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DEI Children's Books for Ages 3-5
15
items As an early childhood teacher in one of the most diverse cities in the world, I understand the importance of creating a healthy and safe space to discuss topics such as race, gender, and ability. I also understand that in early childhood education, t...
This book is so magical and sweet. You follow Julián, who just really wants to become a mermaid!! With support from his grandmother, he gets to feel like one. This is a great book for exploring gender identity and for re-examining/questioning typical...
Julián Is a Mermaid
An absolutely stunning book that I genuinely feel excited to introduce for read aloud. The title says it all — it is about being proud of who you are even when faced with individuals who don't understand your culture — told from the perspective of a ...
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family
Great book that focuses on how a specific food or dish (in this case it is fry bread) can serve as an important symbol for a culture, a people, a history. Great jumping off point for a food study or a project where you ask students to bring in family...
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story
This is a book about the power of a name. We follow Unhei who is new to America. She notices that it is hard for her peers to pronounce her Korean name correctly and begins to feel embarrassed about her name. She spends majority of the story trying t...
The Name Jar
I love this book!! You follow a pair of cousins — Carlitos, who lives on a farm in Mexico, and Charlie, who lives in a city in America. Through the letters they write to one another, we realize that they have more in common than they do different!
Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin
You can never go wrong with Todd Parr. The messages in his books are always about inclusivity and he does a great job at laying out these more complex ideas into language children can understand such as “some families are similar, some families are d...
The Family Book
Another book that touches on how families are different and how that is okay. This might be a good book to read if you are the parent/caregiver of a child that is not a part of a traditional/nuclear family. There is a beautiful part of the book where...
Heather Has Two Mommies
A beautiful book about the history that a name can carry and the stories it can tell.
Alma and How She Got Her Name
An absolute joy of a book. Reminiscent of the giving tree, except this book has a sweet ending where everyone Omu shared her red stew with came back to share with her!! A great representation of community and giving back to others. I personally love ...
Thank You, Omu!
A good book for discussing identity (in different capacities) in the classroom. This is also a great book if you are the parent/caregiver of a child or children who are mixed race and feel like they need to conform to one part of their identity or th...
Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match / No Combina
I recommend this book because it can be used as a tool for a range of discussion topics. On top of giving representation to different races, abilities, and cultures, it also promotes the idea of community and coming together.
All Are Welcome (An All Are Welcome Book)
A sweet and meaningful story paired with beautiful illustrations = a work of art. I love this book for many reasons. I am obsessed with CJ's grandmother's thoughtful responses to what some might consider “rude” questions that you shouldn't ask, but i...
Last Stop on Market Street
A beautiful story about family, compassion, and hard work. It also touches on important concepts involving money like “saving up” for something, as well as noticing the needs of others, coming together, etc. Very beautiful!!
A Chair for My Mother
What I absolutely love about this book is that it tackles the subject of race from a clear and scientific standpoint — the fact that our skin color comes from a little something called melanin and that everybody has a different amount. I also love th...
Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race
A great book that teaches children that they are most definitely enough! It is poetic and has a beautiful message that teaches children we are all worthy of love, compassion, and a place here on Earth.
I Am Enough