A Break for Books!

Recently I tapped into the hive mind to supplement my daughters’ bookshelves with more books focused on diversity and equity. I got a lot of great recommendations, and here’s what I ended up buying — from our local bookstore, Everyone’s Books, that does a great job with online ordering and in-person pickup!

I look for books with non-white, non-cisgender characters at the center in order to give my kids a well-rounded view of the ways you can be a person in this world. I appreciate books that are specifically about racism and what it’s like to be a non-white person as well, but I find that my kids cleave more tightly to the stories that “just happen” to have a BIPOC or trans character, if that makes sense.

1

A Letter to Amy by Ezra Jack Keats

I love Keats’ books because they’re simple and sweet. We already had another of his titles, A Snowy Day, and we added this one. My daughters dig this book, but I will say that because it’s placed in a city environment, I think they have a tough time relating to some of the setup. 

(Thank you Ashely Schneider and Jennifer Harrell)

2

Big Hair, Don’t Care by Crystal Swain-Bates and Megan Bair

This is a really fun short read about a little girl with very big hair who wears it in all kinds of ways. After reading this the first time, we had a few days of crazy hair requests around here.

(Thank you, Rhonda Anderson for gifting us this one out of your personal collection)

3

Coyote in Love with a Star by Marty Kreipe de Montaño and Tom Coffin

I couldn’t resist this one because I love coyotes and folklore. It’s a Native American tale of a coyote that goes to the big city and falls in love with a star. The story is riveting, but my kids get a little twitchy about the coyote dying at the end. 

(Thank you again Rhonda Anderson!)

4

Firebird by Misty Copeland and Christopher Myers

Also couldn’t resist this one because of the ballet/Misty Copeland component. It’s really lush and beautiful.

(Thank you Caitlin Ramirez)

5

Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

This one is my absolute favorite of the bunch. It makes me feel teary and triumphant every single time I read it, and my kids love it, too. Especially when I sing it, which for some reason has become a thing.

(Thank you, Caitlin Ramirez)

6

Piper Sky’s Pink Popsicle Shoes by Rashan Ali and Ahad Pace

This one was a little harder to source, so I just picked it up today, and look forward to reading it on the recommendation of an old friend.

(Thank you, Kwame Harrison)

7

Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds

My kids dig this one a lot, and I dig that they dig it, because it is about a little artist discovering that the sky is not always blue. 

(Thank you, Sara Triacca)

Wanted to also mention a great one we already had:

• Ida Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty 

And special shout out to my lifelong friend Rhonda Stowell Lewis who didn’t just recommend books but actually dropped off a box of them for me. She lives over an hour away, and her generosity (and literally leaning) is so appreciated!

I kept the rest of the suggestions on a list for my next book-buying splurge! Thanks so much, friends.