This list showcases 19 books that reflect our differences and model healthy interactions with those unlike us. These books are about recognizing, accepting, and celebrating our differences.
In Sister Outsider, Audre Lorde wrote, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” We encounter differences whenever we open a book for ourselves or share one with others. On the surface, the dust jackets have different art, the books come in varying sizes and thicknesses, and even the texture of the paper feels different beneath our fingers. Inside these pages, we meet diverse characters, follow along on many journeys, and experience a variety of themes.
This list showcases books that reflect our differences and model healthy interactions with those unlike us. Some stories are absurd, like a tale about a sentient piece of bread. Some are realistic, like a day in the life of someone with a neurodivergent sibling. Some are about physical differences like skin color and weight, while others are about religious or ideological differences. Ultimately, these books are about recognizing, accepting, and celebrating our differences, which, according to Lorde, are the keys to uniting us.
ALEXANDER, Claire. A Little Bit of Respect. illus. by author. Quarto/Happy Yak. 2022. ISBN 9780711264427.
PreS-Gr 1–The Ploofers look like sentient whoopee cushions, but they still want to be treated with respect. When one exceptionally tiny Ploofer is pinched and called cute, it does not appreciate this gesture. With the help of a friend, the little Ploofer learns to speak up for itself. By articulating its own feelings, the Ploofer gets a little bit of respect in return. A great book for teaching kids the importance of using their words and vocalizing how they feel.
BARNETT, Mac. John’s Turn. illus. by Kate Berube. Candlewick. 2022. ISBN 9781536203950.
K-Gr 2–John is nervous about sharing his talent for dance at the school talent show. While not explicitly stated, his nervousness could be the result of dance stereotypically being a girls’ sport. However, at the climax of the story, John finishes his beautiful dance and looks out into the audience. Now that it is their turn, they applaud him. The finale models the kindness of showing appreciation for those who share their talents.
COOPER, Nancy. Biindigen! Amik Says Welcome. illus. by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley. Owlkids. 2023. ISBN 9781771475150.
PreS-Gr 3–A pair of First Nations people from Canada wrote and illustrated this story about a beaver family reunion. Amik’s sister Nishiime is scared to meet new people, so she hides. However, she eventually feels comfortable when she sees that even though her cousins are from different nations, they are all very similar to her. The anthropomorphic beavers have different names, all “beaver” in their own language, according to the glossary in the back of the book. The book can introduce readers to a new culture, allow readers to feel seen, and tell a story about welcoming new people.
DESNITSKAYA, Anna. On the Edge of the World. illus. by author. Eerdmans. 2023. ISBN 9780802856128.
PreS-Gr 2–The SLJreview called this book “a tender and beautiful work about loneliness and yearning for connection.” In each of two parallel stories, a lonely child in a remote village reaches out, wondering about the universe. This title invites curiosity about other cultures and encourages readers to find the connections and similarities on their own.
GOMI, Taro. The Crocodile and the Dentist. illus. by author. Chronicle. 2018. ISBN 9781452170282.
K-Gr 2–A crocodile is scared to go to the dentist, and the dentist is just as afraid to have a crocodile as a patient. This humorous story shows that sometimes the person (or reptile) we’re afraid of is just as afraid of us. An endearing read-aloud for two.
HULL,Eliza & Sally Rippin. Come Over to My House. illus. by Daniel Gray-Barnett. Bright Light. 2023. ISBN 9781761212680.
K-Gr 2–Rhyming text invites readers to different homes populated with a variety of families. One family has a Deaf mom. One family has a dad who lost an arm. Another family has a dad with achondroplasia, which the book explains is a form of dwarfism. This sweet, welcoming story is paired with informative back matter about the book’s subjects and its author.
HWANG,Sarah. Toastyillus. by author. Holiday House/Margaret Ferguson. 2021. ISBN 9780823447077.
PreS-Gr 3–Toasty is a piece of bread who wants to be a dog. He meets a little girl who has always wanted a dog but is allergic to them. Hwang’s debut picture book is an absurd, laugh-out-loud story that is also a heartwarming tale of finding someone who accepts us for who we are. Warmly illustrated, funny, and joyful.
KENNEN,Sophie.Some Bodies.illus. by Airin O’Callaghan. Sleeping Bear. 2022. ISBN 9781534111417.
K-Gr 2–Rhyming text and gentle illustrations introduce readers to kids and adults of all shapes, sizes, skin tones, ages, and abilities. Back matter includes an author’s note that confronts the notion that “looks don’t matter” and encourages parents to have conversations about people with different appearances in celebration of those differences. There are also suggestions and scripts for adults faced with questions from curious kids.
LAM, Thao. Thao.illus. by author. Owlkids. 2021. ISBN 9781771474320.
PreS-Gr 4–This picture book memoir is a modern masterpiece. Lam tells her story of growing up with a name that others struggled to pronounce. She uses collage and actual childhood photos, along with spare text, to tell this moving story. An excellent book that illustrates the importance of getting someone’s name right.
MILLER, Sharee.Don’t Touch My Hair!illus. by author. Little, Brown. 2018. ISBN 9780316562584.
PreS-Gr 4–A perfect book for all. Those with fluffy, textured hair will gain the confidence and vocabulary to respond to unwanted touch, and those who find themselves reaching for someone else’s hair will know to resist.
NEILSON, Emily. Can I Give You a Squish? illus. by author. Dial. 2020. ISBN 9781984814777.
PreS-Gr 1–A young merboy learns that not everyone likes hugs—especially not puffer fish! With a playful narrative, this book encourages young ones to ask permission before hugging someone. Maybe they would like a fin bump instead.
NICHOLS, Lydia. Some Dogs. illus. by author. Gibbs Smith. 2023. ISBN 9781423663706.
Toddler-Gr 2–This brief, layered-view board book invites young readers to look at cute dogs and admire how different they all are from one another. Dogs are often paired with their opposites (solid/spots, shaggy/sleek), but the book emphasizes that dogs “recognize and accept one another” regardless of differences. If dogs can do it, we can, too!
O’LEARY, Sara.A Kid Is a Kid Is a Kid.illus. by Qin Leng. Groundwood. 2021. ISBN 9781773062501.
PreS-Gr 2–Are you a boy or a girl? Why are you so small? Where are you from? The first half of this book presents a series of questions children find annoying to be asked. The second half suggests alternative questions that focus on the present, sharing, and common interests. Ink, watercolor,and pastel illustrations show kids with a wide variety of skin tones and body shapes.
ROBBINS,Rose. Talking Is Not My Thing. illus. by author. Eerdmans. 2020. ISBN 9780802855497.
PreS-Gr 3–The protagonist of this book is a little yellow cat in a red dress. She does not speak. She communicates to readers through thought bubbles and to her family with nonverbal communication. Readers follow her during an average day and learn that she is startled by loud noises, likes having a comforting stuffed animal nearby, and sticks to a routine. This colorful book gently illustrates ways to communicate with neurodiverse friends children may encounter.
ROSKIFTE, Kristin. Everybody Counts: A Counting Story from 0 to 7.5 Billion. illus. by author. tr. from Norwegian by Siân Mackie. Quarto/Wide-Eyed Eds. 2020. ISBN 9780711245242.
K-Gr 4–Each page features more and more people up to 7.5 billion! However, the book is less about counting and more about the connections among us. The pages contain simple sentences about the people depicted, like “One of them is dreaming of a bigger car” or “One of them likes going to strangers’ weddings and funerals.” Back matter tells a deeper story and allows readers to learn about the characters’ similarities and differences.
SPANYOL, Jessica. Clive and His Babies. illus. by author. Child’s Play. 2016. ISBN 9781846438820.
K-Gr 2–This book is part of the “All About Clive” series that follows a boy and his interests, which have been considered stereotypically “feminine,” like collecting baby dolls and being a nurse. Children in this series, and others by Spanyol, have a variety of skin tones and physical abilities and defy gender stereotypes. The gentle stories simply observe the kids and their activities. Some of Spanyol’s books are also available in bilingual English/Spanish editions.
THOMPKINS-BIGELOW, Jamilah. Mommy’s Khimar. illus. by Ebony Glenn. S. & S. 2018. ISBN 9781534400597.
PreS-Gr 4–A young Muslim American girl looks at the rainbow-colored assortment of khimars in her mommy’s closet and lets her imagination run wild. Mommywraps one around her head every day, and she helps the young girl wear hers, too. Donning the khimar, the girl pretends she is the sun in bright yellow garb or a superhero with a long flowing cape. Most importantly, she feels close to her mother when she wears one of her khimars. The story brightly celebrates this traditional Muslim headscarf both for those who wear one and those who do not.
WIFLER, Laura. Like Me: A Story About Disability and Discovering God’s Image in Every Person. illus. by Skylar White. Harvest House. 2023. ISBN 9780736985758.
PreS-Gr 3–The family in this book comprises a mother, a father, and two sons. The four-year-old son struggles to walk and talk. His older brother narrates a typical day for the family: taking the brother to therapy, meeting with friends, having dinner as a family. Kids and families with different skin tones as well as physical and neurological abilities are illustrated throughout the story. Through a Christian lens, the book explains the importance of celebrating our differences.
YOsh*tAKE, Shinsuke. There Must Be More Than That! illus. by author. Chronicle. 2020. ISBN 9781452183220.
PreS-Gr 2–The world can be a scary place. People of all ages, even children, may worry about climate change, war, and other earth-shattering events. Some people even obsess about the terrible side of things, believing the world to be doomed. This brightly illustrated book helps readers navigate interactions with overwhelmingly negative people. It encourages us to think differently and still have hope. Our imaginations, and the world’s possibilities, are endless.
Chance Lee Joyner is the assistant director of the Tyngsborough Public Library.
