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I Am Not A Number (2016) is a wonderful book that shows a very dark period of history in an age-appropriate way for elementary-aged students. An 8 year old First-Nation girl, Irene, is removed from her parents home in Canada to be relocated to a "residential school" with her brothers. On her way to the bus, escorted by an "Indian agent", her mother tells her not to forget her parents or their way of life. She can't imagine how she could forget them, but she also can't imagine what waits for her at this residential school.
The author of this book writes from her own experience, and tells of the horrors and abuse that went on at residential schools. Irene no longer had a name, she was given a number instead. The nuns dolled out punishments that were extremely violent and traumatizing.
When Irene and her brothers return home for summer break, they slowly begin to tell their parents of the "lessons" and treatment they endured at the school. Irene's parents come up with a plan, and ultimately protect her and her brothers from having to return to the school.
This is a longer picture book, so it would be best taught to younger elementary students as a read aloud. The themes of resilience, family and tradition run deep in this story and it is brought to light in a very age-appropriate way. The illustrations are muted in color but show facial expressions in a way that lets the reader know how the character is feeling. Jenny Kay Dupuis' real pictures and experience from this time of her life are featured in the final pages of this book, and are a great resource to show children what truly happened.

This book won the following awards:

-Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award, 2018, Winner, English Non Fiction
-Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, 2017, Finalist
-Red Cedar Book Awards, 2018, Winner, Informational
-Diamond Willow Award, 2017, Winner

You can find more information here.

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Alma and How She Got Her Name (2018) is written in both Spanish and English, both versions would be wonderful additions to a classroom library in need of more diverse stories. Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela has a long name, and she doesn't understand why! When she asks her Daddy, he tells her the story of all of the people she is named after. After learning the loves, wishes, skills and stories of all of her namesakes Alma changes her mind and embraces her long name. This book is written and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal. The illustrations add a sense of looking into the past, as Alma is shown in pinks and reds while the rest of the characters and locations are in black, white, blues and greys. The illustrations show the story from the point of view of the narrator, Alma, while also showing her relatives/namesakes through her own eyes. This book won the Caldecott Medal in 2019 for its illustrations.

You can find more information here.

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We Are Water Protectors (2020) by Carole Lindstrom is a beautiful picture book with an extremely important message for today. This is told from the point of view of a young, Native American girl who tells the story, that has been passed down throughout generations, of the black snake that will come to destroy the land. This "black snake" are the oil pipes that run throughout our world and leak into the water causing so much harm. We Are Water Protectors is a beautifully written story about the need to protect Earth and it's water, however I believe that the illustrations are the most stunning part of the book. The illustrations by Michaela Goade show just how special and beautiful Earth and it's bodies of water are and nod to the reader the importance of protecting it. The colors are bright, the pictures invoke thoughtfulness about our impact on the Earth, and they truly make us think. It is written almost lyrically, and would lend itself to a wonderful read aloud to add to your classroom library. While it is a specifically indigenous story it is a lesson for all readers. This book won the following awards:

Caldecott Medal Winner 2020
Jane Addams Children's Book Award Winner 2020

You can find more information here.

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Watercress (2021) is written by Andrea Wang and illustrated by Jason Chin. Watercress tells the story of a young Chinese girl and her parents who live in Ohio. When the family is driving along the road, they spot watercress and pull the car over to pick and take home the watercress to eat that night at dinner. The girl adds this to the list of things she is embarrassed by; she is ashamed that she receives hand me down clothes and that her family has furniture that others had thrown away. The girls mother then tells her about her life as a child living in poverty and the girl earns a deeper respect for her family and their history, and begins to embrace their way of doing this without shame. The illustrations really bring this story to life as Jason Chin uses watercolor to bring out the significant cultural surroundings of this Chinese-American family. It teaches so many lessons and would add an immigrant story to your classroom library that I am sure many of your students can and will relate to. This book won the following awards:

Caldecott Medal Winner

Newbery Honor Book

APALA Award Winner

You can find more information here.

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Thank You, Omu! (2018) is written by Oge Mora and is inspired by her grandma, who she called "Omu" which means "queen" in the Igbo language of her parents. Omu is cooking her homemade, delicious red stew while she receives visitor after visitor from her community who come by after smelling her wonderful cooking. Omu doesn't hesitate to share with those around her. After her last visitor leaves, she realizes there is no stew left for herself. Everyone she shared with that day returns to her home to offer her food and gifts of their own as a thank you. This is a wonderful story about community, sharing and putting others before yourself. The illustrations, also by Oge Mora, are the colors of her culture and show the warmth, love and sense of happiness that surrounds the characters. It would add a sense of community and cultural significance to your classroom library, showing students what it means to be a part of a community. This book won the following awards:

-A 2019 Caldecott Honor Book
-Winner of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award
-An ALA Children's Notables List Selection 2019

You can find more information here.

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What If Everybody Thought That? (2019) by Ellen Javermick is a book about being courageous enough to be yourself. It is a book written for those times when we all think we're not good enough, not talented enough, not pretty enough. It takes a look at what we think others may be thinking of us when we are vulnerable, but then turns that on its head with the message that everyone could be thinking positive things about us instead! It gives examples that so many kids can relate to; sports, alopecia, sharing your culture with others, spelling or reading in class, and those with disabilities. When we put ourselves out there it is easy to think everyone is judging us, but this story asks the reader to think everyone is proud of us instead. It reframes the way we think about ourselves and others, and is a great addition to a library that strives to be more inclusive. The illustrations by Colleen Madden add a light hearted approach to a heavy topic, and show what could happen if everyone thought that way! The pictures are lively and positive and encourage the reader to be themselves just as much as the words do.

This book was nominated for a Goodreads "Best Picture Book" in 2019.

You can find more information here.

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No Mirror's In My Nana's House (1998) is a children's book with a powerful message. Nana's house had cracks in the wall, dust flying about, thin walls and garbage in the hallway. The line " 'Cause the beauty in everything was in her eyes" repeats throughout the story, showing that the beauty in her grandmothers eyes were always there and were truly all that mattered to the little girl. Ysaye M. Barnwell compares the beauty in her Nana's eyes to the rising of the sun, which I took to mean that it was dependable and consistent. Her Nana's eyes would always show her the beauty of life and that she was beautiful too.
The illustrations in this book are bright and warm, like the words. The illustrations have no faces, which I believe connects to the lack of mirrors and focus on one's appearance. Instead the illustrations invite us to focus on the themes of the book such as love, family and acceptance.
You can also read this book and listen to the song on StorylineOnline.net where it is read by sisters Tia and Tamara Mowry. This song is such a fun way to have young students connect to the story!

This book is written by Ysaye M. Barnwell and includes the paintings of Synthia Saint James. It won the following awards:

Kirkus Book Review Stars: 1998

Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts: 1999

You can find more information here.

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History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People (2023) is a great option for some of your higher readers who love history! History Smashers is a series all about smashing myths from history and teaching students what really happened. This book busts the myth that Christopher Columbus "discovered" America and the inaccuracies in his legacy today. This book has a mix of chapter book and graphic novel formats, while including colorful and humorous pictures that will keep any child engaged! This would be a great addition to your non-fiction library and adds a sense of fun to learning about history. It adds information about a diverse culture while also adding the fun of a graphic novel to your library! This book is co-authored by by Jose Barreiro and Kate Messner and illustrated by Falynn Koch. You can find out more about this book or the other titles in the History Smashers series here.

The History Smashers series by Kate Messner has won an award from the National Science Teachers Association-Council for Biological Education (NSTA-CBC) for Outstanding Science Trade Book. The 2022 award was given to the book History Smashers: Plagues and Pandemics.

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Not He or She, I'm Me! (2023) tells the story of a young, non-binary child going through their normal day. Following this child throughout the day the reader learns how to use they/them pronouns, have empathy for others, and find empathy for themselves. Having the goal of an inclusive and diverse library means that every child should be able to find themselves amongst the stories and books. This book affirms non-binary identity while also teaching that we are all truly more alike than different. A.M. Wild wrote a book that can be used in classrooms around the world while Kah Yangni's illustrations add color and comfort to a story about being who you are. This is an important message for all students and a great addition to any library. Both the author and illustrator of Not He or She, I'm Me are non-binary and are able to add their own experience to this book.

It won the following awards:

Stonewall Book Award Honor Book: 2024

American Library Association Youth Media Award Honor Book: 2024

You can find more information here.

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My Shadow is Purple (2022) is a book that is about self-acceptance and love. "My Dad has a shadow that’s blue as a berry, and my Mom's is as pink as a blossoming cherry. There’s only those choices, a 2 or a 1. But mine is quite different, it’s both and it’s none." Author and illustrator Scott Stuart wrote this picture book for his 6-year-old son who loves Elsa and wearing dresses and inspired his father to write a book about a child who doesn't believe they fit in the blue or pink categories. The child notices that they have both blue and pink characteristics and decides instead of having to choose, they will be purple. A great mix of the two. When the child attends a school dance and is forced to choose a side of the dancefloor, blue or pink, and decides to leave because they don't want to make a choice. Before the child can leave they are surrounded by other children whos shadows are all different colors and shades, each one of them different. This shows the child and the reader that it is ok to be yourself, and it is ok to be unapologetically you. The illustrations add so much to the story, you see dad crying at a sad movie and mom lifting heavy things. You see the children at the end of the story who "look" like a pink or a blue, but their shadow shows what is inside and new colors like yellow, violet and aquamarine appear in these shadows. This book would add such wonderful context to a library in need of inclusive and LGBTQ+ stories. It teaching compassion, empathy, acceptance and allowing others to be themselves. My Shadow is Purple was nominated for a 2023 Australian Book Industry Award and Children's Book of the Year award. It also received a Common Sense Selection award.

You can find more information here.

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Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella (1998) is another beautiful version of Cinderella that would add culture and diversity to your library in the form of a story that students are already familiar with. Robert D. San Souci wrote a Caribbean tale told from the perspective of the fairy god-mother. When the Godmother, a poor woman from the island of Martinique, realizes that her god daughter is in love with a rich man's son she decides to do everything in her power to help. Her goddaughter is treated as second class next to her step sister, who is given all that she wants. It is close enough to the classic tale, but adds the French-Creole language along with stunning and colorful scenes of the Caribbean by illustrator Brian Pinkney. It would be a wonderful addition to any library!

This story won the Phoenix Picture Book Award in 1998. This author-illustrator duo won the Caldecott Medal for The Faithful Friend in 1995.

You can find more information here.

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Adelita (2002) is a Cinderella story set in Mexico written and illustrated by Tomie de Paola. When Adela passes away during childbirth her husband, Francisco, name his new baby girl Adelita (little Adela). Adelita soon gains a new stepmother and step-sisters who treat her poorly, move her into the attic, and make her clean up after them. Adelita has her own "fairy god mother" in Esperanza, who has worked in her family's home for years. Esperanza helps Adelita find and wear her mother's old dresses and gets her a wagon to attend the welcome home party of her childhood friend, Javier. Javier and Adelita fall in love and live happily ever after! The illustrations are colorful and fun, highlighting the beauty of Mexico and its culture. This would be a wonderful book for 3rd grade's unit on traditional literature and comparing and contrasting the same story across other cultures. Because students are familiar with the story of Cinderella they will enjoy Adelita and finding the similarities and differences of both stories!

While this title did not win any awards, Tomie de Paola is a Caldecott winning author and illustrator of many much-loved books including Strega Nona and Mother Goose.

You can find more information here.

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Fry Bread (2019) is a wonderful picture book that gives the reader a look into a Native-American family making a traditional dish, fry bread. The illustrations are what truly stand out in this book, they are lively and colorful and walk the reader through each step of making fry bread. You see the joy on each family members face while also making connections to family, history, love and traditions. This would make a great read aloud in 3rd grade and there is even a real recipe for fry bread at the end of the book. Students could write down or take a copy of the recipe home to enjoy with their families. Fry Bread would add a diverse cultural story to your library and give students a look into a culture they may not know much about.

Fry Bread is written by Kevin Noble Maillard and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal. For reviews and additional information click here

This book won the following awards:

2020 American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Honor

School Library Journal Best Picture Book of 2019

Booklist 2019 Editor's Choice

Shelf Awareness Best Children's Book of 2019

Goodreads Choice Award 2019 Semifinalist

Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book of 2019

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Time Is A Flower (2021) is a beautiful picture book. Time can be a very difficult concept for children to understand, and this illustrates the passing of time beautifully using topics and events that children are familiar with. It also uses beautiful metaphors that a child can relate to. The illustrations in Time Is A Flower are simple but interesting and the author/illustrator Julie Morstad plays with space and color to attract the readers to what she wants us to see. This book could be used to teach the importance of illustrations, colors, and light when reading a book. It could also be a wonderful mentor book to teach metaphors! I guarantee this is book students will reach for over and over again.

I found this book on the Database for Award Winning Children's Literature. It won the 2022 Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award (Canada) and was nominated for the 2022 Governor General's Literary Award for Young People.

You can find reviews and more information here.

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Seriously, Cinderella Is So Annoying (2011) is a fun and engaging version of Cinderella told from the Stepmother's point of view. This would be a fun, silly addition to your classroom library and would be a great mentor text to teach point of view, unreliable narrators and comparing and contrasting versions of the same story. In this book, the wicked stepmother tells the story of Cinderella as she see's it and show's the reader we can't always trust one side of the story. This book is written by Trisha Speed Shaskan and illustrated by Gerald Guerlais. Guerlais' illustrations add brightness and humor to this story and are drawn in a cartoon-ish way. This would be such a fun read aloud that will have children excited read!

You can find more information here.