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As promised, I’ve compiled a list of books with diverse representation for you to add to your child’s bookshelf! I’m not recommending any book that I haven’t read myself and I’ve included handy links to Bookshop.org so you can support local bookstores if you choose to buy. In the many years I’ve been working with children and their families, reading to kiddos and encouraging family and caretakers to read with their kiddos has been a central focus of mine.

Reading is an all-around amazing activity! It’s one-on-one time (or two-on-one time) with your child; it introduces children to new words, which - in turn - expands their vocabulary; it provides visual sensory stimulation; it encourages your child’s imagination and, as I shared in my last blog post, it provides children with windows, mirrors, and sliding doors!

My knowledge of children’s books is substantial and I specialize in personalized book selection, so if you want to go beyond the ten books listed here, reach out and let’s work together! I’d love to help enrich your storytimes with your child.

1. Baby Dance by Ann Taylor – How many times have you read an excerpt of a 19th century rhyming poem to your kiddo? If the answer is ‘none’ (and I would guess that is a common response), this book can change that for you! A father and daughter dance across the pages and you can dance with your baby as you read it aloud, too! (Ages 0-2)

2. Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors by Hena Kahn – Right around his 2nd birthday, this book became an instant favorite to a Little One and I had it memorized before he moved on to something else. I think it’s perfect for reading aloud because the words rhyme seamlessly, the content is accessible, and the illustrations are fun! I learned new words and facts from it, too. (Ages 2-5)

3. Dim Sum for Everyone! by Grace Lin – I love this book because it understands what babies and toddlers need in a book: few but effective words. It accurately depicts a culture and introduces the reader to delicious foods. Another favorite of a Little One, I often finished the book with a craving. Fair warning. (Ages 0-4)

4. I Love All of Me (Wonderful Me) by Lorie Ann Grover – I read this to Niece over FaceTime a few weeks ago, and the fact that it not only held her attention across a screen but that she also asked to hear it again cemented its place in my Favorite Books list. Excellent representation with delightful rhymes that encourage body acceptance and celebrate babies! (Ages 0-4)

5. Rosa Loves Dinosaurs (All About Rosa) by Jessica Spanyol– Did I learn about dinosaurs from this book? I certainly did! Does reading this book remind me that I want Rosa’s red shoes? It certainly does. Rosa plays with her dinosaurs by herself and with friends, all the while subtly teaching small facts. (Ages 1-5)

6. Laxmi’s Mooch by Shelly Anand – Who among us hasn’t looked at our bodies from time to time and been like, “I have hair THERE?!” That’s Laxmi’s reaction when someone points out the hairs above her lips, her ‘mooch’ (Hindi for mustache). She runs home to her parents and – instead of making an appointment at the local waxing salon or pulling out the tweezers – her mother and father tell her about all the women who have mooches and hair other places than just their heads. One dream of being a tiger later and Laxmi is back on the playground and encouraging others to accept (and wait for) their mooches. (Ages 3+)

7. Daddy, Papa, and Me by Lesléa Newman – This is not a book explaining how and why the narrator has two fathers. This is a children’s book about a family playing together and having fun together…and the family just happens to have two fathers. By presenting the family as normal, your child will accept it as normal, too. The only thing probably NOT normal is that the parents only need to rest at the end of the day and not also in the middle! (Ages 0–3)

8. My First Jewish Baby Book: Almost everything you need to know about being Jewish – from Afikomen to Zayde by Julie Merberg – An ABCs book about Jewish culture, I assure you that you don’t have to be Jewish to appreciate all the information it imparts! The illustrations are bright and fun and the text is easy to understand. Be ready to brush off your Yiddish! (Ages 4+)

9. Happy Adoption Day! by John McCutcheon – I love reading this book aloud! The rhymes are on point and the message about love and families is heartwarming. Bonus that the illustrations are like paintings! (Ages 1-4)

10. Snug by Carol Thompson – With just enough words on a page to keep the youngest ones’ attention and illustrations that invite a closer look, this book celebrating the feeling of being ‘snug’ features enough unexpected comparisons to keep it interesting. Did I expect the mole? No, I did not. (Ages 0-4)