Perfect Picture Books
I haven’t been reading and recommending picture books lately, but thought it might be helpful to share some that include other cultures, immigrants, and books about acceptance of those who are “different.” I strongly believe that exposing young children to these topics will help them understand our beautiful diverse world better. And perhaps there will be a little less “othering.”
Little Bird Laila (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2025)
by Kelly Yang and illustrated by Xindi Yan
New (HarperCollins, 2025)
by Niña Mata
So Loud! (Annick Press, 2024)
by Sahar Golshan and illustrated by Shiva Delsooz
The Light Within You (Two Lions, 2023)
by Namita Moolani Mehra and illustrated by Kamala Nai
American Desi (Little, Brown and Company, 2022)
by Jyoti Rajan Gopal and illustrated by Supriya Kelka
Powwow Day (Charlesbridge, 2022)
by Traci Sorell and illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight
The Capybaras (Greystone Kids, 2021)
by Alfredo Soderguit
Swashby and the Sea (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020)
by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
When Your Daddy’s a Soldier (Viking Books for Young Readers, October 2022)
by Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan and illustrated by EG Keller
The Star Festival (Albert Whitman & Company, 2021)
by Moni Ritchie Hadley and illustrated by Mizuho Fujisawa
Federico and the Wolf (Clarion Books, 2020)
by Rebecca J. Gomez and illustrated by Elisa Chavarri
Let’s Dance! (Boyds Mill & Kane, 2020)
by Valerie Bolling and illustrated by Maine Diaz
No Party Poopers (little bee books, 2020)
by Gretchen McLellan and illustrated by Lucy Semple
Ohana Means Family (Neal Porter Books, 2020)
by Ilima Loomis and illustrated by Kenard Pak
A Friend for Henry (Chronicle Books, 2019)
by Jenn Bailey and illustrated by Mika Song
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story (Roaring Brook Press, 2019)
by Kevin Noble Maillard and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
