Recommended Children's Books
It can be hard to sift through all of the fantastic children's books to find books specifically for young children. Here are some wonderful examples, (compiled by topic), in collaboration with friend and colleague, Clementine Hess.
Books About Gender:
My Princess Boy, by Cheryl Kilodavis
Affectionate story written by a mother about her son who likes to wear a dress and be a princess. Simple story and pictures. Includes children acting mean, and asks for the reader to be kind.
I Am Jazz, by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings
This story is told by a transgender girl who is very girly. There is some gender essentialism (equating feminine gender expression with female gender identity), but as part of a broader diet of books that include gender diversity, this book is a classic. Deals with teasing.
I’m A Girl, by Yasmeen Ismail
A rambunctious, messy, loud mouse keeps getting misgendered as a boy. Simple text, mostly consisting of the repeated phrase, “I’m a girl!” The subtly of the gender identity probably slips past most preschoolers on the first read-through, but this is a great book for re-reading and showing gender-nonconformity.
Julian Is A Mermaid, by Jessica Love
Beautiful illustrations with a variety of women’s body types. No bullying in the story (so many books about gender non-conforming children include bullying). Very preschool appropriate. Focuses on a boy who likes mermaids and pretends to be one.
English books about Spanish speakers:
My Little Car, by Gary Soto
A playful story about a girl in a middle class family and her toy car. Lots of Mexican slang woven into the English story. Talks about taking responsibility for the care of one’s toys.
Kitchen Dance, by Maurie J. Manning
Playful story about two children discovering their parents dancing in the kitchen after they have supposedly gone to bed. Heart-warming, simple, calming for children to listen to.
Books Celebrating the Lives of Black and Brown People:
Kevin and His Dad, by Irene Smalls
Sweet story, realistically illustrated. Loving relationship between father and son. Everyday activities. Irene Smalls also has many other fantastic children’s books.
Black All Around, by Patricia Hubbell
A girl names all the black things she loves. This book is a relatively indirect way of addressing skin color. Black is too often used to describe scary or evil things. This book turns that notion on its head.
Books Featuring Muslims:
Mommy’s Khimar, by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Heart-warming story about a girl playing with her mother’s khimar, or head scarf. Beautiful illustrations, simple, loving, playful.
Deep in the Sahara, by Kelly Cunnane
A girl in Mauritania wants to wear a malafa, a Muslim article of clothing. Her mother finally explains that wearing the malafa is about faith.
Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors, by Hena Khan
Each page features rhymes about aspects of life as a Muslim.
Books About Life in Non-U.S. Countries:
Splash, Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke
A child in Africa walks around the beach asking various family members to swim with her. Gentle story about family love.
Mystery Bottle, by Kristen Balouch
Beautiful illustrations. A child and grandparent exchange mail between the U.S. and Iran. Nice book for theme on maps or mail. Overhead views of geographical areas.
Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building, by Christy Hale
Beautifully illustrated drawings of children around the world constructing buildings from various materials to look like landmarks in their countries. The back of the book includes biographies of the architects of the landmarks.
Mei-Mei Loves the Morning, by Margaret Holloway Tsubakiyama
Simple, sweet story about a girl in China going about her morning routine with her grandfather.
Books About Death, Dying and Letting Go:
When A Pet Dies, by Mr. Rogers
Mister Rogers helps children share feelings of the loss of a pet while offering reassurance that grieving is a natural, healing thing to do. A sensitive and sensible first book about death.
The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, by Judith Viorst
In preparation for having a funeral for his cat, Barney, a young child can only think of nine good things about Barney. Later, while talking with his father, he discovers the tenth -- and begins to understand.
Bye-Bye Old Buddy, by Deborah Robison
Jenny decides that it's time to give up her beloved security blanket, but she doesn't know what to do with it--until she thinks of a very special send-off.
Books About Family Structure:
A Tale of Two Mommies, by Vanita Oelschlager
A Special Trade, by Sally Wittman
As the years go by a young child is able to care for an elder in meaningful ways similar to how the elder had cared for the young child.
Books About Adoption:
A Mother for Choco, by Keiko Kasza
This book shows that family is about love no matter how different parents and children may be, adopted or not. We like to edit it by adding words like, “she thinks she couldn’t be his mother” because she looked different. While the end of the story teaches that having the same appearance isn’t necessary to be someone’s mother, young children still absorb the opposite message if you wait until the end to say it. So with that minor adjustment, this is a fantastic story for young children.
How I Was Adopted, by Joanna Cole
A joyful story about love and how a child was adopted. At the end, the story invites young readers to share how they were adopted.
Books About Families:
The New Baby, by Mr. Rogers
It can be tough for a toddler to understand the changes that happen in a family with the addition of a new baby. Mr. Rogers will help older siblings understand that they are not loved any less and to anticipate all the joy that having a younger sibling can bring.