Favorite Diverse Children’s Books

Thank you to Cheap Essays for sponsoring this post.

We want our children to be kind.  In a cultural melting pot like Singapore, there’s no ‘one-size fits all’.

To encourage empathy and acceptance, there is no better way to introduce children to diversity, and than by reading a good book. Try these books suggestions from Cheap Essays that you can find at your local bookstore or library for your little bookworms – after all, variety is the spice of life!

Favorite Diversity Children Books

Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship by Irene Latham and Charles Waters uses a fictional setup to delve into different experiences of race in a relatable way. As two classmates work together on their fifth-grade poetry project, they don’t know each other… and they’re not sure they want to.

They explore topics such as hair, hobbies, and of course, family dinners. This relatable book gives you the words to address how to seamlessly integrate different cultures, family backgrounds in the classroom, on the playground, or simply anywhere.

I would encourage multiracial families to use this book to have courageous conversations about both the strengths and hardships of a multiracial family. However, this poignant book will help ALL children reflect on friendships, experiences, hardships, as well as unintentional micro-aggressions.

I love how the book does not end perfectly. Instead, there is an acknowledgment that Irene and Charles aren’t perfect friends.

More importantly, however, they listen and keep asking questions. This is one of the MOST important issues as we navigate as a multiracial family. [poetry picture book, ages 8 and up]

Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung is a perfect way to empower multiracial children to embrace their beautiful heritage that makes them unique.

In the beginning, there were three colors . . .
Reds,
Yellows,
and Blues.
All special in their own ways, all living in harmony until one day, a Red says “Reds are the best!” and starts a color kerfuffle. When the colors decide to separate, is there anything that can change their minds?

A Yellow, a Blue, and a never-before-seen color might just save the day in this inspiring book about color, tolerance, and embracing differences. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

The Deaf Musicians by Pete Seeger and Paul Dubois Jacobs

Lee plays the piano all snazzy style like plink-a-plink-BOMP-yimbatimba-TANG—zang-zang. But he’s losing his hearing, so he can’t hear his bandmates’ notes. He has to leave the band because “Who will listen to a deaf musician?” A must read-aloud book for kids who will be absolutely jazzed to hear Lee’s new band – The Deaf Musicians. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

El Deafo by Cece Bell

Winner of the Newbery Honor and Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids in 2015, El Deafo is a graphic novel based on Cece’s own childhood and how her world changes when she loses her hearing. This makes fitting in and making friends all the more difficult, but she discovers her hearing aid is like a superpower: she can hear all the teacher’s secrets. This makes her the superhero El Deafo! Over time, Cece learns how to use her ‘superpowers’ and make friends (and even a sidekick). [graphic novel, ages 9 and up]

Seal Surfer by Michael Foreman

Ben and his grandpa visit the seals every season. They live by the beach under a cliff. Being in a wheelchair doesn’t prevent Ben from going to see the seals. Through all four seasons, Ben and his grandpa visit the seals, feed them fish, play music to them, and even surf with them! Seal Surfer explores themes of life and death through seals. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

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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
    • 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 longlist
    • 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