ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF MULTICULTURAL BOOKS THAT SUPPORT
POSITIVE RACIAL IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT OF
YOUNG CHILDREN
PRESCHOOL: 3-5 Years
Book Name &
Author - 2.5
points
I Love My Hair
By: Natasha
Anastasia
Tarpley
Illustrated by: E.
B Lewis
Book Cover
- 2.5 pts
Annotation - What is the
book about? -5 points
Your Name
A little girl who is getting
her hair done by her mother
and how much it hurts, but
her mother explains how
beautiful it is and shares all
the different styles she can
do. The little girl shares
experiences about her
different hairstyles and how
the other kids react. She
shares how she loves her
hair and how important it is
to her culture
Emma
Liskowitz
Chocolate Me!
By: Taye Diggs
Illustrated by:
Shane W. Evans
Mixed Me!
By: Taye Diggs
Illustrated By:
Shane W. Evans
The Skin You Live
In
By: Michael
Tayler
A little boy who is teased for
not looking the same as
other children. His hair is
different, he has darker skin,
his nose is a little wider. But
then his mom explains to
him why all of those
qualities are amazing and
that no matter what she
loves him.
Erika Webster
A boy named Mike who has
Aaliyah Bradley
biracial parents and is judged
for him and his family looking
different. Mike goes on in the
book explaining how his
parents say he is a perfect
blend of dark and light. He
also expresses how he likes
to play with everyone because
“Why pick one race?”.
This book talks about
children that have
different color skin. They
go out and do different
Maria
Rodriguez
Illustrated by:
David Lee
Csicsko
activities and they can see
that there’s children that
look different and have
different skin color and
features.
It’s okay to be
different
By: Todd Parr
This book talks about being
ok to be different.To be ok
with different body size and
features.They are teaching
young children to be ok
accepting themselves for
who they are.Also to show
them that they are other
children who are different
as well.
Alexis
Gonzalez
Our Skin
by Megan Madison
(Author), Jessica Ralli
(Author), Isabel Roxas
(Illustrator)
“Based on the research that race,
gender, consent, and body positivity
should be discussed with toddlers on
up, this read-aloud board book series
offers adults the opportunity to begin
important conversations with young
children in an informed, safe, and
supported way. Developed by experts
in the fields of early childhood and
activism against injustice, this
topic-driven board book offers clear,
concrete language and beautiful
imagery that young children can
grasp and adults can leverage for
further discussion. While young
children are avid observers and
questioners of their world, adults
often shut down or postpone
conversations on complicated topics
because it's hard to know where to
begin. This first book in the series
begins the conversation on race, with
a supportive approach that considers
both the child and the adult. Stunning
art accompanies the simple and
interactive text, and the backmatter
offers additional resources and ideas
for extending this discussion.”
Tenesha Grace
It’s ok to Be
Different!
by Sharon Purtill
Illustrator: Sujata
Saha
This story talks about
children (people) that are
different. We have different
color hair and different
color skin. Some children
ride cool chairs while others
take the stairs. Some
children are tall, and some
are short. Everyone is
different if everyone acted
the same how would we
know who is who? Different
is cool and beautiful. You
should be kind to everyone
and know that being
different is ok. Never make
fun of someone because
they are different. Everyone
is different in their own way
and that is ok! Let’s learn
from each other difference
but being different is ok.
Tornesha
Griffin
Shades Of
People
By Shelley
Rotner,
Sheila M. Kelly
The Big
Umbrella
By: Amy June
Bates,
Co Written with
Juniper Bates
This book is about example of Hyeran Kang
putting diversity. To describe
how different people. There
are no culture references in
story, the images shown are of
people who come from
different backgrounds but
there are no implications of a
specific culture.
All pictures are no display of
wealth or power so kids can
understand equality.
This is a story of a big
Kreina
umbrella that loves to gather Tiefenbrun
people in it. The umbrella can
fit anyone under it. No matter
what they look like, what size
they are, what color they are,
the umbrella has space for
everyone.
The Name Jar
By: Yangsook
Choi
This Jazz Man
By: Karen
Ehrhardt
Pictures By: R.G.
Roth
“Being the new kid in school is hard
enough, but what happens when nobody
can pronounce your name? Having just
moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious
about fitting in. So instead of introducing
herself on the first day of school, she
decides to choose an American name
from a glass jar. But while Unhei thinks
of being Suzy, Laura, or Amanda,
nothing feels right. With the help of a
new friend, Unhei will learn that the best
name is her own.”
This book is a twist on the nursery
rhyme “This Old Man”. In the book,
children will sing along and learn
about nine African American jazz
artists such as Bojangles and Louis
Armstrong. A short bio of each
musician is also included.
Jessie Piraino
Miranda Oswalt
SCHOOL AGE: 6-8 Years
Book Name &
Author - 2.5
points
The Day You
Began
By: Jacqueline
Woods
Black is a rainbow
color
By: Angela Joy
Book Cover
- 2.5 pts
Annotation - What is the
book about? -5 points
Contributor
This is a sing song book, that
helps kids slowly get used to
new surroundings. Explaining
that there will be times where
you walk into a room and
everyone is different than you
and that’s okay. You have to
keep looking forward.
Alex Hall
The main character in the
Tayshawnna
book(little girl) explains the
Stevens
powerful meaning of being
black and shares a powerful
anthem of black historians that
has a legacy on the life we live
today
Same, Same
but Different
By Jenny
Sue
Kostecki-Sha
w
This story is about two
boys who are pen pals.
They send letters back
and forth from each other.
They talk about their
different hobbies and
interests, and find out
they are alot alike, but are
also very different.
Know Your
Hairitage:
Zara’s Wash
Day
During Zara’s wash day one
week, she questions her
mother as to why she styles
Zara’s hair in certain ways.
Zara’s mother begins to
explain that her hair can tell
a story: the story of her
heritage. Zara’s mother
describes a variety of
traditional African hairstyles
and what they symbolize for
people of African descent
and their ancestry.
Author: Zenda M.
Walker
Illustrator:
Princess Karibo
Tatianna
Neal
Danielle
Mulder
All Different and
Beautiful: A
Children's Book
about Diversity,
Kindness, and
Friendships
By Belle Belrose
We want our children to grow up kind,
confident, happy, and accepting of
others.
We can’t shield them from life’s
painful realities, but we can give them
the tools to navigate these realities
with courage and grace. A powerful
way to impart these lessons is
through stories that reach the mind
and soul.
This is the story of Orion - a happy
and loving young boy. On the first day
of school, he befriends his
classmates despite their differences
and struggles. He approaches all his
new friends at school with an open
mind and a positive attitude and
encourages them to do the same.
The heartwarming, uplifting story
clears the way for important
discussions with our children about
diversity, disability, and the beauty in
each of us.
Every child is unique and beautiful
—they may look different, have a
different culture, interests and
hobbies, or special needs.
Stanesha
Brown
I AM WHOLE
BY: SHOLA OZ
ILLUSTRATED
BY: SHIFA
ANNISA
The Proudest Blue:
A Story of Hijab
and Family
By: Ibtihaj
Muhammad, S.K Ali
Illustrator: Hatem
Aly
Her mom is one race, her dad
is another race. But instead of
letting it be something to
worry about she embrasses
the differences. The food, the
holidays, the cultures,
different languages, all of it.
She loves her family and their
diversity. Her family makes her
whole.
It's Faizah's first day
of school, and more
importantly her sister's
Asiya’s first day of
Hijab. However, not
everyone sees the
Hijab as beautiful.
When facing hurtful
words from her peers
Faizah must find new
ways to be strong.
JAZZ
CORTES
Chanel
Eichelberger
Jabari Jumps
By: Gaia Cornwall
Your Name is a Song
by Jamilah
Thompkins-Bigelow
Jabari is a little boy who
has taken and passed
many swimming
lessons so now he is
ready to jump off the
diving board. This book
shows how Jabari is
very determined and
doesn't let his fear stop
him from jumping. This
is a beautiful story of a
very patient dad who
encourages Jabari.
Mackenzie Gordon
Frustrated by a day full Olivia Bell
of teachers and
classmates pronouncing
her name wrong, a little
girl tells her mother that
she never wants to go
to school again. In
response, the girl’s
mother teaches her
about the musicality of
African, Asian,
Black-American, Latinx,
and Middle Eastern
names on their lyrical
walk home through the
city. Empowered by this
newfound
understanding, the
young girl is ready to
return the next day to
share her knowledge
with her class.
Skin Like Mine by
Latashia M. Perry
Skin Like Mine by Latashia M.
Perry is a great warming book
that supports racial identity
development in young
children. The author celebrates
diversity throughout the book
and has a vivid illustration that
readers can relate to.
Nicole Henderson
ABC’s of Equality by:
Chana Ginelle Ewing
ABC is a great book
that defines racism
based on each leter
in the alaphbet.
Based on each word
for that letter it
summarizes what
that word means in
terms of racism
TayShawnna
Stevens
Every child is
Different
Every Child is Different is a
children's picture book for
toddlers and preschoolers
about kindness, diversity,
justice and equality.
Emily Gestl