Board Books That Celebrate Diversity and Equality

We’re a mixed-race household and books that celebrate diversity have been important since day one. Not only are books that actively fight racism and discrimination important, but books that show a range of different races and sexual orientations doing normal day-to-day things are also important to expose kids to different types of people and to and normalize diversity. My toddler tends to ruin books that aren’t durable, so, for now, board books are all we read. Here are some of our favorite board books for babies and toddlers that will teach diversity and acceptance while holding up to little hands (and mouths).

All the World By Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Marla Frazee

This beautiful book features whimsical illustrations and lyrical text as a diverse group of family and friends make their way through the day celebrating the things that matter, big and small. This is book that will be appreciated by all ages as it focuses on the truly important things in the world that we (as adults) somehow tend to forget on a daily basis.

A is for Activist By Innosanto Nagara

If you’re looking to raise the next generation of progressives, this is your book. Unapologetically bold about activism and social justice, this book is an exciting read for people of all ages. My toddler doesn’t quite understand what’s being said yet, but thoroughly enjoys looking for the hidden cats on each page. Also by Nagara is the follow-up board book, Counting on Community.

Feast for 10 By Cathryn Falwell

Your little one will practice counting as they follow a black family shopping for food, cooking dinner, and sitting down to eat. The vibrant illustrations and rhyming text will make this a quick favorite.

Love Makes a Family By Sophie Beer

Showing families of all different colors and types, this book focuses on the basic things that help us show one another that we care. The text is fairly simple but the illustrations are bursting with energy and will give you plenty to talk about with your little one. Also wonderful by the same author is Kindness Makes us Strong.

An ABC of Equality By Chana Ginelle Ewing, illustrated by Paulina Morgan

This book uses colorful and cheerful illustrations to address social justice through the letters of the alphabet. This book will appeal to all levels of babies and children by helping them celebrate differences, share kindness, ask questions, and learn to understand the world.

L is for Love By Greg Paprocki

Greg Paprocki is one of my favorite illustrators and lucky for me, he’s extremely prolific! I highly recommend all of his BabyLit books. L is for Love is especially wonderful depicting kids of all races promoting a caring and loving world.

Mama Do You Love Me? By Barbara M Joosee, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee

There are not many children’s books that feature Native Americans, and the selection gets even smaller with board books, but this book has become a regular bedtime book for us. The beautifully lyrical text may depict a different culture, but the sentiment behind a mother’s love for her child remains the same.

I Know a Lot! By Stephen Krensky, illustrated by Sara Gillingham

This book is great for toddlers because it celebrates the things that they are learning about the world around them. This appealing book features a cast of diverse children, depicted in bold illustrations and accompanied by straightforward text. This is part of the Empowerment Series which features many other great books for toddlers including I Am So Brave.

Global Babies By The Global Fund for Children

Beautiful photographs show 17 babies from all over the world with simple text to accompany the photographs. Highlighting the different clothing, traditions, and lives of babies from all over the world, your little one will be enchanted to see how different yet alike we all are. Part of the proceeds from the book support the world’s most vulnerable children and youth.

Whose Knees Are These? By Jabari Asim

Babies and toddlers of all ages will enjoy this fun and lyrical book with bold illustrations and an engaging but simple story. Also by the same author is Whose Toes Are Those?

Ten, Nine, Eight By Molly Bang

A Caldecott Honor Book, this story lovingly tells a bedtime countdown between a father and daughter. The colorful illustrations will give your little one plenty to engage with as you count down to sleep.

 Dream Big, Little One By Vashti Harrison

With simple text appealing to babies and young toddlers, this book features 18 trail-blazing black women in American history. Also a great book by the same author is Think Big, Little One featuring 18 women creators.

 This Little Trailblazer: A Girl Power Primer By Joan Holub, illustrated by Daniel Roode

Similar to Dream Big, Little One, this book celebrates women pioneers. But this book includes women of various races and provides a little more information on each woman, so is suitable for older children as well. My toddler asks for this one again and again and I know it’s a book that will grow with her for years to come.

Antiracist Baby By Ibram X. Kendi, illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky

This new children’s book from acclaimed author and educator Ibram X. Kendi gives nine easy steps to build a more equitable world. The content may be too advanced for some young children, but these are important steps in becoming anti-racist that people of all ages can learn from.

The Wizard of Oz (Penguin Bedtime Classics) Based on the book by L. Frank Baum, illustrated by Carly Gledhill

Gorgeous and captivating illustrations accompany this classic tale, designed to be read in one minute before bedtime. This entire Penguin Bedtime Classics series is fabulous because it takes iconic stories that have traditionally been illustrated with white characters, and depicts them with characters of color. Other favorites in the series include The Nutcracker and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Rapunzel (Once Upon a World) By Chloe Perkins, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan

Beautiful illustrations set the classic fairytale of Rapunzel against the colorful backdrop of India. This is, again, part of a great series that takes stories traditionally illustrated with white characters and turns them on their head. In addition to having characters of color, the stories are set in locations around the world so they include a fun cultural aspect as well. Other favorites in the series include Cinderella (set in Mexico) and Snow White (set in Japan). It’s the same stories—so don’t expect a new feminist twist to the endings—but it’s refreshing to see the characters take on new, updated appearances.

I Can Do It Too! By Karen Baicker, illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max

Perfect for toddlers who are learning how to do things on their own, this book follows a little girl with her growing independence as she does the things that her parents and neighbors do.

Peekaboo Morning By Rachel Isadora

This book is fantastic for babies and young toddlers who love peek-a-boo. The text is basic but the vibrant illustrations and playful storyline is sure to please younger readers.

The Family Book By Todd Parr

My toddler loves Todd Parr books and this one is no exception. Depicting the various colors and forms that families come in with his signature colorful illustrations, Parr shows how every family is special in their own way.

Please, Baby, Please By Spike Lee and Tonya Lee Lewis, illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Kadir Nelson is one of my favorite illustrators and he lends his talents to this book written by filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife Tonya Lee Lewis. Following the shenanigans of baby, every parent will relate to the story and babies and toddlers will love the lyrical text.

Baby Goes to Market By Atinuke, Illustrated by Angela Brooksbank

Join a curious baby as he and his mama shop at a Nigerian marketplace. This is one my toddler’s favorite books right now. The illustrations perfectly capture the energy of a vibrant market, and the text is gently rhythmic and great for introducing numbers.

Whistle for Willie By Ezra Jack Keats

This is a favorite in our household as my daughter loves to follow along with Peter and his adventures. Keats broke ground in the 1960s with his children’s books depicting a realistic, multi-cultural urban setting. Other favorites by Ezra Jack Keats available in board books that follow Peter’s explorations (and also favorites in our house) are The Snowy Day and Peter’s Chair.

And Tango Makes Three By Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, Illustrated by Henry Cole

This is the heartwarming true story of two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo who get the chance to have their own baby penguin. There’s a lot of text on each page, which makes this book suitable for older children as well.

Dim Sum for Everyone By Grace Lin

Striking and bold illustrations of a Chinese American family eating dim sum and simple text throughout make this a perfect book for a younger child. The back of the book has an informative explanation about the origin of Dim Sum for parents and older children.

Baby Dance By Ann Taylor, Illustrated by Marjorie van Heerden

The text of this book is taken from a poem written by Ann Taylor back in the 1800s but is modernized by the playful illustrations showing a dad and baby dancing. A delightful book that children and parents will enjoy.

Mommy, Mama, and Me By Lesléa Newman, Illustrations by Carol Thompson

Featuring a loving family with a baby and two moms, the lyrical text and sweet illustrations depict the family doing everyday activities. A lovely read for babies.

Baby’s First Words By Stella Blackstone and Sunny Scribens, Illustrated by Christiane Engel

This book features a blended race family with two dads and one baby. The text is simple, labeling various items in different settings, but the illustrations are vibrant and feature so many things on every page to talk to your little one about. This book is also available in Spanish (which is the version we have and love) and is a great tool for kids learning a second language.

Celebrate! Our Differences By Sophia Day and Megan Johnson, Illustrated by Stephanie Strouse

This book not only features kids of different races, but also children with different needs such as Down syndrome and cerebral palsy. The vibrant illustrations and lyrical text are perfect for young kids.

What I Like About Me! By Allia Zobel Nolan, Illustrated by Miki Sakamoto

Perfect for young kids, with rhyming text and colorful illustrations, this book sends the simple message that we are all different and that’s what makes us special.

Besos for Baby By Jen Arena, illustrated by Blanca Gomez

My daughter is half Hispanic so we have a number of Spanish and bilingual books around the house. This is a great one for babies and toddlers who are just learning Spanish because the English does most of the story telling and the Spanish chimes in as a clever and cute way to emphasize the point and teach a few new Spanish words. I’ll bet you won’t be able to resist bestowing a few of your own besos while reading this sweet book.

All Kinds of People By Shelley Rotner

It’s great for young kids to see books with photographs of other kids and people as it helps them relate. The vibrant photographs in this book show kids and families of all different skin colors in different settings.

Whoever You Are By Mem Fox, Illustrated by Leslie Staub

We love Mem Fox in our household (another favorite board book by her is Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes) and this whimsical book celebrates the fact that despite our differences, inside we are all the same wherever and whoever we are.

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