The Best Diverse Picture Books for Kids of All Ages!

Bienvenidos! If you are looking for a fabulous bilingual book, this is it! I love this story in which Lucia brings readers into her bustling house to share her big, beautiful familia with all. From the puerta to the cocina to the sala, this book describes the exciting moments that happen in Lucia’s casa throughout the day, and it exudes love and warmth on every page. It is an ode to Spanglish (as the author moves back and forth between Spanish and English languages), an authentic depiction of a Latinx home, and – perhaps most importantly – a celebration of the love shared among family. Absolutely, positively love this Hispanic children’s book!

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WOW. This book is simply exquisite. Not only is the prose lyrical, lovely and pure perfection, but the photographs are unparalleled. What will you choose to be? The simple question begs a variety of answers and imaginative journeys. The result is glorious, with each uniquely creative page an ode to childhood, the power of potential, and a meditation on self-love and internal beauty. This gorgeous book is a celebration of diversity and childhood, and it is infused with wonder on each and every page.

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This is a fabulous read aloud that will have your little ones begging for rereads just so you can give voice to the incredible onomatopoeia on every page. When Baby Izzie wakes during the night with a startling “waaah!” she sets off a chain reaction, waking up both people and animals in the red brick building. Though the clattering sounds on each page wake folks on every floor, all of the neighbors eventually settle down again as soft noises lull them back to sleep. I love the way this book so beautifully invites kids into the story, giving them voice as they move from the baby’s sharp wails to the gentle pah-pum, pah-pum of a mother’s heart. It’s a fantastic story to wind down a busy day, and Mora’s exquisite illustrations are a perfect match for Wynter’s rhythmic text, resulting in a bedtime masterpiece.

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Mrs. Goldman knits hats for everyone in their neighborhood to help them stay warm during the harsh winter. But what happens when Sophia realizes that Mrs. Goldman is so busy knitting for everyone else and she has no hat of her own to wear? Sophia takes it upon herself to make Mrs. Goldman the perfect hat, and this simple mitzvah – or good deed – makes this a Happily Ever Elephants favorite picture book about friendship! I absolutely love this story of selflessness!

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This gorgeous book tackles one girl’s journey as she learns to love her beautiful eyes. The child comes to realize her unique eyes are just like those of her family before her. All of their eyes are ones she loves, values, and finds extraordinarily safe and beautiful. What I most adore about this book is the brilliant way Ho weaves Chinese culture throughout the story to bolster the child’s growing confidence in, and love for, her own beauty. From lotus flowers to lychees, oolong pools to swords of warriors, the symbols give this story so much richness and a vivid backdrop for understanding the child’s pride in her beautiful eyes. An absolute stunner of a diverse picture book. From illustration to message, it’s all perfectly on point!

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Life is good on Dream Street, the best street in all the world! On Dream Street, you can jump rope with Azaria, create a good day with Mr. Sidney, and feel confident with the bustling, vibrant community all around you. Based on the Roxbury neighborhood in Boston where the author and illustrator grew up as cousins, this joyous book is a celebration of neighbors, friendship and family. Perhaps most importantly, it tears down harmful stereotypes of life on the “street,” portraying a neighborhood where children are supported in their hopes and dreams and warmth and love shine through every window and door.

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This is the gorgeous story of a young boy named Daniel whose parents work in an office building as night janitors. One night Daniel must go with them to work because his babysitter cannot come. Daniel is frustrated when he arrives, sneezing, confused and bothered by the mess his parents have to clean up. But when his parents take him on an adventure through the “Paper Kingdom,” complete with dragons and kings and thrones, Daniel’s imagination runs wild right along with that of his mom and dad. One day, Daniel decides, he may become the ruler of the Paper Kingdom himself so he can make sure his parents don’t have to clean up more messes. A tender and touching story of family, resilience and hope, we fell in love with this one on the very first read! It’s also a lovely story about essential community workers!

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In this emotional story, one tired dad wakes up before the sunrise and heads to work at the bakery where he kneads and rolls and bakes delights as the world wakes up and neighbors ready themselves for the day. When Dad is finished, he heads home and meets his joyful daughter. Together, dad and his little girl play, garden and read. But perhaps most importantly, they bake. Inspired by her work with formerly incarcerated people (but not specifically mentioning that point in the story), this is a book about reclaiming life and celebrating the small wonders and important relationships that make us live for each and every moment.

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Not only is this a special book — but it is also a vitally important one to add to your collections. In this tender story, a young girl studies the way six significant women in her life wear their hijabs, how each of these special ladies showcase their personalities through them, and how their uniqueness also shines in the way they wear their hair when the hijab comes off in their homes. From the kitchen to the doctor’s office to the art studio, this gorgeous children’s book about clothing illustrates the hijab as a symbol of pride within Muslim culture, encouraging one little girl to dream of the ways she will wear her own hijab when she is bigger. For our full review of Under My Hijab, click here!

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What happens when a strong, warrior maiden reluctantly attends the prince’s royal ball, only to fall in love with the prince’s sister? This affirming, empowering book showcases that same-sex marriages are not just normal, but healthy and beautiful too. We love the way the maiden stands up for herself, stays true to who she is, and falls in love so naturally, without anyone trying to change who she is or what she wants for herself. A wonderful, LGBT twist on a classic fairy tale! We also adore Prince & Knight and Prince & Knight: Tale of the Shadow King by the same author!

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Every Monday through Saturday, Claude and Maman walk Papa to the tap tap stop. They meet lots of interesting people along the way, but Claude never gets to ride on the tap tap with his dad. He has classes to attend and chores to get done, of course! But on Sunday, Maman and Papa surprise Claude with a ride on the tap tap — to the beach! Once there, they encounter all of the people Claude saw during the week, and Claude learns to fish and play the drums and even make hats. With Haitan Creole words sprinkled throughout the text and an informative glossary at the end, this book is a joy to read and informative, too. Bon bagay!

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This is one of my very favorite Hispanic children’s books that everyone needs on their shelf! A little girl complains to her father about her long name — Alma Sofia Esperanza Jose Pura Candela. “It never fits,” she tells her Dad. Her frustration prompts a discussion between father and child as to why Alma was given such a long name, and Alma’s eyes suddenly open to the legacies she carries with her and the beloved ancestors for whom she was named. Upon learning all about her vibrant name, Alma realizes that it may be the perfect fit after all. Check out our full review here!

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In this gorgeous story, a mother shares her love and dreams for her children. Lyrical, tender prose inspired by the Quran combine with exquisite illustrations to make this book a beautiful ode to a parent’s unconditional love for her child. This book spoke to me as a parent so deeply, and I cannot rave about it enough.

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Laxmi never gave much thought to the tiny hairs above her lip. Until, that is, the day a boy on the playground tells her she would make a perfect cat since she already had whiskers. His comment devastates Laxmi, who suddenly can’t stop seeing all of her body hair. Laxmi’s mother helps her recognize that hair grows everywhere, not just on top of one’s head, and that all people, no matter their gender, have body and facial hair. I love the way Mom addresses Laxmi’s concern by showing her how much pride can be found in the hair above her lip (called her “mooch,”) and how many strong women before her celebrated their facial hair. The tone is always positive, it never dismisses or diminishes Laxmi’s frustration, and it empowers not just Laxmi, but all children, to embrace their unique characteristics.

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What a treasure of a book! This beauty uses fry bread, a staple food among many native tribes around the country, to describe family, community and even history. Fry Bread is a celebratory ode to tradition, while simultaneously depicting the important role this food continues to have as a means to promote unity among Native Americans. Beautiful prose, beautiful illustrations, and beautiful sentiment abound in this story that has a vital place on children’s bookshelves around the country!

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In this captivating story, shy Zura brings her Grandmother to school for Grandparent’s Day. But Zura’s nervous. Her grandmother is not a dentist or a fisherman. She’s nothing like the other grandparents, in fact, because she was raised in Ghana and has traditional tribal markings on her face. Zura is anxious that her grandmother will make the other families feel uncomfortable. But leave it to Nana Akua to explain how her markings make her special — and to make all the kids in class feel special thanks to a quilt of traditional African symbols and a little bit of face paint. This story leaves me mesmerized with every read and is a wonderful children’s book about grandparents, too!

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Joy exudes from each page of this beautiful celebration of Japanese culture and traditions – not to mention families and bodies of all shapes and sizes! In this loving story, one young girl accompanies her aunties and grandmother to the traditional bathhouse. Once they arrive, the pre-bathing rituals of hair washing and back bathing begin, followed by the big barrel drum roll. Then, its that precious time when all the women – with bodies big and small and saggy and skinny and young and old – ease themselves into the warm bath. Their joy is palpable! We love this story of the love between women of all generations as they engage in special traditions with family.

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Bindu loves wearing her bindis, and she looks forward to getting the bindis her grandmother sends her from India each month. She loves the way they help her express herself! When Nani comes to visit, she arrives just in time for the talent show and to help Bindu overcome her fear of being unique and different from her classmates. With some encouragement from Nani, Bindu also conquers her worries about performing in front of others. This book celebrates intergenerational bonds while also honoring Indian culture and artwork. It is joyful to read, with vibrant illustrations that uplift the story, even when Bindu’s discomfort threatens to derail her goals.

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This is a beautiful bedtime book that celebrates all the fun two children have while getting ready for bed as they visit their grandparents in India. Whether listening to captivating stories or partaking in rituals and traditions in the puja room, the family shares special moments with one another, capturing the universality of bedtime routines, the love between grandparents and grandchildren, and the wonder that, without fail, always accompanies the night sky.

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Finally! A book for all kids that touches upon Judaism and Yiddish that is modern and fun and oh so refreshing! We simply adore this book about two unlikely friends who are as opposite as can be. Gitty always looks on the bright side of things, and Kvetch – well, he just kvetches a lot and has a really hard time staying positive. But when some bad weather rains on Gitty’s parade, will Kvetch be able to lift her spirits? We love the way Yiddish words are woven into the text, making this not just a fun and joyful read, but educational and inclusive, too. Fantastic!

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This is a wonderful story that celebrates art, rebellion and the notion that you simply can’t judge a bird by its feathers. When a young artist draws birds and bird houses in corresponding colors, she seeks to match them up, putting the blue bird in the blue house and on and on. But hold on a minute! The birds suddenly revolt and don’t want to go where they are told, so they start rebelling by swapping houses. What if the blue bird doesn’t belong in the blue house after all? I absolutely love the way this diverse picture book challenges assumptions and conveys a message of getting to know others before boxing them into a corner based on first impressions.

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Each Christmas, Rosie’s abuela, mama, tia and all her cousins gather together to make tamales in Abuela’s kitchen. The family goes through each step – soaking the husks, removing the silks, adding the filling – and tell stories every step of the way. Through their cooking, Rosie learns not just how to make a delicious tamale, but how to have a delicious life, one that is steeped in love, family and even a little spice. I adore this book, the warm illustrations, the ode to patience and the bilingual text. This is a treasure, and one that will be cherished in libraries around the world.

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Sung to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus, this darling book celebrates a mutligenerational family meal with love and fun! Join the family as they slurp noodles, squish tofu, and tap chopsticks around the table. It’s a fabulous twist on the classic tune, and even includes a food glossary and a guide to Chinese dining etiquette. This is simply fabulous!

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This autobiographical book connects past and present as one child comes to understand the nuances of her immigrant parents. Here, a Chinese family drives through Ohio and stops on the side of the road when they spot watercress growing wild. The girl’s parents make the entire family get out of the car, grab bags, and wade in the muck to collect as much as of the snail covered watercress as possible. The girl feels shame and embarrassment, ducking her head as cars pass them on the road so as to hide from view. But when her mother shares a memory of her old life in China, the child comes to understand the significance of the watercress— and her heritage too. This book conveys the beauty of immigration and tradition, and how becoming present in your new world never means you have to entirely let go of the old one. Exquisite!

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