Everybody’s different, and that’s OK! Share these preschool books about different cultures, lifestyles, abilities and histories.

14 Great Children’s Books That Teach Kids About Diversity

“A Family is a Family is a Family” by Sara O’Leary ‘ illustrated by Quin Leng When a teacher asks the children in her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different in many ways — but the same in the one way that matters most of all. Also available in eBook.

“A Tale of Two Daddies” by Vanita Oelschlager ; illustrated by Kristin Blackwood and Mike Blanc A young girl describes how her two daddies help her through her day, including her poppa cooking eggs and toast, her daddy fixing her knee when she is hurt, and both fathers being there for her when she needs love.

“Bee-bim Bop!” by Linda Sue Park ; illustrated by Ho Baek Lee In bouncy, rhyming text, a hungry Korean-American child tells about helping her mother make bee-bim bop–a traditional Korean dish of rice, meat, and vegetables–as they shop for the ingredients, prepare the meal, set the table, and finally sit down with the family to enjoy the child’s favorite dish.

“Different Cultures” by Rebecca Pettiford Explores how the languages different people speak, the foods they eat, the ways they dance, the holidays they celebrate, and the other things they do or refrain from doing reflect their different cultures.

“Emmanuel’s Dream” by Laurie Ann Thompson The story of a West African youth who pursued an education, helped support his family and became a record-setting cyclist in spite of a disability traces his ongoing achievements as an activist. Also available in eBook.

“Green is a Chile Pepper” by Roseanne Thong In this lively picture book, children discover a world of colors all around them: red is spices and swirling skirts, yellow is masa, tortillas, and sweet corn cake. Many of the featured objects are Latino in origin, and all are universal in appeal. With rich, boisterous illustrations, a fun-to-read rhyming text, and an informative glossary, this playful concept book will reinforce the colors found in every child’s day! Also available in eBook and eAudio.

“In Our Mothers’ House” by Patricia Polacco Three adopted children experience the joys and challenges of being raised in a home with two mothers, who teach the children that different doesn’t mean wrong.

“Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story” by Reem Faruqi Lailah is in a new school in a new country, thousands of miles from her old home, and missing her old friends. When Ramadan begins, she is excited that she is finally old enough to participate in the fasting but worried that her classmates won’t understand why she doesn’t join them in the lunchroom. Lailah solves her problem with help from the school librarian and her teacher and in doing so learns that she can make new friends who respect her beliefs.

“Last Stop on Market Street” by Matt de la Pena ; illustrated by Christian Robinson A young boy rides the bus across town with his grandmother and learns to appreciate the beauty in everyday things. Also available in eBook (with read-along), eVideo (with read-along), eVideo and DVD.

“Mommy’s Khimar” by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow ; illustrated by Ebony Glenn A young Muslim girl puts on a head scarf and not only feels closer to her mother, she also imagines herself as a queen, the sun, a superhero, and more.

“Same, Same, But Different” by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw Pen pals Elliott and Kailash discover that even though they live in different countries–America and India–they both love to climb trees, own pets, and ride school buses.

“Shades of People” by Sheila M. Kelly, Shelley Rotner A young boy notices the many different shades of human skin and points out that skin is just a covering that does not reveal what someone is like inside.

“The Other Side” by Jacqueline Woodson Two girls, one white and one black, gradually get to know each other as they sit on the fence that divides their town. Also available in eAudio, eVideo and DVD.

“We March” by Shane W. Evans The acclaimed author and artist of “Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom” brings his talents to this account of the 1963 March on Washington.

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