The first time I saw an interracial family portrayed in any medium was during my first year of teaching in 2019 when I came across a beat-up copy of Arnold Adoff’s Black Is Brown Is Tan, published in 1973. I picked up the book instantly because to its loving portrayal of an interracial family.
As a preschool teacher, I teach a unit on families every school year, and while I was happy to see my own reality reflected in a book, I also know that there are many families that are too often ignored in picture books. When was the last time you opened a children’s book that portrayed a happy and loving Egyptian-American family? a modern Cheyenne family? a family with a non-binary gender member? a family with a trans parent? a family with two moms? Unfortunately, a 2018 survey of children’s literature found that a disproportionate number of children’s books still feature white protagonists, and the publishing industry itself also shows a surprising lack of diversity.
You are reading: Diverse books for preschoolers
As teachers and consumers, we cannot control what books are available to our preschool students. however, we can control what we put in front of them. we must reject the idea that a white, heteronormative, upper-middle-class family is “normal” and ensure that all of our students feel that the concept of family is universal, no matter what their family looks like. here is a list of titles that I have found useful.
9 books that celebrate families
Let’s eat!, by Ana Zamorano and Julie Viva: Having dinner together is an important part of many family traditions, and let’s eat! portrays the hustle and bustle of having a large family. Zamorano’s playful prose intertwines Spanish and English as the matriarch of the family constantly laments that every night someone in her family misses dinner, whether it’s the younger siblings playing hide-and-seek or the older ones participating in an intense game of tag. domino. and the illustrations look delicious. this book perfectly captures the joy and energy of gathering for a family meal.
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bintou braids, by sylviane a. Diouf: This story highlights the importance of intergenerational family relationships. Bintou is a girl in Senegal who longs to wear the elaborate hairstyles reserved for adult women in her community, but with the help of her family she learns patience and enjoys being a girl.
chester bear, where art thou?, by peter eyvindson and wendy wolsak-frith: indigenous peoples can often be relegated to another era, too often seen as existing only in the past. This book by Saskatchewan author Peter Eyvindson is a classic “lost teddy bear” story with a Native American family in a modern setting. As in many families, older siblings are a pest and parents are always busy. Wendy Wolsak-Frith’s house illustrations are the only hint of the family’s Native American roots, and the characters are engaging and easy to understand.
julián is a mermaid, from jessica love: when julián tells his grandmother that he wants to be a mermaid, she disapproves at first but quickly changes her mind and supports him. On the surface, this book simply challenges gender norms of what boys can do, but underneath it all, it’s a story about the love affair between a grandmother and her grandson.
mommy’s khimar by jamilah thompkins-bigelow and ebony glenn: this book is about a young muslim girl’s adoration for her mother and how her mother’s khimar, or headscarf, serves as a tangible form of that connection.
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The Different Dragon, by Jennifer Bryan and Danamarie Hosler: While this book may be a bit long for preschoolers, it’s worth reading even if it has to be done in two sittings. In this bedtime story, Noah and one of her moms create a fantasy world. The story touches on the importance of acceptance and mental health while normalizing a queer relationship and throwing in some dragons to boot!
It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book on Gender Identity, by Theresa Thorn and Noah Grigni: This book may seem a bit dry to preschoolers, but it breaks down the concepts of gender identity into such simple terms. that anyone can understand. With the help of some beautiful illustrations, it’s a great introduction to this topic for preschoolers.
big red lollipop, by rukhsana khan and sophie blackall: this is a book about one of the most universal human experiences: how awful little siblings can be. tells the story of Rubina, a young Pakistani immigrant. She was invited to her first birthday party and chaos ensues when her mother insists that Rubina take her younger sister.
i am muslim: a letter from a father to his daughter, by mark gonzales and mehrdokht amini: written as a letter from a father to a daughter, this book is a beautiful expression of love from a father to a son. While it addresses specific issues related to the family’s religion and Latinx heritage, it also touches the heart of a father who encourages his son to be strong and proud of who he is.
While this list is not complete or exhaustive, I hope these books start you on the black is brown is tan journey that I started for myself: helping all children understand the beauty of their family.
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