The lack of diversity in children’s literature is a problem that affects all children, especially children from low-income families, who rarely see themselves, their families, or their communities in the stories they read. First Book
The lack of diversity in children’s books is alarming and I am pledging to promote more multicultural books for kids. So today for Picture Book of the Day, I am giving away three diverse picture books for children to three winners!
How Far Do You Love Me? by Lulu Delacre
Travel around the world to special places with families of all races and ethnicities in this charming book that speaks to boundless love between a parent and a child.
Locations include The Grand Canyon (Arizona, USA), Cenote Dzitnup (Yucatan, Mexico), Machu Pichu (Andes Mountain Range, Peru), glacier (Antarctic Penisula, Antarctica), Serengeti Plain (Tanzania), Sinai Peninsula (Egypt), Provence (France), Alps Mountain Range (Switzerland), and more.
Think of this as an international armchair travel version of Guess How Much I Love You?
Picture Books About Africa
Hugo Hippo’s ABC Fun Book in Africa by Gail A. Porter, illustrated by James Okello
Hugo the Hippo traverses the continent of Africa in a fun, alliterative way.
D d
Here’s Hugo …
driving a dik-dik
to a dance
in Dar-es-Sallam
Beneath the Rainbow: A Collection of Children’s Stories and Poems from Kenya Volume 1
A collection of poems and stories from Kenya preserves an oral tradition of folktales spun in a modern way.
Thank you to my Twitter friend @laurentobia for this suggestion!
Anna’s Hibiscus by Atinuke
Early chapter books set in modern Africa about a middle-class family are hard to find in this country. Early chapter books that deftly handle the difficult issues of poverty, class, and economics are even rarer. Nigerian-born Atinuke’s series about young Anna Hibiscus and her large extended family do these things with grace and humor. Originally published in England, the first two are now available here. Anna Hibiscus lives in “Africa—amazing Africa,” in a city of “lagoons and bridges . . . skyscrapers and shantytowns.” Her mother is from Canada, her father is from Africa, and she has twin baby brothers, Double and Trouble. Each of the four chapters tells a complete story and, while presenting clear cultural differences, explores themes that are universal and child-centered. A story about selling oranges from a family tree is of special interest as a resource for primary classrooms with economics benchmarks. Never didactic, the fluid storytelling is enhanced by Tobia’s charming illustrations. While it is disappointing that a specific country is never identified, the book’s strong features make it noteworthy. Grades 1-3. –Lynn Rutan –This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Thank you to Erin for leaving these great suggestions in the comments below:
Tikki Tikki Tembo retold by Arlene Mosel
We love this book too and my kids love rattling off his very long name which they have memorized with great delight! I have learned recently though that Tikki Tikki Tembo is problematic.
The Moccasin Goalie by William Roy Brownridge
Where Is Gah-Ning? by Robert Munsch
Whoever You Are by Mem Fox
If the World Were a Village: A Book About the World’s People by David J. Smith
Author Barbara Mojica had this great suggestion:
Four Feet Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed
When relief workers bring used clothing to a refugee camp in Pakistan, ten-year-old Lina is thrilled when she finds a sandal that fits her foot perfectly – until she sees that another girl has the matching shoe. But soon Lina and Feroza meet and decide that it is better to share the sandals than for each to wear only one. The girls discover the true meaning of friendship and sacrifice. “Four Feet, Two Sandals” honors the experiences of refugee children around the world, whose daily existence is marked by uncertainty and fear. Warm colors and bold brush strokes are the perfect complements to this story of courage and hope.
Debbie R. has these great suggestions!
1. Tales of Wisdom and Wonder is nice and contains folk tales from around the world.
2. We’re Sailing Down the Nile
3. Barefoot Book of Buddhist Tales
4. The Wise Fool Fables from the Islamic World
5. Fireside Stories
6. One City, Two Brothers
7. A Calendar of Festivals: Celebrations From Around the World
8. The Girl With A Brave Heart
Diverse Picture Book Giveaway
The three books for the giveaway are:
How Far Do You Love Me? by Lulu Delacre
Hugo Hippo’s ABC Fun Book in Africa by Gail A. Porter, illustrated by James Okello
Beneath the Rainbow: A Collection of Children’s Stories and Poems from Kenya Volume 1
Please pick one and leave the name in the comments. Additionally, I’d love to hear what your favorite multicultural book. Please share!
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p.s. Related posts:
Multicultural Book Lists for Kids
White Privilege Books for Kids
A Unit on Skin Color: Children’s Books & Videos
Immigration and the Refugee Experience Books for Kids
50 Must Read Diversity Picture Books
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My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Beneath the Rainbow: A Collection of Children’s Stories and Poems from Kenya Volume 1
Hi Valerie,
Thank you so much for entering!
How far do you love me?
Thanks so much for entering Asianmommy!
Cool, Mia. I like that you’re focusing on this- I’m surprised at the low percentages. I think about when we were kids and there was virtually no diversity in picture books.
Hi Artchoo!,
I remember those days. It was impossible when I was a kid to find an Asian American on TV or in a children’s book. When Joy Luck Club came out, I was trembling, I was so excited. I bought the hard copy even though I didn’t much $ at the time because it was a first for me to see books about my family story. I still have it. My mom says it’s collectible as a first edition LOL!
I think the greatest need is for books that include native Americans and Canadians. As a teacher when I read picture books to my students, I see some diversity but definitely not enough and definitely a rarity to see a First Nations person in a child’s picture book or in an older student’s novel.
Some of my favourite books are:
Tikki Tikki Tembo retold by Arlene Mosel
The Moccasin Goalie by William Roy Brownridge
Where Is Gah-Ning? by Robert Munsch
Whoever You Are by Mem Fox
If the World Were a Village: A Book About the World’s People by David J. Smith.
The last book is one of my and my students’ favourites because you learn so much about our world community.
Thanks Erin,
I am adding yours to the list right now!
Anna’s Hibiscus sounds interesting to me.
I wish there were more picture/chapter books about the Latino culture.
I see a great need at my children’s school district for that. It may help
in a common understanding of each other’s lives.
Hi Kim,
I have a Top 10 Latino American book list here for you: http://www.pragmaticmom.com/2010/09/top-10-best-latino-american-children%E2%80%99s-books-ages-2-16/
If you have any suggestions, I’ll add them to that list as well. Thanks for your great suggestion! I know, we need to up the ante for all people of color children’s books and getting the word out is the first step.
There are so many books listed here that I’m not sure which three are being given away but the one I am most interested in is How Far Do You Love Me?
Hi Mama Karen,
Sorry, I got so excited and started adding all the great books. I can see how it is confusing.
The givewaway books are:
How Far Do You Love Me? by Lulu Delacre
Hugo Hippo’s ABC Fun Book in Africa by Gail A. Porter, illustrated by James Okello
Beneath the Rainbow: A Collection of Children’s Stories and Poems from Kenya Volume 1
Recently read Four Feet Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed about refugee children.
Thanks Barbara!
I’m adding it to the list! I’ve been meaning to email you … would you like to guest post for me? You can talk about your new book and if you want, I can do a Q and A with you. I tried to find your book at home but I’m not sure why it’s not on my pile. Did you give me a PDF? I really want to read it.
Whoever You Are is one of my favorites – I wrote about it way back when I was a new blogger.I think that How Far Do You Love Me sounds fantastic!
Hi MaryAnne,
I like how there are so many small coincidences … and that you liked Whoever You Are too! Thanks for entering the giveaway!
You should ( if you haven’t already) check out books put out by Barefoot Books their titles are very culturally diverse!
Hi Debbie R.,
What a great suggestion! I am going to visit them this month so thank you for that reminder. Yes, they have wonderful books with diversity themes! Which ones do you like?
I have several of their titles( Barefoot Books) full disclosure…I have considered selling their products but haven’t taken the leap yet. With that being said, we own several titles…1. Tales of Wisdom and Wonder is nice and contains folk tales from around the world. 2. We’re Sailing Down the Nile. 3.The Barefoot Book of Buddhist Tales. 4. The Wise Fool Fables from the Islamic World. 5.Fireside Stories. 6. One City, Two Brothers. 7. A Calendar of Festivals Celebrations From Around the World. 8. The Girl With A Brave Heart.
These are just a few of my favorites. but there are so many wonderful titles. We are a blended family and these titles help me to teach my child that everyone is different and yet we are all still the same at heart( inherently good), these are important lessons for my child. I am a Christian white American with a German heritage, my husband is fromJordan and is Muslim and we want tolerance to be key in our child’s upbringing. thanks for asking which titles wer good for us.
Hi Debbie,
Thank you for your wonderful book list. I’m adding it to the post! We are a blended family of sorts too. My kids are Chinese, Japanese and Korean. I love multicultural books for learning about other cultures as well as doing this through food and travel! I do think it works to teach kids tolerance as well!
Strange because I think it is so much more interesting to read about different cultures!
Publishing companies should recruit maybe.
I think we would pick the Hippo ABC, we love alphabet books!
Hi Ann,
I love to read about different cultures too but I guess I need to start buying more of those books instead of checking them out of the library. Thanks for entering!
I’d love How Far Do You Love Me?
My favorite multicultural children’s book is Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore and Kristi Valiant. A sweet book that reminds me of my childhood!
Hi Maruxa,
Thank you for entering and for your great book suggestion! You must be Filipino? I love pancit too!
I am! Filipino-Chinese-Puerto Rican-Jamaican (my mother) and Spanish (father) 🙂 A big mix!
Hi Maruxa,
I’m half Japanese and half Chinese and I married a Korean! I’m a mixed plate too!
The Girl With the Brave Heart, How Far Do You Love Me. I’d love to add any of the books you mentioned to my daughter’s book collection they all sound great!
Thanks so much for entering Stephanie!
You come up with the best book lists! Will be passing this list on to my daughter for her school library. Thanks for sharing on the Kid Lit Blog Hop! Cheryl, Hop Hostess
Thanks so much for hosting the wonderful Kid Lit Blog Hop Cheryl! And for your kind words!
Wow, the statistics you have there about the lack of diversity in children’s books is shocking. I wonder of the books that do include people of color, how many of them are focused on culture or country of origins, and how many are stories where the characters just happen to be of color. I hope there’s a balance of both.
I’m in Canada, so some of my favorite multicultural books are about native Canadians. One is called When I Was Eight, and it tells about an inuit girl going to a residential school.
Of the three you list in the giveaway, the one about stories from Kenya sounds most interesting to me.
Hi Christy,
I know! Shocking! Especially with the demographics of the United States that show a growing middle class of Latino Americans and Asian Americans! I am going to try to promote more diversity books for kids henceforth!!
Thanks for your great book recommendation. I’ll add it to my post of diversity books recommended by readers!
All great suggestions Mia! I’m a little slow hopping around on the Kid Lit Blog Hop – sorry I missed your giveaway. My sis was visiting! 🙂
Hi Renee,
Thanks for coming by. I totally understand, from your blog, I can see that you have a lot of your plate with a lot of giveaways yourself on some fantastic books!
Beneath the Rainbow sounds like fun even before we read it! I loved your suggestions and can’t wait to add them to my collection! Thanks so much!