By Jingyuan Sun, Fanshawe College, Early Childhood Leadership. Jingyuan wrote this during her Parents2Partners internship. She believes strong leaders and educators build positive connections with colleagues and families so children can grow up healthy.
Picture books are one of the easiest ways to help young children see and celebrate differences. These 15 favorites celebrate diverse families, cultures, and identities.
- Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers. Babies are loved and cherished wherever they come from.
- The Family Book by Todd Parr. Every kind of family is special because of the love they share.
- The Colors of Us by Karen Katz. A girl discovers the beautiful range of skin tones in her neighborhood.
- All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold. A school where children from every background belong.
- Shades of People by Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly. Photos celebrate the many shades of skin.
- Whose Toes Are Those? by Jabari Asim. A playful celebration of little toes.
- The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Peter’s classic winter adventure shows that joy and wonder are universal.
- Be Who You Are by Todd Parr. Encourages children to be true to themselves.
- The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler. Celebrates diversity and self acceptance.
- It’s Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr. Teaches acceptance and kindness.
- The Barefoot Book of Children by Tessa Strickland and Kate DePalma. Explores the lives of children around the world.
- Same, Same But Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki Shaw. Two pen pals discover what they share and what makes them unique.
- A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara O’Leary. Love is what makes a family.
- The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi. A new student learns to love her Korean name.
- I Am Enough by Grace Byers. An uplifting message about self love and worth.