Please welcome my guest author today, Erin Danilile Russell with a list of 10 Biracial Picture Books. Her newest book is Seoul Food, a picture book that reflects her own biracial Black and Korean heritage.
Seoul Food by Erin Danielle Russell, illustrated by Tamisha Anthony
Seoul Food is a heartwarming story about a biracial girl who joyfully celebrates her Black and Korean cultures, geared towards children ages three to seven and their families and educators.
When a little girl named Hana learns her two sets of grandparents are coming to visit, she decides to honor them with a scrumptious dinner that reflects their Black and Korean backgrounds. But what should she make? She reminisces about Grandma and Grandpa Williams’ savory gumbo from the South and Halmoni and Harabeoji’s spicy stew from her visit to South Korea and comes up with a dish that makes everyone proud. More information here. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
We are giving away 3 copies of Seoul Food, with stickers, bookmarks, and bookplates that Erin can sign to three winners. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom.
———
A little about me– I’m a children’s author and former co-author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Dork Diaries middle-grade book series. I am also the author of the picture book, How to Trick the Tooth Fairy. As a Black woman married to a Korean American man, I came up with the idea for Seoul Food while on my motherhood journey. I wanted to write a story my future child could enjoy and identify with, and my hope is that young readers celebrate what makes them unique, express their creativity, and learn something new about a different culture.
Ten Biracial Picture Books
1. I Can Be All Three by Salima Alikhan, Illustrated by Noor Sofi
A girl of Indian, German, and American heritage must create a project for school that tells the story of who she is. Instead of picking one culture to represent, she chooses to represent all three parts of her identity because they are equally important to her. This book teaches multiracial children that they don’t have to choose one part of their identity over another and embrace all that they are. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
2. The Truth About Dragons by Julie Leung, Illustrated by Hanna Cha
A boy of Asian and European descent goes on an imaginative journey through his mother’s bedtime story and discovers two different worlds with magnificent dragons. This book uses Asian and European mythology to tell a bicultural story in a fun and unique way. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
3. Honeysmoke by Monique Fields, Illustrated by Yesenia Moises
When a girl who is half Black and half white can’t find a crayon color that matches her skin tone, she creates her own color, called “honeysmoke.” This book is about carving out your own path when there isn’t one made for you and defining your identity on your own terms. [picture book, ages 3 and up]
4. One Hundred Percent Me by Renee Macalino Rutledge, Illustrated by Anita Prades
On a day out with her family, a biracial girl encounters curious strangers who ask her where she is from or what her ethnicity is. She proudly answers that she is Puerto Rican, Filipino, mixed, and “one hundred percent me.” This book is about having confidence in who you are as a multicultural person. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
5. Beautiful You, Beautiful Me by Tasha Spillett, Illustrated by Salini Perera
When a half-Black and half-Latina girl notices she looks different from her mother, her mother teaches her to love her own features which are equally as beautiful. This book is great for explaining to a child why they may look different from their parents and encourages them to embrace their uniqueness. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
6. Beach Hair by Ashley Woodfolk, Illustrated by Niña Mata.
On a trip to the beach, a curly-haired biracial child (whose gender is not specified) people with all types of beach hair—twisty, twirly, glossy, flossy, and barely-there hair. This book is about joy, self-acceptance, and the diversity of people and hair. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
7. Ojiichan’s Gift by Chieri Uegaki, Illustrated by Genevieve Simms
A half-Dutch, half-Japanese girl spends her childhood between North America, where she lives with her parents, and Japan, where she lives with her ojiichan (grandfather) and helps him tend to his Japanese rock garden. When her ojiichan can no longer care for the garden, she carries on his tradition in her own way. This book is about multicultural and multigenerational family relationships and carrying on cultural traditions. [picture book, ages 3 and up]
8. I am Flippish by Leslie V. Ryan, Illustrated by Adolph Soliz
A brown, biracial boy brings his white father to school and his classmates ask him why he doesn’t look like his dad. When he asks his parents about his ancestry, they tell him he’s “Flippish” (half-Filipino and half-Irish), and that he has the best parts of both sides of his family. This book encourages multicultural children to come up with their own words to describe themselves, like “Flippish,” and wear them with pride. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
9. Jalapeño Bagels by Natasha Wing, Illustrated by Robert Casilla
A boy must choose what to bring to school for International Day that represents his culture. While helping his Mexican mother and Jewish father out at their bakery, he decides on jalapeno bagels, because they’re a mixture of both parents, just like himself. This book includes two, tasty recipes for Jalapeno bagels and Mexican chango bars. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
10. Marvelous Maravilloso by Carrie Lara, Illustrated by Christine Battuz
A half-white, half-Latina girl finds beauty in the natural colors of the countryside where her grandma lives, the bright colors of the city where her abuela lives, and the skin colors of the people around her. This book teaches children that skin tones, love, and families come in many beautiful colors, and without them, the world would be a dull place. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
3 Book GIVEAWAY of Seoul Food + Signed Swag
We are giving away 3 copies of Seoul Food, with stickers, bookmarks, and bookplates that Erin can sign to three winners. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter below. We can only ship to U.S. and A.F.O. addresses.
Erin Danielle Russell is the author of Seoul Food (Viking) and How to Trick the Tooth Fairy (Aladdin). She is also the former coauthor of the Dork Diaries middle-grade book series. She knew she wanted to be an author since she was 6, and spent her childhood writing stories about her imaginary friend, Melody, and anime fanfiction. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, son, and pet teddy bear, Stanley. To learn more, follow her on Instagram: erindrussell and Tiktok: erindrussell.
To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
p.s. Related posts:
Multiethnic Families/Biracial Characters #DiverseKidLit
154 Japanese American Books for Kids & Teens
Tough Topics to talk to kids using A Kids Book About …
Creating a Diverse & Inclusive Family Library at Tough Talk Tuesday
A Unit to Teach Kids About Microaggressions
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.
My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- California Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Honor Book Award
- Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
I don’t think I have read any yet. Time to make a list
I can’t think of any favorite books on biracial families, but as I was reading the descriptions of these wonderful books, I kept thinking of children in our extended family who would have been comforted by these stories over the years. Some of them would have seen themselves exactly on the pages–my nieces with their blend of Filipino father/pale, redhead mother, for example–while others would have just so appreciated reading a book in which the main character didn’t look like their blonde, blue-eyed aunt (me). I am so thankful these books exist now! When I get discouraged over the state of the world, I see changes like this and know we are headed in a better direction.
no fav
This might be my favorite for Korea.
I can’t think of any books in those genres. I always try & win the children’s books for my friends medical clinic for low income families. She always encourages the kids to read.
The readers at my school are crazy about the Mindy Kim series, which focuses on a Korean-American girl. They also enjoy The Truth About Dragons.
I don’t have a favorite book on biracial families. I haven’t seen many books on this topic, but I’m always on the lookout for good ones.
My littles like Mixed Me.
Such great recommendations on much-needed books! Thank you!