Multicultural Children's Book Day

#ReadYourWorld

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
    • Mission & History
    • Our Partner Organizations
    • What is a Multicultural Book?
    • Co-Founders
    • Board of Trustees
    • Board of Advisors
    • Co-Hosts and Global Co-Hosts
    • Team
    • MCBD Timelines
    • Make a Donation: #GivingTuesday 2022
    • Media Partners
    • Disclosure
    • Contact Us
  • FREE Diverse Books
    • FREE Diverse Books for Classrooms Program
    • FREE Diversity Book For Reviewers!
    • Authors & Publishers: Donate Books for a Cause!
    • Donate
  • Sponsorship
    • MCBD2022 Medallion Level Sponsors
    • MCBD2022 Author Sponsors
    • Fundraisers & Marketing Services
      • Fundraiser | Social Media Shout Outs!
      • Sponsor of the Month (March-September)
      • Fundraising/ Sponsored Post Services
      • Multicultural Children’s Book Day ebook
    • Authors & Publishers: Sponsorship Info
  • Reading Resources
    • Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Kit Mental Health Support for Stressful Times  
    • Raising Awareness on Systemic Racism in America Classroom Kit
    • Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Activism and Activists Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Empathy Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Kindness Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Poverty Kit
    • Gallery of Our Free Posters
    • Neurodiverse and Autistic Voices Are Your Best Autism Resources
    • 2021 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2020 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2019 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2018 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2017 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2016 Big Giant LInky!
    • 2015 Big Giant Linky!
  • Press Kit & Stats
    • Social Proof & Media Mentions
    • 2016 Recap and Stats
    • 2015 Recap and Stats
  • Blog
  • Sign Up for Free Updates

Diversity Friendship Picture Books

January 17, 2017 by Valarie Budayr

Please welcome author Stephanie Campisi who presents eight diverse picture books about belonging and friendship.

#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2017 with CBC

The below list of picture books touches on themes of belonging, friendship, identity, and sense of self–all topics explored in my debut picture book The Ugly Dumpling.

Diversity Picture Books About Belonging and Friendship

The Empty Pot by Demi

A gentle, quiet picture book about a young boy who attempts – and fails – to grow beautiful flowers from the seeds given to him by the Emperor, and is rewarded for his honesty. It’s a story about strength and truth, and it’s exquisitely illustrated in minute detail. [picture book, ages 4-7]

 

We Are One by Pram by Param Patel & Pinky Mukhi

Mintu is having a playdate with some friends from school. His mother is preparing snacks for the kids when Mintu asks her to please not speak in their native language and not serve them dinner. He feels awkward about his differences from his other playmates. Chirpy and Curio join the party and each has a diverse interest. One of them likes space, the other wants to study animals, and Mintu wants to play a game. He learns that everybody can be very different, yet have satisfying friendships. Cute book about celebrating all of our diversities.

What Do You Do with an Idea? by Kobi Yamada, illustrated by Mae Besom

After Mintu invites his friends over for dinner, he decides he might have made a mistake. He thinks he’s too different from his friends and that they won’t like the same food as his family. Will his mom and friends be able to change his mind?

Sure to instill pride in children for their own food, language, and culture, We Are One is an inspiring and fun-to-read story that will lead to a meaningful dialogue with children of all ages. – (Picture book)

Dusk by Uri Shulevitz

Rich and stylized, this picture book follows a boy and his grandfather as they stroll through a city as the sunsets. As the city’s lights come on, it’s lit with the lights of many holiday traditions. But seen through the eyes of a child, these traditions don’t go commented upon – they just are. [picture book, ages 4-8]

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena, illustrated by Christian Robinson

Vivid and cheerful, this picture book follows CJ and his Nana as they travel through town on the bus. Throughout, CJ asks questions about how and where they live – while his nana helps him see the beauty of the city and people around him. [picture book, ages 3-5]

One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree by Daniel Bernstrom, illustrated by Brendan Wenzel

Rhythmic and folkloric in feel, this picture book follows a young boy eaten by a snake – and comes up with an ingenious plan for saving himself. It’s glorious as a read-aloud and makes me homesick for the eucalyptus trees of my homeland. [picture book, ages 4-8]

Hedgehog in the Fog by Yuri Norstein, illustrated by Francesca Yarbusova

A picture book adaptation of Russian animator and director Yuri Norstein’s absolutely remarkable animated short film exploring the lengths we’ll go to for our friends. It’s exquisite on every level – please do watch the film as well. [picture book, ages 4-8]

Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie, illustrated by Yuyi Morales

Luminously illustrated and warmly and humorously written, Thunder Boy Jr. explores personal and cultural identity as a Native American boy who is named after his dad seeks a name of his own. [picture book, ages 2-5]

The Ugly Dumpling by Stephanie Campisi, illustrated by Shahar Kober

A misplaced dumpling makes an unusual friend, and together the two outsiders support each other – showing that being different can be beautiful after all. [picture book, ages 2-8]

Stephanie Campisi

 

Stephanie Campisi is an Australian-born, Washington-based author who writes twisty odysseys involving strange characters and stranger plots. The Ugly Dumpling is her picture book debut.

To learn more about her, check out her website and follow her on Twitter (@stephcampisi) and Facebook.

 

To find more diverse and multicultural books for children, please check out our Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents. We also have a Pinterest board full of ideas:

 

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin

Filed Under: Multicultural Booklist Tagged With: Diversity Friendship Picture Books & GIVEAWAY, Diversity Picture Books About Belonging and Friendship

Comments

  1. Nicole Haney says

    January 17, 2017 at 3:56 pm

    One of my favorite diverse picture books is Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto.

    • Valarie Budayr says

      February 18, 2017 at 12:28 pm

      I think I have that book! I need to dig it out and re=read it. Thanks for the tip 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

  2. Leslie N says

    January 18, 2017 at 9:50 am

    Bagels for Benny is one of my favorites. Another favorite, although I am not sure it qualifies as a diversity book is Tough Boris.

    • Valarie Budayr says

      February 18, 2017 at 12:28 pm

      Sounds intriguing. I will have to look into that one 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

  3. Tiffany C says

    January 19, 2017 at 10:19 am

    Some of our favorite diversity books: What makes us unique? : our first talk about diversity, We’re all alike and different, Me I am!, and a book called My America

    • Valarie Budayr says

      February 18, 2017 at 12:26 pm

      Thanks for stopping by!

  4. John Smith says

    January 22, 2017 at 6:05 pm

    Favorite diversity picture books: Does “Hedgehog In the Fog” count? The illustrations are so charming. Is it related to the Russian cartoon I’ve seen?–that, also, is wonderful.

    • Valarie Budayr says

      February 18, 2017 at 12:26 pm

      I am curious to see that book, John. Usually the diverse books we highlight need to have diverse human characters…BUT there are exceptions. We’ve allowed some books in the past from multicultural authors who were writing about folklore, heritages or traditions from other countries. Dragons Are Real is a good example. The main characters are dragons, but there are diverse human characters in the book as well. Plus the books was inspired by childhood visits to Sweden to visit family.

Newsletter

MCBD2022 Super Platinum Sponsor

MCBD2022 Platinum Sponsor

MCBD2022 Gold Sponsor

MCBD2022 Gold Sponsor

MCBD2022 Gold Sponsor

MCBD2022 Gold Sponsor

MCBD2022 Gold Sponsor

MCBD2022 Silver Sponsor

MCBD2022 Silver Sponsor

MCBD2022 Silver Sponsor

MCBD2022 Bronze Sponsor

MCBD2022 Bronze Sponsor

MCBD Bronze Sponsor

MCBD Bronze Sponsor

MCBD2022 Bronze Sponsor

MCBD2022 Bronze Sponsor

MCBD2022 Bronze Sponsor

MCBD2022 Bronze Sponsor

MCBD2022 Bronze Sponsor

MCBD2022 Bronze Sponsor

MCBD2022 Bronze Sponsor

MCBD2022 Bronze Sponsor

MCBD2022 Bronze Sponsor

MCBD2022 Bronze Sponsor

MCBD2022 Bronze Sponsor

MCBD2022 Bronze Sponsor

MCBD2022 Bronze Sponsor

MCBD Bronze Sponsor

MCBD2022 Bronze Sponsor

MCBD2022 Bronze Sponsor

Stay in the loop with all MCBD Happenings!

Help us get diverse Kidlit into schools!

MCBD is included in the Top 100 Children’s Book Blogs!

Children’s Book Blogs

Copyright © 2022 · Multicultural Childrens Book Day on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in