Picture books tagged with: diversity

Medieval Mashup: Leigh’s Wheelie Adventures

In this charming picture book, a group of children (including Leigh, a wheelchair user) work together to support each other to make costumes for a school event. Leigh is struggling with feelings of self-consciousness and frustration, but he successfully overcomes this.

Hair Love

A positive story of how a father and daughter work together to create the perfect hairstyle for a very special day. There are many helpful messages within which could apply to a child who is dealing with an absent or ill parent, or who is simply finding it hard not to give up on a challenging task.

The Only Way is Badger

A book about acceptance, difference and learning to say sorry.

All the Ways to be Smart

So often children are led to believe that being smart is all about academic achievement. This delightful, positive and diverse picture book re-frames the concept of being smart to include many other wonderful qualities.

Through the Eyes of Me

A useful picture book to simply explain autism to children, it is a positive exploration of how a young girl with autism perceives the world.

The Day War Came

A haunting, emotional story of a young refugee, this picture book could be a springboard for a conversation about kindness and tolerance. Encourages empathy.

The Suitcase

This simple and powerful story about the arrival of a stranger could be a catalyst for exploring so many concepts and themes with young children: trust, curiosity, tolerance, hope, kindness, making amends, friendship, ‘doing the right thing’ and telling the truth to name just a few.

Kind

A beautiful picture book which explores and encourages kindness in many forms. It promotes sharing, acceptance, tolerance and empathy.

How to be a Lion

A brilliant and entertaining story with a strong and clear message: Don't be afraid to be yourself; embrace the differences in yourself and others.

The Journey

This powerful story about a family's forced migration to a new country gives children the chance to empathise with people in difficult circumstances. It promotes greater understanding and respect for those with different origins and cultures. Children who are refugees themselves may recognise something of their own story here.

Grumpy Frog

A thoroughly entertaining and engaging book which explores some important themes: forgiveness, tolerance, co-operation, and how moods and behaviour affects others.

Perfectly Norman

"Find the courage to be yourself"

Minnie & Max are OK!

A good choice to help a child develop a positive body image, “Minnie & Max are OK!” sends out a strong message that everyone is different and that we all have our own specific strengths. The book will reassure a child with insecurities, and encourage them to look at the wonderful diversity all around them.

We’re All Wonders

This story shows how one child copes with his own differences, and other people’s reactions to them. The reader will find comfort in Auggie’s imaginative tactics, and his positivity about being able to change the way others see him.

I Don’t Want Curly Hair!

This fun tale will resonate with any child who might hanker after physical attributes they don’t have, for example, straight or curly hair. But it may also help children who feel different for other reasons, and will reassure a child that many people feel that way sometimes. The story reminds us that friendships can often be based on our differences, and that variety is a good thing.

The Great Big Book of Families

Highlighting the fact that families come in all shapes and sizes, this book celebrates diversity, explaining how every personal situation is different. It's a good book for debunking the traditional storybook myth that happy families usually consist of mother, father and two children.

I’m the Happiest

A lovely story which teaches children that the path to true happiness is to be content with what you already have. While all the other animals compete and compare, Racoon is happy to be himself.

Baby Sitter (First Time)

A good choice of book to set a young child's expectations of what it is like to spend time with a baby sitter. It may calm a child who is anxious about being apart from a parent.

This is Our House

Promoting tolerance, co-operation and acceptance. Celebrating diversity.

Amazing Grace

Inspiring children to achieve their full potential by believing that anything is possible. Promoting tolerance and acceptance and celebrating diversity. Boosting self-esteem and dealing with prejudice.

Eliot Jones, Midnight Superhero

A great choice for a child who wears glasses (the featured hero is bespectacled). It's also a good way to discuss prejudice and stereotypes with children, and to encourage them to look beyond outward appearance.

The Girl With Two Dads

This story does a brilliant job of normalising the non-traditional family. It is a great book for all children to read, so that they have acceptance and understanding, and fewer preconceptions about what a "normal" family looks like.

Not Yet a Yeti

We are not always happy to do what is expected of us, and for any child struggling with such expectation, or for those who feel they do not fit in, this book is a refreshing tonic.

As We Grow

A comforting story with beautiful illustrations discusses how life may change as we grow older.

I Don’t Want to be Small

A picture book about learning to love what you have and who you are, it will inevitably chime with any child who can't wait to be grown up.

A Rainbow of Fun

An entertaining story about finding out who you really are and being true to yourself, and learning to stand up to prejudice and criticism.

Along Came A Different

A fun story about different shapes who learn to put aside their differences and get along. Promotes open-mindedness, kindness and tolerance.

The Prince and the Frog

This book will certainly provide reassurance to any child who may be experiencing confusion regarding their sexuality. it encourages children to listen to others, be kind, and embrace diversity and equality.

Lulu Gets a Cat

This picture book helps children to understand the reality of pet ownership, showing that it involves hard work, consideration and patience, but it is also fun and rewarding.

Super Duper You

A positive picture book that encourages children to celebrate their uniqueness and stop worrying about not fitting in with the crowd.

The Bumblebear

An amusing story that tells children about the importance of friendship, and that our differences can be our strength.

Hortense and the Shadow

This book encourages the reader to see strengths within themselves that they may have originally thought were weaknesses. It uses a quirky, abstract message to promote self-respect. It would be a good starting point for a conversation about tolerance and respect for others too.

Hip, Hop, Hooray for Brooklynn!

An upbeat story book about a young bunny born with clubfoot. A great way to introduce young children to the treatment of clubfoot and similar conditions.

Odd Dog Out

This appealing and witty picture book has a very important central message for children: you don't have to be like everybody else - be who YOU are.

“Oh, No,” said Elephant

Helps a child to see that not everyone is good at the same thing. Individuals have different strengths, and everybody is good at something!

The Tigon and the Liger

Encourages the child to see differences in a positive way, whether in themselves or in others, and shows the merits of diversity.

The Wolf Who Cried Boy!

Challenges preconceptions that may be associated with unfamiliar situations, and promotes tolerance of other ways of life.

Odd Bods

By celebrating the fact that every child alive is an ‘odd bod’, with their own set of idiosyncrasies which should be accepted as the things that define them. Nobody is perfect, and who would want to be anyway?

Introducing Teddy

This book may strike a chord with children struggling with gender identity. There are also other clear messages: accepting people for who they are/celebrating diversity and encouraging children to share worries with friends rather than keep them bottled up.

Witches and Fairies

Children can sometimes form friendship circles which exclude others, which can be difficult for the children left on the outside. This book focusses on Clotilda, a little girl who doesn't really fit into the group of fairies and group of witches she longs to play with.