“What are the best Children’s Diversity books?” We looked at 493 of the top Diverse Kids books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 22 titles, all appearing on 3 or more “Best Children’s Diversity” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 450+ titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

Happy Scrolling!

Top 22 Best Children’s Diversity Books

22 .) El Deafo written by Cece Bell

Lists It Appears On:

• Dr Steve Silvestro
• Honey Kids Asia
• The Barefoot Mommy

The author recounts in graphic novel format her experiences with hearing loss at a young age, including using a bulky hearing aid, learning how to lip read, and determining her “superpower.”

21 .) Everywhere Babies written by Susan Meyers

Lists It Appears On:

• Dr Steve Silvestro
• The Bump
• The Every Mom

Describes babies and the things they do from the time they are born until their first birthday.

20 .) Mommy, Mama and Me written by Leslea Newman

Lists It Appears On:

• Parent Map
• Sassy Mama HK
• The Bump

A baby enjoys a number of fun activities with her two mothers.

19 .) My Brother Charlie written by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes & Noble
• Parent Map
• Pragmatic Mom

A girl tells what it is like living with her twin brother who has autism and sometimes finds it hard to communicate with words, but who, in most ways, is just like any other boy. Includes authors’ note about autism.

18 .) Say Hello! written by Rachel Isadora

Lists It Appears On:

• Dr Steve Silvestro
• The Bump
• The Every Mom

A little girl greets people in her neighborhood in many different languages.

17 .) Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation written by Duncan Tonatiuh

Lists It Appears On:

• Book People Of Moscow
• Book Riot
• Dr Steve Silvestro

Almost ten years before Brown vs. Board of Education, Sylvia Mendez and her parents helped end school segregation in California. An American citizen of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage who spoke and wrote perfect English, Mendez was denied enrollment to a Whites only school. Her parents took action by organizing the Hispanic community and filing a lawsuit in federal district court. Their success eventually brought an end to the era of segregated education in California.…

16 .) The Sandwich Swap written by Queen Rania Al Abdullah with Kelly DiPucchio

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Riot
• Childhood 101
• Dr Steve Silvestro

Best friends Lily and Salma disagree over their preferred foods, but after trading sandwiches to see how they taste, the girls change their minds.

15 .) This is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids from Around the World written by Matt LaMothe

Lists It Appears On:

• Self Sufficient Kids
• The Bump
• The Every Mom

Follows the daily lives of seven children from around the world, including such places as Japan, India, Uganda, and Italy, and discusses how schools, meals, and play can be different or similar in different places in the world.

14 .) And Tango Makes Three written by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, and Henry Cole

Lists It Appears On:

• Books For Keeps
• Goop
• Honey Kids Asia
• Sassy Mama HK

At New York City’s Central Park Zoo, two male penguins fall in love and start a family by taking turns sitting on an abandoned egg until it hatches.

13 .) I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel, Jazz Jennings, and Shelagh McNicholas

Lists It Appears On:

• Dr Steve Silvestro
• Honey Kids Asia
• She Knows
• The Barefoot Mommy

Presents the story of a transgender child who traces her early awareness that she is a girl in spite of male anatomy and the acceptance she finds through a wise doctor who explains her natural transgender status.

12 .) Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match / Marisol McDonald no combina written by Monica Brown

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes & Noble
• Book Riot
• Read Brightly
• The Bump

Marisol McDonald, a biracial, nonconformist, soccer-playing pirate-princess with brown skin and red hair, celebrates her uniqueness.

11 .) Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress written by Christine Baldacchino, illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Riot
• Honey Kids Asia
• PBS
• Sassy Mama HK

A young boy faces adversity from classmates when he wears an orange dress at school.

10 .) Same, Same But Different written by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw (Illustrations)

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Riot
• Childhood 101
• Kids On A Plane
• The Every Mom

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.

9 .) The Colors of Us written by Karen Katz

Lists It Appears On:

• Childhood 101
• Dr Steve Silvestro
• The Bump
• The Every Mom

Seven-year-old Lena and her mother observe the variations in the color of their friends’ skin, viewed in terms of foods and things found in nature.

8 .) The Skin You Live In written by Michael Tyler, David Lee Csicsko (Illustrations)

Lists It Appears On:

• Childhood 101
• Sassy Mama HK
• The Bump
• The Every Mom

Rhyming text and illustrations celebrate being content with the skin in which one lives, whatever that skin might be. With the ease and simplicity of a nursery rhyme, this lively story delivers an important message of social acceptance to young readers. Themes associated with child development and social harmony, such as friendship, acceptance, self-esteem, and diversity are promoted in simple and straightforward prose. Vivid illustrations of children’s activities for all cultures, such as swimming in the ocean, hugging, catching butterflies, and eating birthday cake are also provided.

7 .) Whoever You Are written by Mem Fox, Leslie Staub (Illustrator)

Lists It Appears On:

• Childhood 101
• Family Education
• Kids On A Plane
• The Every Mom

Despite the differences between people around the world, there are similarities that join us together, such as pain, joy, and love.

6 .) Wonder written by R.J. Palacio

Lists It Appears On:

• Dr Steve Silvestro
• Family Education
• Honey Kids Asia
• Medium

Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was not expected to survive, goes from being home-schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in Manhattan, which entails enduring the taunting and fear of his classmates as he struggles to be seen as just another student.…

5 .) It’s Okay To Be Different written by Todd Parr

Lists It Appears On:

• Childhood 101
• Family Education
• Great Schools
• Parent Map
• The Bump

Illustrations and brief text describe all kinds of differences that are “okay,” such as “It’s okay to be a different color,” “It’s okay to need some help,” “It’s okay to be adopted,” and “It’s okay to have a different nose.”

4 .) Julián is a Mermaid written by Jessica Love

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Riot
• Gothamist
• Standard
• The Bump
• The Every Mom

While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he’s seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress. But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes — and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself?…

3 .) Thunder Boy Jr. written by Sherman Alexie

Lists It Appears On:

• Book People Of Moscow
• Dr Steve Silvestro
• The Bump
• The Every Mom
• We Have Kids

Thunder Boy Jr. wants a normal name…one that’s all his own. Dad is known as Big Thunder, but Little Thunder doesn’t want to share a name

2 .) The Name Jar written by Yangsook Choi

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Riot
• Childhood 101
• Dr Steve Silvestro
• Honey Kids Asia
• Pragmatic Mom
• Sassy Mama HK

After Unhei moves from Korea to the United States, her new classmates help her decide what her name should be.

1 .) Last Stop on Market Street written by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson

Lists It Appears On:

• Book People Of Moscow
• Book Riot
• Dr Steve Silvestro
• Family Education
• Goop
• Great Schools
• PBS
• Pragmatic Mom
• We Have Kids

A young boy rides the bus across town with his grandmother and learns to appreciate the beauty in everyday things.

The 450+ Additional Best Diverse Children’s Books

26 Best Kids Books Featuring Diversity Sources/Lists