Children’s Books for Diversity
Children’s Books for Diversity: (Updated 2020)
I’ve retitled and reposted this article. Originally, it was written to celebrate Black History month. But right now, Summer 2020, we are moving beyond just one black history month to racial justice every day of every month. Black Lives Matter.
I don’t claim this to be a comprehensive list of books that directly address the serious racial equality issues we are facing. There are far better resources for this, such as The Brown Bookshelf resource list.
This list includes some of the transformative and inspiring African-American stories reviewed on Litkidz that celebrate Black Lives and diversity in many forms. For a more extensive book list, check out the yearly winners of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards.
This is an exquisite book, which shows the power of poetry to uplift. It is also an excellent children’s book for understanding the experience called the “Great Migration” of African-Americans that took place after the war.
Aside from breaking through the social barriers of race and magic, this children’s book stands on its own as a wonderful romp into dragons, time travel, and witches. Written intentional to bring African-American heroes into the children’s world of fantasy.
A challenging and moving book for older children about teenage love, which is clearly color-blind, and race-blind, and filled with challenges.
Leaving Gee’s BendBeautiful
book based on the true lives of the quilter’s in a black community in rural Alabama in 1932; historical fiction, with an inspiring message
A mystery based on a true experience and real characters.
Flying Lessons and Other Stories
A collection of short stories for diversity in reading
Addy, 1864: American Girl Series
Living in the world of slavery, through the eyes of a young girl
A phenomenally rich story of growing up in Black America in the 1930’s
The Watson’s go to Birmingham – 1963
A beautiful story of a black family that winds up in Birmingham when the church is bombed.
The reality of slavery; best for 12 and over
Growing up in a middle-class black family; an honest, authentic book of ordinary life
March: Book One, Two and Three
A graphic novel about the civil rights movement as seen and experienced through John Lewis.
Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis
Illustrated children’s book about John Lewis’s formative years.
A compelling look at the desegregation in Little Rock, and its impact on children
The Grandma is white and the granddaughter (Mikayla) is biracial. The book shows the love between the two and is a great resource for blended families.