome is his only option. Right? Soon, late nights with new friends and dates in the Sistine Chapel start to feel like second nature... until his old life comes knocking on his door. At turns uplifting and devastating, How It All Blew Up takes an incisive look at identity and what it means to find yourself by running away. ~ Asian - High School

When popular Humaira "Hani" Khan comes out to her friends as bisexual, they say she can't be bi if she's only dated guys. Panicked, Hani blurts out that she's in a relationship...with unpopular Ishita "Ishu" Dey. Ishu is an academic overachiever who hopes that becoming head girl will set her on the right track for college. But Ishita agrees to help Hani, if Hani will help her become more popular so that she stands a chance of being elected head girl. Despite their mutually beneficial pact, they start developing real feelings for each other. Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating is a charming romance novel about two Bengali girls. ~ Asian - High School

*You can buy any of the books on this site from Amazon USA by clicking on the book titles or images*

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Multicultural LGBTQIA books for children and teenagers

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June is Pride Month - a time when LGBTQIA+ communities all over the world celebrate love, identity and solidarity! A good time to put together this list of multicultural children's books featuring LGBTQIA characters (although these gorgeous and inclusive books are of course relevant all year round)!

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Websites & Blogs Recommending Diverse Titles:

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Websites & Blogs Recommending Diverse Titles:

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Resource #1: Dr. Lori Friensen: 21 Children's Books that Teach Diversity and Compassion

Resource #2: Social Justice Books

Resource #3: New York Times: "14 Antiracist Books for Kids and Teens"

Resource #4: Scholastic

Resource #5: Anderson's Bookshop

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One of the most natural ways to build awareness of race and social justice into your classroom from the beginning of the year is to choose books that kids can see themselves in.

So, when you're choosing books for your classroom, think in terms of not only how these books can help set the tone for the year, but that help children to see themselves as heroes and heroines of their own stories.

When kids see themselves in books, they see characters who look just like them who have overcome challenges, who have faced obstacles, and who have made a difference in the world.

Here are my favorites (so far)! If you know a book that you feel should be added to this list, please comment below and let me know. 😊
Also, please note that because I am an Amazon Associate, I will receive a small fee if you purchase from these links. I truly appreciate your support!
All right, let's dive in to this amazing list - just click the pics to learn more about each book:1.

The Day You Begin

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson is a wonderful book for the beginning of the school year as children enter a new classroom and wonder if they'll fit in, if there's anyone like them in this new place.

It's a book all about feeling different and gathering the courage to connect with others, even when you're afraid and even when you feel or look different from other kids.

2. I Am Enough

I Am Enough by Grace Byers is about owning your gifts and having faith in who you are. It's about respecting yourself and the importance of kindness to others.

Of course, these are all lessons we teach children at the beginning of the school year and throughout the year, but the difference is that this book features a young black girl - again, helping children to see heros and heroines that look like them.

3. Skin Like Mine

"From the Creators of Hair Like Mine, Skin Like Mine, the second book in the Kids Like Mine Series, is a fun, easy-to- read for beginners as well as advanced readers.

An entertaining yet creative way to address and celebrate diversity among young children. Guaranteed to make you smile and a bit hungry."

Source: Amazon

4. Our Class is a Family

"Teachers do so much more than just teach academics. They build a sense of community within their classrooms, creating a home away from home where they make their students feel safe, included, and loved.

With its heartfelt message and colorfully whimsical illustrations, "Our Class is a Family" is a book that will help build and strengthen that class community. Kids learn that their classroom is a place where it's safe to be themselves, it's okay to make mistakes, and it's important to be a friend to others. When hearing this story being read aloud by their teacher, students are sure to feel like they are part of a special family." Source: Amazon

5. Henry's Freedom Box

"A stirring, dramatic story of a slave who mails himself to freedom by a Jane Addams Peace Award-winning author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist.

Henry Brown doesn't know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves' birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. Henry grows up and marries, but he is again devastated when his family is sold at the slave market. Then one day, as he lifts a crate at the warehouse, he knows exactly what he must do: He will mail himself to the North. After an arduous journey in the crate, Henry finally has a birthday -- his first day of freedom." Source: Amazon

6. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

"This beautifully illustrated New York Times bestseller introduces readers of all ages to 40 women who changed the world.

An important book for all ages, Little Leaders educates and inspires as it relates true stories of forty trailblazing black women in American history. Illuminating text paired with irresistible illustrations bring to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of Black history such as abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball, politician Shirley Chisholm, mathematician Katherine Johnson, poet Maya Angelou, and filmmaker Julie Dash." Source: Amazon

7. The World Needs More Purple People

" Actress, producer, and parent Kristen Bell ( The Good Place, Veronica Mars, Frozen) and creative director and parent Benjamin Hart have a new challenge for you and your kids: become a purple person by embracing what makes YOU special while finding common ground with those around you."

Source: Amazon

8. Masked Ninja: A Children's Book About Kindness and Preventing the Spread of Racism and Viruses

"Through a child's eyes, the world may seem chaotic with coronavirus (COVID19), masks, and social distancing. Masked Ninja explains what's going on in our current pandemic and shows us actionable steps we can take to prevent the spread of viruses and racism.

Find out what happens in this comedic book about pandemics, viruses, and kindness.

Source: Amazon

9. This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids from around the World

"Follow the real lives of seven kids from Italy, Japan, Iran, India, Peru, Uganda, and Russia for a single day! In Japan Kei plays Freeze Tag, while in Uganda Daphine likes to jump rope. But while the way they play may differ, the shared rhythm of their days-and this one world we all share-unites them.

This genuine exchange provides a window into traditions that may be different from our own as well as a mirror reflecting our common experiences. Inspired by his own travels, Matt Lamothe transports readers across the globe and back with this luminous and thoughtful picture book."
Source: Amazon

10. What If We Were All The Same!

This book "embraces all of our beautiful differences. Aimed to help children understand there are many great reasons for being friends with those who are different than they are. Whether they have red hair or brown hair, green eyes or blue eyes, long legs or short legs, light skin or dark skin, glasses, uses a wheelchair or anything else, it's absolutely OKAY!
Our differences are what makes us unique and if we truly think about it, would you want to be the exact same as someone else?

What If We Were All The Same! is fun-filled with rhymes and colorful illustrations, and brings attention to tough topics children can relate to." Source: Amazon

11. It's OK to be Different

" By highlighting the ways kids are different from one another it helps children to accept themselves and others as the beautifully unique individuals that they are. It's OK to be Different encourages kids to be kind and befriend those who are different from themselves, showing young children that they don't have to look alike or enjoy doing the same activities to be kind to one another.

Readers will come away with the message: "You should always be kind to those who are different from you. Because to them, YOU are different too." Source: Amazon

" Who better than Sesame Street to teach us that we may all look different on the outside-but it's important to remember that deep down, we are all very much alike. We all have the same needs, desires, and feelings.

Elmo and his Sesame Street friends help teach toddlers and the adults in their lives that everyone is the same on the inside, and it's our differences that make this wonderful world, which is home to us all, an interesting-and special-place. This enduring, colorful, and charmingly illustrated book offers an easy, enjoyable way to learn about differences-and what truly matters. It is an engaging read for toddlers and adults alike." Source: Amazon

" Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Her new classmates are fascinated by this no-name girl and decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. But while Unhei practices being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, one of her classmates comes to her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its special meaning. On the day of her name choosing, the name jar has mysteriously disappeared. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name and helps everyone pronounce it- Yoon-Hey." Source: Amazon

"Feeling different, especially as a kid, can be tough. But in the same way that different types of plants and flowers make a garden more beautiful and enjoyable, different types of people make our world more vibrant and wonderful.

In Just Ask, United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor celebrates the different abilities kids (and people of all ages) have. Using her own experience as a child who was diagnosed with diabetes, Justice Sotomayor writes about children with all sorts of challenges--and looks at the special powers those kids have as well. As the kids work together to build a community garden, asking questions of each other along the way, this book encourages readers to do the same: When we come across someone who is different from us but we're not sure why, all we have to do is Just Ask." Source: Amazon

15. When God Made You

" From early on, children are looking to discover their place in the world and longing to understand how their personalities, traits, and talents fit in. The assurance that they are deeply loved and a unique creation in our big universe is certain to help them spread their wings and fly.

Through playful, charming rhyme and vivid, fantastical illustrations, When God Made You inspires young readers to learn about their own special gifts and how they fit into God's divine plan as they grow, explore, and begin to create for themselves." Source: Amazon

16. One Big Heart: A Celebration of Being More Alike than Different

"From skin, hair, and eyes in a multitude of colors to different personalities and interests, God gave us all special traits and characteristics that make us uniquely ourselves. And we all have things in common too: like sharing fun and laughter on the playground, a sense of curiosity, big feelings, and so many other things that show how we are all more alike than we are different." Source: Amazon

17. All Are Welcome

"Discover a school where-no matter what-young children have a place, have a space, and are loved and appreciated.

Follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcomed with open arms. A school where students from all backgrounds learn from and celebrate each other's traditions. A school that shows the world as we will make it to be."

Source: Amazon

18. Last Stop on Market Street

" Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn't he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty-and fun-in their routine and the world around them.

This energetic ride through a bustling city highlights the wonderful perspective only grandparent and grandchild can share, and comes to life through Matt de la Pena's vibrant text and Christian Robinson's radiant illustrations."

Source: Amazon

" Every day all over the world, children are laughing and crying, playing and learning, eating and sleeping. They may not look the same. They may not speak the same language. Their lives may be quite different. But inside, they are all alike. Stirring words and bold paintings weave their way around our earth, across cultures and generations.

At a time when, unfortunately, the lessons of tolerance still need to be learned, Whoever You Are urges us to accept our differences, to recognize our similarities, and-most importantly-to rejoice in both." Source: Amazon

" George has a house made from a big cardboard box, and he says that no one else at the playground can come in. Not Lindy, because George's house "isn't for girls," nor Freddie, because it "isn't for small people." Sophie can't come in because, George says, "This house isn't for people with glasses." But when George leaves his house for a moment, everyone piles in, and on his return, George gets a taste of his own medicine. Aided by Bob Graham's striking illustrations of an urban playground, Michael Rosen tells the tale of a little boy who makes a big discovery - that letting everyone into his playhouse is a lot more fun than keeping them out." Source: Amazon

21. Your Name is a Song

"Frustrated by a day full of teachers and classmates mispronouncing her beautiful name, a little girl tells her mother she never wants to come back to school. In response, the girl's mother teaches her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names on their lyrical walk home through the city. Empowered by this newfound understanding, the young girl is ready to return the next day to share her knowledge with her class. Your Name is a Song is a celebration to remind all of us about the beauty, history, and magic behind names." Source: Amazon

I hope you've enjoyed this incredible list of titles to help highlight and teach diversity in your classroom! If you know of other titles that you feel should be added to this list, be sure to comment below to let me know.

💛 Lori

Dr. Lori Friesen | Beginning Teacher Mentor

Creator of the R.E.A.D.Y. for School Academy, Dr. Lori Friesen has mentored thousands of beginning teachers across the country through her workshops and courses. Host of the popular podcast, and creator of the innovative literacy program for 1st and 2nd grade, Dogs Help Kids Read and Succeed, Dr. Lori is dedicated to serving educators and inspiring learners. Learn more at drlorifriesen.com and at howdogshelpkids.com.

Want to listen to the Beginning Teacher Talk podcast on a different platform? Here are the links:

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21 Children's Books that Teach Diversity

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You're going to love this incredible list of children's books to help you teach diversity and compassion in your elementary school classroom! 21 titles and growing. 😊