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Even though I write often about parenting from a social justice perspective, I realized there's a major gap in my writing. I've done very little work thinking about disability rights and how kids can unlearn ableism.

If you're new to the term ableism, its all the beliefs, behaviors, and laws in our society that devalue and discriminate against people with disabilities.

Following the fantastic blog Raising Luminaries: Books for Littles, written by Ashia Ray, who is autistic, got me thinking more about how ableism impacts children (both those with a disability and those without.) So did enrolling our kiddo in a new school this year, one that has a higher than average number of students with disabilities.

After conducting my first summer peace and justice camp for kids , a camp volunteer who works in deaf education encouraged us to think how we could incorporate disability justice into our camp for next year.

I hope to write a whole series of articles about unlearning ableism with our kids next year. Today, I'm starting where I almost always start with a justice issue: reading books together.

In this post you'll find 12 stereotype-busting picture books that star disabled characters.

12 Picture Books about Disability that Bust Stereotypes

Disclosure: For your convenience, this post includes affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I received a complimentary copy of Together Things from the publisher in exchange for my honest review; all opinions are my own. You can read my full disclosure policy here.

Mama Zooms by Jane Cowen-Fletcher

A joyful toddler tells us all about how their Mama uses her "zooming machine" to zoom them everywhere. In her wheelchair, they can zoom across the lawn, with the child pretending to be a racehorse. The best place for zooming is ramps, where both Mama and child can put their arms out and feel like they're flying.

There are very few children's books about disabled parents. This book challenges stereotypes about disability by showing Mama as doing the same fun things with her child than a non-disabled parent would do, with her wheelchair only adding to the joy they experience together. (Recommended for ages 2 - 5)

Usually, the books that excite me at the Scholastic Book Fair are few and far between (sorry y'all, I'm a book snob!) But when I spotted this one a couple of years ago, I was delighted to donate it to my son's classroom.

Zara's dog Moose hates to be separated from her. He's always ready to say hello to her, showing up at school in all kinds of places he isn't welcome. Even though Moose is always well behaved, each and every time, he has to tell Zara and her friends goodbye after just a few minutes.

Finally, Zara has an idea of how Moose won't have to say goodbye anymore. First, he'll have to go to his own school, so that he can start being invited to hers.

I love that Zara is shown just going through her normal day in this book using her wheelchair, without any mention of her disability. This is one way to normalize having a disability with kids! (Recommended for ages 3 - 7)
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One of the ways we can challenge ableism is by thinking about how disabled kids can take part in experiences non-disabled children do, when we make proper accommodations.

Moses loves playing on his drum. Though he can't hear the sound because he is deaf, he can feel the vibration of the drum on his hand. He's excited to go to a concert with his classmates, who are all deaf as well. Their teacher promises there will be a big surprise.

The children all sit close to the stage, and their teacher gives them balloons to hold (which help them feel the vibrations.) When the percussionist comes out, she isn't wearing shoes. The teacher explains that she is also deaf, and being in her socks allows her to feel the vibrations the other musicians in the orchestra are making.

The book also includes American Sign Language at the bottom of each page, with Moses teaching key words and phrases from the story. (Recommended for ages 4 - 8)

Together Things by Michelle Vasiliu and Gwynneth Jones

There are few children's books about mental illness, but this simple story helps fill that gap. First, we learn about all the things a little girl loved to do with her father, from flying high in the swings to "taming wild animals" (like crickets.) But because Daddy is sick inside of his head, he can't do those things anymore.

Mama tells her that Daddy is going to see a special doctor, and she's hopeful that he'll get better. But she also has a lot of her own big feelings to deal with about his illness. Together, they discover new things that they can do while he's getting better.

This book prompted important conversations with my son about how mental illness affects people, including my own experience having an anxiety disorder. (Recommended for ages 3 - 7, #ownvoices)

I love this book (it might just be my favorite book on the list!) It busts the stereotype that having a disability doesn't bring any benefits with it. My Travelin' Eye tells the author's own story of being treated for a traveling, lazy eye at the age of 7.

While she didn't like being made fun of by other kids at school, Jenny knew there were all kinds of cool benefits to having a traveling eye.Even as Jenny gets treatment for her eye, she resists the idea that her eye is broken. My favorite line of the book may be the last one: "My travelin' eye still wanders sometimes, but that's the true nature of an artist - to see the world in her own unique way."

Jenny's illustrations are quirky, expressive, imaginative, and definitely challenge how we see the world. (Recommended for ages 4 - 9, #ownvoices)

When Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah was a baby, many people dismissed what he could do. That's because he was born with only one strong leg. But Emmanuel's mother had faith that he could still find a way to make his way in the world, despite all the obstacles for disabled people in Ghana.

As a child, Emmanuel figured out how to do many things other children did, from playing soccer to even riding a bicycle with his one strong leg.

When his mother became ill, he knew that he must travel to the city to earn money for their family. He often met people who assumed he only wanted to beg from them. But Emmanuel was determined to show them that "being disabled did not mean being unable."

And so, Emmanuel decided to make an incredible journey, riding his bicycle for 400 miles across Ghana, in just 10 days. His activism continues to challenge many people's ideas about what people with physical disabilities can do.

Note: If you have a young child who's particularly sensitive, you may want to wait til they're a bit older to read this book. I read it to my son when he was four, and the fact that Emmanuel's mother died made him so sad that he didn't want to read the book again. (Recommended for ages 4 - 9)
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Living with spinal muscular atrophy, Shane Burcaw is used to getting lots of stares and questions from kids. He created this book - which is really funny is so many places - to answer questions in a straightforward way.

Shane's honesty and humor, combined with the zany photographs of him and his family, challenge non-disabled kids' assumptions that they should feel sorry for someone like Shane. Instead, they can see all the things that Shane can do, on his own, with the help of family, and using his awesome motorized wheelchair. (Recommended for ages 4 - 10, #ownvoices)
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As a child, future scientist Temple Grandin saw the world differently than other children. Many people didn't understand that being autistic made Temple "different, not less." So her mom decided that time on her aunt's ranch would give her a much needed break from bullying.

It's there that Temple first developed her empathy for cows, who were also visual thinkers like she was. Her understanding of the animals helped her advance livestock science to become more humane.

This rhyming book not only teaches kids about Temple's life, but reminds them to celebrate the many different ways our brains can work. (Recommended for ages 4 - 8)

Zulay and her friends love to sing and dance. She also loves her new pink shoes, and dreams about running so fast in them that she'll feel like a bird opening her wings.

So when her teacher announces that a field day is coming up, she knows she wants to run in her new pink shoes. Her other classmates are surprised by her announcement since Zulay is blind. But another teacher knows that once Zulay learns how to use her new cane on the track, she'll be able to join the race. (Recommended for ages 5 - 9)
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This is the author's true story about how she adjusted to life with prosthetic limbs after she was injured in the Boston Marathon bombing. (The bombing is not mentioned in the story.)

Jessica is worried about how different life will be with a prosthetic leg. Rescue isn't sure he's up to the task of being a service dog. While Jessica deals with her frustration at how hard it is to learn to walk again, she meets a friend's service dog and realizes just how much one could help her.

Once Rescue and Jessica are paired with each other, Jessica figures out how to do the things she used to do before she was hurt. As their friendship grows, kids can see how both Rescue and Jessica need each other. (Recommended for ages 4 - 8)

Malik, a boy who lives in Lahore, Pakistan, looks forward to the spring festival of Basant all year. People all over the city will be testing their kite flying skills, and Malik knows he will be king of the festival. His brother and sister are surprised at the small size of his kite Falcon, though.

Yet with Malik's skill, Falcon is swift enough the capture the huge, expensive flag of the bully who has called his sister bad names. Soon his expertise provides him with another opportunity to show compassion to a young child on the street below.

I love the way that Malik and his kite are the heroes of the story, challenging the stereotype that people with a disability are incapable of standing up for themselves or others. (Recommended for ages 5 - 9).

Long ago in Cambodia, a little girl named Lotus brought her parents great joy. When they realized that Lotus was deaf, they prayed that the gods would take away her misfortune.

Though their daughter finds happiness in nature, the other children ignore her attempts at friendship. In their worry, her parents decide to visit the temple in the city.

It's there that Lotus sees the court dancers, and immediately begins to imitate their movements. Lotus' family realizes that the gods have given them the sign they were looking for after all, and her dance lessons begin. (Recommended for ages 5 - 9)

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It's no surprise that prolific author Patricia Polacco grew up loving books. What many don't know about her is that she struggled mightily with dyslexia. As other children learned to read and she still could not, Trisha began to feel dumb.

She developed coping strategies to hide the fact that she couldn't read. But whenever she had to read aloud in class, she faced cruel teasing and bullying from her classmates. It wasn't until a kind teacher named Mr. Falker intervened that Trisha could see her own talent and bravery, gifts that equipped her to learn to read, with his help. (Recommended for ages 7 - 11, #ownvoices)

My 7 year old loves this graphic novel so much! In El Deafo, author Cece Bell gives children a window into her own childhood. After contracting meningitis at age 4, Cece becomes profoundly deaf. Her struggle to understand, but most of all to be understood by other children, shines through the pages.

While the subject is a serious one, the book is filled with laugh out loud humor (including plenty of bathroom jokes that kids will love.) Cece's alternate identity as a superhero named El Deafo helps her deal with the sense of loneliness that follows her during her first few years of being deaf.

Her annoyance at friends who insist on talking in a slow, exaggerated manner or who refer to her as their "deaf friend" can easily lead to conversations with kids about microaggressions . (Recommended for ages 7 - 12, #ownvoices)

Tip: As you look for additional children's books starring characters with a disability, I encourage you to read Ashia's guidance about what makes for an empowering versus condescending story about disabled characters.

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12 stereotype-busting children's books starring disabled characters - The Barefoot Mommy

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Even though I write often about parenting from a social justice perspective, I realized there's a major gap in my writing. I've done very little work thinking about disability rights and how kids can unlearn ableism. If you're new to the term ableism, its all the beliefs, behaviors, and laws in our society that devalue and discriminate against people with disabilities.

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Last summer, in my church's , we talked a lot about gender. It was so interesting to watch the ways that the kids both challenged gender stereotypes and reflected the ones they'd learned from society.

Reading good books together is a wonderful way to defy stereotypes of all kinds. In our house, there's no such thing as a "girl book" or a "boy book." We also talk about how there are more than two genders. My kiddo knows that some folks ask us to use they/them pronouns because that best expresses who they are.

This post shares 19 of the best children's books (both picture books and chapter books) that help children unlearn gender stereotypes. Some address gender head on, while many of them quietly challenge notions about what it means to be masculine or feminine.

Disclosure: For your convenience, this post includes affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
Picture books that challenge gender stereotypes

My Friend Robot by Sunny Scribens, Hui Skipp, and Norma Jean Wright

In this fun-filled singalong book, kids build a treehouse with the help of their new robot, just built by the young Black girl who leads the group. Along the way, young children learn a lot about simple machines and how they are all around us.

The book includes a CD with different versions of the song, which is sung to the tune of "London Bridge is Falling Down." Whenever I've used this book with preschool and kindergarten groups, it's been a big hit! (Recommended for ages 3 - 7)

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

So often, adults encourage boys to suppress their feelings. This is one of the earliest ways that children learn gender stereotypes.

When Jabari arrives at the pool, he announces to his Dad that he's going to jump off the diving board for the first time. Jabari assures his Dad that he's not scared at all, but his body language says otherwise. His father sensitively offers Jabari tools to overcome his fear, while also letting him know that it's okay if it doesn't want to jump. (Recommended for ages 3 - 7)

Think tattoos are about being a tough guy? This tender conversation a father has with his young son will change your mind.

With tattoos that remind Dad of his favorite childhood book, to the words "be kind" that his own father used to tell him, each tattoo has a meaningful story. While some of the tattoos are elaborate, it's the simplest one that the little boy loves the most. (Recommended for ages 3 - 7)

Barefoot Books Children of the World by Tessa Strickland, Kate DePalma, and David Dean
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Primarily through its detailed illustrations of children at play, this book challenges stereotypes about whether activities, interests, and clothes can be defined by gender. There are also many children pictured who have a disability, as well as families with a number of different structures.

I can think of few other books that do such a beautiful and subtle job of celebrating the diversity of our world, while also helping children identify what we have in common as people. The illustrations are simply gorgeous, and children will love poring over them! (Recommended for ages 4 - 8)

Elena's Serenade by Campbell Geeslin and Ana Juan

Elena longs to be a glassblower who makes magical creations like her father. But her father thinks she's too little, and "besides, who ever heard of a girl glassblower?" Elena's brother Pedro tells her she should travel to Monterrey, where all the best glassblowers work.

Dressing herself as a boy, Elena sets out on her journey. When she blows on her pipe to pass the time, she discovers she can make amazing music that enchants the animals she encounters. When she arrives in Monterrey, she is in for an even more amazing surprise about what her serenades can create. (Recommended for ages 4 - 8).

Morris loves doing many things at school: painting, doing puzzles, and singing the loudest at circle time. But his favorite thing is to put on the tangerine dress in the dress-up corner. Its color reminds him of tigers, the sun, and his mother's hair. He loves the swish and crinkle noises the dress makes when he walks.

His classmate Becky tries to pull the dress off of him, insisting that boys can't wear dresses. The other boys won't let him ride in their cardboard spaceship because "astronauts don't wear dresses." After a few days of this, Morris doesn't feel so good. His mom lets him stay home from school. At home, he imagines going on a space safari while wearing the tangerine dress. When Morris goes back to school, he's ready to be just who he wants to be, and play how he wants to play. (Recommended for ages 4 - 8)

The Boy Who Grew Flowers by Jen Wojtowicz and Steve Adams
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Rink Bowagon comes from a family of folks who have strange talents, and his classmates keep away from him. But no one knows about his own special gift. He sprouts flowers all over his body whenever the moon is full. What will happen when Rink has the chance to use his special talents to help a newcomer to town?

This book is one of my favorites about sensitive, gentle boys. (Recommended for ages 4 - 8)

Drawn Together by Minh Lê and Dan Santat

The first time I spotted this title at the bookstore, its stunning art called out to me!

It's often hard for grandsons and grandfathers to connect with each other. That's especially true for a Vietnamese American boy who doesn't speak the same language as his grandfather. At first it seems like the day will be a total bust, with the two alternating between boredom and frustration that they can't communicate. But when they discover a shared love telling stories through drawing, everything changes.

Though this is a picture book, it will appeal to kids who love graphic novels too. (#ownvoices, recommended for ages 4 - 8)

When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff and Kaylani Juanita

The first few years of Aidan's life, he often felt misunderstood. People thought he was a girl, but Aidan knew he was a boy. Eventually, Aidan and his parents figured out just what kind of boy he was, and what made him happy.

So when his parents tell him that Mom is going to have a baby, Aidan knows his job as a big brother is to make sure the baby feels understood. But when the time comes for the baby to arrive, Aidan starts to worry. What if the baby doesn't like the clothes and the nursery decorations he helped to choose? With his parents' support, he starts to understand that being a good big brother doesn't have to mean doing everything right. (#ownvoices, recommended for ages 5 - 9)

In the years leading up to the space race between the United States and the USSR, "computers" were people who did high level math problems. This engaging picture book tells kids about four Black women leaders whose math skills kept countless pilots and astronauts safe during their missions.

Young readers will also learn how Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden had to push repeatedly to break through racial and gender barriers. For example, Johnson wanted to go to research meetings with the other experts on her team. Her boss refused, saying that women couldn't attend. But Johnson's dogged persistence eventually won her entry.

Mary Jackson wanted to become an engineer, but officials at aeronautics lab said it was impossible. She would need to take high level math classes at a school Blacks weren't allowed to attend. Jackson persisted, and became the first African American woman engineer in the lab. (#ownvoices, recommended for ages 5 to 10)

Thunder Rose by Jerdine Nolen and Kadir Nelson

From the moment Rose was born, she was powerful. The first child born "free and easy" in her family, she immediately captures a bolt of lightening and sets it on her shoulders. She even chooses her own name, announcing that she's "right partial to the name Rose."

Like many heroines, Rose is beautiful and has a sweet spirit. But it's also quite clear during her heroic feats that match any tall tales that she is "full of lightening and thunder." Not only does this book challenge gender stereotypes about girls and strength; it's also an incredibly fun read! (#ownvoices, recommended for ages 6 - 10)

When We Love Someone, We Sing to Them/Cuando Amamos Cantamos by Ernesto Javier Martinez and Maya Gonzalez

Papi tells his son that "when we love someone, we sing to them." Papi remembers how they sang to Mami on Mother's Day, and pledges that when his son feels the joy of love in his heart for someone, he'll help him sing.

That day comes, and the little boy asks Papi if he can help him serenade the "boy bright brown" who brings him joy. This beautiful celebration of a first crush reminds children that love is love. (#ownvoices, recommended for ages 7 - 10)

Chapter Books that Defy Gender Stereotypes

There are so many reasons Lola Levine is one of our favorite series, including the subtle reminder that girls and boys can be best friends. Lola loves to play soccer, and even though some of the kids don't understand her, she has her best friend Josh.

But when Lola accidentally hurts another player on the field, suddenly she has a new, unwanted nickname. She'll have to use her creativity to convince the other kids that Lola Levine is not mean! (#ownvoices, recommended for ages 6 - 9)

Dara's Clever Trap by Liz Flanagan and Martina Peluso

Unlike many fairy tales that culminate in a marriage, this traditional tale from Cambodia begins with one. This lets us know that Princess Dara has a lot more to do than look for Prince Charming. When Dara goes on a trip to search for white stones she needs to build a beautiful palace for her father, her husband falls victim to a scheme. The king's wicked ministers convince the king that Rith plans to overthrow him. Rith is quickly sent into exile.

When Dara returns, she naturally sheds some tears. Then she realizes she must quickly get to work if she is to save her husband. The princess quickly puts her engineering (and scheming) skills to work to plan her own trap for the wicked ministers. (Recommended for ages 6 - 9)

Jasmine Toguchi has a problem that younger siblings everywhere can identify with: she never gets to be the first to do anything! Just once, she'd like to do something that her older sister Sophie hasn't already done.

Soon, Jasmine's entire family will be arriving at her house, including her Obaachan who's coming all the way from Japan, for the New Year celebration. Sophie is old enough to help the women of the family roll the special mochi dessert. But Jasmine can't join in until she's 10 years old, and that's 2 years from now.

Suddenly, Jasmine realizes that she could do something that her sister has never done: help the men of the family pound the rice for the mochi. But can she break out of gender stereotypes and convince her father that's she's old enough and strong enough to join them? (#ownvoices, recommended for ages 7 - 10)

Many fourth graders have secrets about themselves that they're afraid to tell others. But 10 year old George's is bigger than most. She knows she's a girl, even though everyone else thinks of her as a boy.

When it's time to try out for the school play, Charlotte's Web, she dreams of playing Charlotte. But her teacher says she can't even try out for that role, since she's a boy. George is sure that if her mother can see her play Charlotte, she'll understand that she's a girl. So, she opens up to her best friend. They're soon hatching a plot that they hope will help everyone understand who she really is. (Recommended for ages 9 - 12)

The House That Lou Built by Mae Respicio

Lou loves spending time with her large Filipino family. But it would be awesome to have some space of her own, something that can't happen as long as she and her mother as living with her grandmother in her small house.

For a long time, she's dreamed of building a tiny house on the land she inherited when her father died. After all, she's a star in shop class, so she's confident that she can figure it out. After her mother announces she's looking for jobs outside of San Francisco (so they can find an affordable place to live), Lou realizes it's time to put her plan into high gear. (#ownvoices, recommended for ages 9 - 12)

From the first time fairy tales are told to her, Princess Adrienne knows that they're "hogwash." When she becomes a teenager, her own father locks her into a tower, telling all the brave princes and knights to try to rescue her from a fierce dragon who guards the gates. Adrienne has no patience for the princes and the sexist, racist ideas they have about what a princess should be like.

When she finds a sword under her bed, she realizes that she and Sparks (her dragon) can be the ones to rescue princesses just like her who've been locked away. From the sarcasm to the feminism to the adventure, there's so much to love in this story! (Recommended for ages 9 - 12)

Both white and Lakota classmates alike tease Jimmy McLean. With blue eyes and light brown hair, others question whether he's really Lakota. Jimmy's grandfather tells him that there was once a great Lakota leader who also had brown hair and light skin: Crazy Horse. Grandpa suggests that they take a journey this summer, to visit all the important places where Crazy Horse made history.

This slim novel tells an important chapter in U.S. history from a Native American perspective in an incredibly engaging way. It also challenges typical notions of masculinity by showing Crazy Horse's compassion and bravery simultaneously. What was most meaningful to me about the book was watching the ways that Jimmy changes as he learns the history of his people. (#ownvoices, recommended for ages 10+)

Full of humor, heart, and tween awkwardness, this novel in free verse explores the many questions in 11 year old Celi's heart. She wonders when she'll begin her period, yet dreads the moon ceremony her mother wants to hold with other women in her family. Mima reminds her that this is "a ritual taken away from us during so many conquests," but to Celi, it just feels like sharing what should be secret.

When Celi's best friend Magda shares that she is gender fluid, it's surprising. After Magda shares how she feels about Celi's crush Ivan, Celi at first thinks Magda shares her crush. Instead, Magda says that Ivan is the kind of boy she wants to be.

After Ivan publicly ridicules Magda, Celi's loyalties are tested. (#ownvoices, recommended for ages 10+)

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19 Children's books that defy gender stereotypes - The Barefoot Mommy

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Last summer, in my church's , we talked a lot about gender. It was so interesting to watch the ways that the kids both challenged gender stereotypes and reflected the ones they'd learned from society. Reading good books together is a wonderful way to defy stereotypes of all kinds.

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Books should reflect a diversity of children's experiences. The picture books on this list challenge gender stereotypes. These titles celebrate the fact that not every child fits into society's preconceived notion of what it means to be a boy or a girl. I don't want my kids to grow up feeling limited by their gender. Kids need to know that if they prefer diggers to ballet slippers or knitting to baseball, it doesn't matter if they are boys or girls. Children need to take pride in what they do and learn to accept that the diversity of their peers' experiences and identities.

It goes without saying that picture books are terrific teaching tools. I hope these books with help you in your quest to teach your children to appreciate the variety of people that they will meet in their daily lives. I've separated the book list into books that are primarily about boys doing "girl" activities and the reverse. Of course that in no way means the books are "for boys" or "for girls". It's just for convenience. All of these books can been enjoyed equally by all kids - and their parents! (Note: all book covers and titles are affiliate links.)

Books (mostly) about Boys

Side note: Both of these ballet books reminded me of a film about identical triplet brothers in Cuba who are aspiring ballet dancers: To Dance Like a Man.

Jacob's New Dress. When we were young, my brother insisted on wearing dresses and my mom let him. My jaw dropped when she told me years later that one of her friends told her she was abusing him by letting him do so. Really? What does it matter if a toddler boy wants to wear a dress? It turns out all it was only a bit of big sister worship ( let me tell you those days are looooong gone) but I'm still surprised when I hear caregivers say "you can't be the [insert "girl" character], you're a boy." Pretend play is for stretching the imagination. [steps off soap box] When Jacob wears a makeshift dress to school, the other boys tease him. The teacher explains that Jacob can wear whatever he is comfortable him, even reminding the kids that girls used to not be able to wear pants. Later, Jacob's mom helps him make a real dress to wear. I love it when Jacob's mother validates that there are "all sorts of ways to be a boy." This is a book about learning self-acceptance and being proud of who you are.

Books (mostly) about Girls

For more books that feature strong girls that buck the trend of sedate, pink, sparkly tea-party goers, check out my lists: Books about Rowdy Girls, picture books about famous women in history, picture book biographies of female scientists, and chapter and picture books about amazing African-American women.

Phoebe and Digger. It's pretty clear to anyone whose ever visited a sandbox that boys and girls love diggers equally. Nevertheless, I'm guessing ( I've never done an official poll) that most depictions of kids playing with diggers are of boys, and not girls. That makes Phoebe a refreshing change. At its center, this is a story about learning to live with a new sibling. Phoebe has a new digger, and her mom has a new baby. Phoebe must learn to share her mom, just as she need to navigate the sandbox with other kids who may want to share ( or take) her new digger.

Madam President. Although the idea of a woman president hardly seems the faraway dream it once did, the idea of a "bossy girl" is still far too often a negative one. In this humorous story, a young girl imagines being president. She takes charge, makes executive orders, negotiates deals and - gasp! - says "no" ( i.e. uses the veto power).

Ruby's Wish. In old China, Ruby lives with her enormous family. Boys are considered lucky and girls are expected to embroider and get married. Ruby is dissatisfied with her family's emphasis on traditional gender roles. Ruby doesn't want to get married, she wants to go to university like her brothers. Ruby tells her grandfather her wish, but doesn't expect things to change for her. Just before she thinks she will have to get married, however, she finds her wish has been granted. This is a great book to start a conversation, not only about how society's expectations for girls has changed ( or not changed) over time, but also about the importance of speaking up for what you want.

A Fire Engine for Ruthie. Ruthie goes to visit her grandmother, who has prepared for tea parties, dolls and dress-up. What Ruthie wants to do, however, is play with trains and fire engines and other things that go. When Nana finally asks Ruthie what she wants to do, Ruthie responds that she wants to play with the boy next door. The two become fast friends, bonding over train tracks and tractor-trailers. Ruthie's Nana takes notice of what her granddaughter likes to play and joins in the fun herself. I like how Nana is quick to follow her granddaughter's lead once she realizes that maybe all the "girly" things she had planned for the two of them weren't really Ruthie's "cup of tea" ( so to speak).

Not All Princesses Dress in Pink is one of my favorites on the list. It's also on my list of books about rowdy girls. The rhyming text and colorful illustrations depict a variety of girls engaged in all sorts of activities, from farming to ball-playing, from fighting evil sorcerers to skipping in the mud. The one thing they all have in common is that they don't wear pink, but they do wear a sparkly crown. It's a great message: that there is nothing incongruous about girls engaging in rough-and-tumble activities while still loving a bit of sparkle. I also appreciated the diverse ethnicities portrayed in the book.
More lists you will like:
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14 Children's Books that Challenge Gender Stereotypes

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Books should reflect a diversity of children's experiences. The picture books on this list challenge gender stereotypes. These titles celebrate the fact that not every child fits into society's preconceived notion of what it means to be a boy or a girl. I don't want my kids to grow up feeling limited by their gender.

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"This inaugural picture book for both author and artist features an oddball girl whose differences teach her classmates to appreciate their own unique qualities."

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"This inaugural picture book for both author and artist features an oddball girl whose differences teach her classmates to appreciate their own unique qualities."

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To broaden our students world views, we must educate about different parts of the world. Families Near and Far is an inquireED unit that teaches students beyond just the United States where they live but can help immigrants share about their home countries and assist all students in recognizing similarities and differences among people all around.

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Celebration of Individual Unique Identities

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Celebration of Individual Unique Identities

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Black History and Understanding Racial Inequities

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Black History and Understanding Racial Inequities