Books are an amazing tool to help children discover the world around them. When deciding what to read to your kids, it’s important to consider books that reflect our beautifully diverse communities. Whether you’re reading books that talk about race, differing abilities or, as we’re showcasing today, LGBTQIA+ families, remember, representation matters.
All families deserve to be celebrated, and all children should have a chance to see their family (and families different than their own) represented in literature. The titles below help shine a light on different families and serve as tools to help parents, teachers, relatives and kids to accept themselves, their friends and their families.
Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by David Roberts
Sarah, feed the floor. I’ll sweep the dishes. Bobby, rock the rug. Dad will scrub the fishes. I’ll vacuum the lawn. Bobby, mow the mat. Sarah, mop the baby. But who will bathe the cat?
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Mr. Watson’s Chickens by Jarrett Dapier, illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi
Mr. Watson loves his three chickens, and every morning he and Mr. Nelson count them. But when they start to multiply, his house and tiny yard are soon overrun, and the noise and mess are driving Mr. Nelson crazy—so the couple sets out to find a new home for the chickens.
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Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita
When her mother goes on a business trip, a little girl, who loves to sit between Mama and Mommy at the table, misses her a lot and feels empty until Mommy finally comes home, filling the void with love.
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Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts
Aaron Slater loves listening to stories and dreams of one day writing them himself. But when it comes to reading, the letters just look like squiggles to him, and it soon becomes clear he struggles more than his peers. When his teacher asks each child in the class to write a story, Aaron can’t get a single word down. He is sure his dream of being a storyteller is out of reach until inspiration strikes, and Aaron finds a way to spin a tale in a way that is uniquely his.
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The Family Book by Todd Parr
The Family Book represents a variety of families, some big and some small, some with only one parent and some with two moms or dads, some quiet and some noisy, but all alike in some ways and special no matter what.
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Plenty of Hugs by Fran Manushkin, illustrated by Kate Alizadeh
Illustrations and gently rhyming text follow two mothers and their toddler on a sunny day.
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Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima
While shopping with her two dads for supplies for her birthday party, Harriet, who is wearing a penguin costume, is carried away by a waddle of penguins and must hatch a plan in order to get herself back to the store in the city.
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The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy
Witness the adventures of a family with two fathers, four adopted boys, and a variety of pets as they make their way through a school year and deal with a grumpy new neighbor.