WHAT DO YOU CELEBRATE?
WHAT DO YOU CELEBRATE? by Whitney Stewart features holidays and festivals from different cultures around the world.
From color masqueraders in Brazilian carnival, Dangpai Ai Losar in The Himalayan country of Bhutan to The Day of the day in Mexico this book introduces children to diverse cultures while also celebrating their own.
The illustrations by Christiane Engel are absolutely remarkable.
YOU ARE ENOUGH
As you already know, this page is all about inclusion and diversity, so I was super excited about this book.
YOU ARE ENOUGH by Margaret O’Hair is all about inclusivity. It’s inspired by the beautiful life of talented model Sophia Sanchez, who has Down syndrome.
It features children from all backgrounds, and the bright and colorful illustrations by Sophia Cardoso are going to leave you amazed.
JUST ASK!
JUST ASK! by Sonia Sotomayor is by far the most INCLUSIVE book ever written. It’s a celebration of each child’s unique difference and how by simply asking questions one can make the world a better place.
In the book, Sonia and her friends are planting a garden and like in a garden, every flower and fruit are different, so is every child. It is extremely hard to read this book without crying because it features children from all walks of life.
The book celebrates the beauty of being different, and how being different can change how people view the world. This book is extremely important and should be in EVERY SINGLE HOME, whether you have children or not. Apart from the vibrant, exuberant and vivid illustrations by Rafael Lopez, there are so many things to love about this book. It encourages children, and people in general, to embrace diversity and individuality. I love that it portrayed and highlighted the strength of the children who some people might think are weak. I absolutely love that. THAT’S THE BEAUTY OF BEING DIFFERENT.
JUST ASK is the perfect book for teachers, educators and a great addition to our favorite book-list. Diversity makes the world interesting and fun. JUST ASK! AGE: 4-8
ALL ARE WELCOME
ALL ARE WELCOME by Alexandra Penfold is an amazing book about Diversity and Inclusivity. This book features children of all races and cultural backgrounds at a school that is warm and welcoming.
They go through the day supporting, playing and learning with each other and everyone just looks so happy. I love books about inclusivity and diversity because it teaches children to accept and support people who may not look like them.
The illustrations by Suzanne Kaufman is absolutely stunning and full of vibrant colors that capture the essence of the book. It even features a poster of all cultures that I will share in my story. AGE:2-4
LOVE MAKES A FAMILY
LOVE MAKES A FAMILY by Sophie Beer is a book about all the ways you can show love.
Whether it’s baking a special cake, playing outside with mommy and daddy, or lending a helping hand, family is about support and love.
With vibrant illustrations that are captivating and engaging, this lovely book portrays a family in all its forms.
EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS
EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS by Joanna Ho is such a heartwarming ode to family, told through the eyes of an Asian girl.
Her eyes aren’t like her friend’s eyes, her eyes kiss at the corners. So do her Mama, Amah, and sister Mei Mei. Through their eyes, she experiences joy and love and stories of her ancestors.
Like most, their eyes say what they feel. From warm eyes that welcome sisterly bonds to eyes that provide hope for the future.
This book is magnificent and is a wonderful celebration of self-acceptance and pride. It celebrates the rich heritage and the strength of Asian culture, and it’s perfect for every classroom.
The illustrations by Dung Ho are absolutely stunning, with vibrant hues that transition through every page. Publisher: Harper Collins AGE 4-8.
A BOY LIKE YOU
Frank Murphy’s A BOY LIKE YOU, is a must-have that is guaranteed to be a household favorite. The cover alone shows how diverse and inclusive it is, and it is clearly one of the best books we have read this entire year.
It celebrates boys and boyhood and the joys that being a boy has to offer. It’s about taking risks and being the best boy you can be, but also allowing yourself to be vulnerable because being a boy doesn’t mean you can’t be. Boys can be tough, but also kind and generous.
We love books that encourage children to explore their curiosity and allow them to be creative and open to new experiences without fear, and this book did not disappoint.
A BOY LIKE YOU is a powerful gem with charming and vibrant illustration by Kayla Harren that transcends the entire essence of the author’s message of diversity, inclusivity and the ultimate celebration of boys. It’s perfect for teachers and educators. AGE:4-10
OUR FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR
OUR FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR by A.E. Ali is another favorite of ours.
It’s Musa’s first day of school, and as he sat in class, he looked at all the new faces who will be his friends and realize that they don’t look the same.
For show and tell they had to talk about their favorite day of the year, so the other classmates can celebrate with them.
Musa loves Eid-al-Fitr, Mo’s favorite Rosh Hashanah, Moisès loved Christmas and Kevin’s favorite day was Pi Day since his family loved science.
They all shared everything about their favorite holiday with the class, and they celebrated with decorations, food, and drinks throughout the school year. When the school year ended, they learned so much about their classmates and became great friends.
This book was clearly one of our favorites this year. We love celebrating diversity and inclusivity. It allows children to appreciate people’s differences.
Teachers also play a very vital role in allowing children to explore their creativity and appreciate other cultures.
The Illustrations by Rahele Jomepour Bell are magnificent with vivid and vibrant textures that breathe life into the message of this book.
FRY BREAD
October is National Native American Heritage Month. It’s a time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions and histories of Native people and to acknowledge the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S.
FRY BREAD by Kevin Noble Maillard celebrates the Native American Heritage by introducing readers to the food that help bring their people together. The book features a grandma preparing the historic meal with her grandchildren. They help with the recipe and ingredients and patiently wait as it savors their senses.
JUST LIKE ME
JUST LIKE ME by Vanessa Brantley-Newton is the most inclusive book of the year so far and features girls from all walks of life and their many attributes.
From country girls to city girls, shy girls to weird girls, they are all celebrated with beautiful poems on vividly illustrated canvas-like pages.
Among other things, each poem celebrates their strengths and promotes body positivity and self-acceptance.
JUST LIKE ME is about sisterhood, love, support, and everything that makes a girl unique.
Vanessa Brantley-Newton’s illustrations are always bright and vibrant, so it adorns each page with paintings that make girls feel welcomed and women feel nostalgic.
This poetic ode to girlhood is a guaranteed favorite for parents and educators and encourages self-love and is a true representation of girls everywhere. If you don’t have this book, you are truly missing out. AGE 6-10
FESTIVAL OF COLORS
I’ve had my very first Holi(called Phagwah in the Caribbean) a couple years ago and it was simply the best.
Holi is the Indian Festival of Colors. It symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and a new beginning.
FESTIVAL OF COLORS by Surishtha Sehgal and Kabir Sehgal is about two siblings, Mintoo and Chintoo as they prepare for Holi. They gather flowers to make powder to toss at each other during the festival. They collect Hibiscus flowers to make red, Orchids to make purple, Marigolds to make orange and Irises because they make blue.
They dry them, remove the pretty petals then grind them to make powder…LOVE IT!! It’s such a fun book to read and a total must-have. Children will love the beautiful, colorful and vibrant illustrations by Vashti Harrison. AGE 4-8
HOW DO YOU SAY GOODNIGHT?
HOW DO YOU SAY GOOD NIGHT by Cindy Jin is a fun new release that can teach children to say good night in different languages and it’s a great way to learn about different cultures around the world.
It’s such a fun and interactive book that’s totally relatable because the words and languages may be different, but they hold the same special meaning for children at bedtime.
Shirley Ng-Benitez’s heartwarming and dreamy illustrations are super cute and take you along on the journey to different countries. A total bedtime favorite. AGE 2-4
IF YOU COME TO EARTH
IF YOU COME TO EARTH by Sophie Blackall is one of the best books of the year and should be in every home and classroom. It features a child writing a letter to a visitor from outer space, preparing them for the adventures awaiting them on earth.
The letter is full of vivid descriptions of homes and the different families that abide in it, the clothes we wear, the foods we eat, and our different modes of transportation.
From the differing climates and cultures to different animals and their characteristics, this book will entice anyone who reads it.
Not only is it diverse and inclusive, but the illustrations are also absolutely magnificent.
With all that’s happening in the world, this book is a reminder of how wonderful the world is and how we can do our part to make it greater. Publisher: Chronicle Books. Age: 4-8
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
A magnificent book that can help with children’s understanding of who they are and where they’re from is WHERE ARE YOU FROM by Yamile Saied Mendez.
He takes her on a heartfelt ancestral journey of life back on the island and tells the story of the gaucho, rivers and mountains and reminisces about the warm beaches and even the hurricanes on the island.
SHUBH DIWALI!
SHUBH DIWALI by Chitra Soundar provides an introduction to the festival of lights called Diwali. It’s celebrated all over the world, and this book portrays that. They clean and decorate the house with mango leaves and light diyas. A tradition that welcome the gods.
Adorned with new saris, the children gathered to hear stories of their gods followed by gift exchanges and yummy dinner and treats.
The illustrations by Charlene Chua are bright and vibrant, making it engaging and fun for all children. AGE:2-4
SAY HELLO!
SAY HELLO by Rachel Isadora reminds me of walking through Brooklyn, New York. It’s about a little girl named Carmelita who walks through her neighborhood with her mommy and dog to visit her grandmother.
As they walk through, she says hello to the people in her neighborhood in many different languages. She says “Shalom” to Mrs.Rosen and her children and “Ciao” to the pizza guy. She even says “Jambo” to her friend Joseph. They all mean Hello.
It’s beautiful when children know different languages and experience different cultures and in this book, Carmelita doesn’t have to go very far to do that.
The book is cute and the illustrations are bright and vivid and perfect for teaching children to say hello in other languages. AGE:2-4
