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5 Picture Books Featuring Multiracial and Multicultural Families
My daughter came home on the first day of kindergarten and told me that she had met a new friend.
“What’s her name?” I asked, excitedly.
“Tua-Luin,” she replied. “She told me her mom has yellow skin and her dad has black skin.”
Then she skipped on into the kitchen for a snack.
I loved how natural that conversation was for her; how she immediately understood that families come in all different colors and backgrounds. And when it comes to books, it is wonderful for children to read about families that are similar to their own, as well as those that are different. These five picture books showcase the beautiful rainbow that families can be, and open the door to conversations about the splendor in all our differences and similarities.
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Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match, by Monica Brown, illustrated by Sara Palacios
There’s just so much to love about this book! From the inspiring premise of a girl who looks and acts differently from her classmates trying to figure out where she belongs, to the fact that the book is told in both English and Spanish—it’s a great way for kids to hear a story told in two languages. Marisol, a Scottish-American-Peruvian young girl, doesn’t realize she’s unique until it’s pointed out to her and makes her feel out of place. But when she tries to conform to who she thinks she should be, a very unexpected note shows her the beauty in simply being yourself.
I Love You Like Crazy Cakes, by Rose Lewis, illustrated by Jane Dyer
My children love to read a book that is based on a true, real-life experience. That’s just one of the reasons they adore this story of a woman who travels to China to adopt her baby daughter. A wonderful book to learn about adoption, as well as see a family made up of different cultures coming together in love. Kids will not only love the story and message but the beautiful watercolor illustrations that express the soulful meaning of the story.
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Jalapeño Bagels, by Natasha Wing, illustrated by Robert Casilla
What should a young son of a Jewish father and a Mexican mother bring for International Day at his school? It’s the question that Pablo asks over and over as he tries to find the perfect treat to bring from his parents’ bakery. However, none of his ideas seem to embrace both of his cultural roots. Finally, he realizes he can put the pieces of his heritage together to make jalapeño bagels! And what’s awesome about this book, beyond the story and appealing illustrations, is the Yiddish and Spanish glossary of terms at the end.
Violet, by Tania Duprey Stehlik, illustrated by Vanja Jovanovic
A blue dad, a red mother, and a daughter that is purple. Violet never thought about the fact that she was a different color from her parents until a friend asks her why her father is blue. It’s only then that Violet questions her own skin color and wonders exactly why is so different. My kids (and me!) loved how the skin colors weren’t ones you really see in real-life. It transported them to a fun, clever place while still expression the idea of self-acceptance and embracing a multiracial family.
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My Two Grannies, by Floella Benjamin, illustrated by Margaret Chamberlain
When two grandmothers from different countries, one from Trinidad and one from England, come to babysit their granddaughter, Alvina, for a week, nothing really goes at the planned. As they argue, each believing their way is right, it’s up to Alvina to show them how all their cultures can be appreciated and blend together. A chance to show kids that even parents and grown-ups sometimes need a little help getting along.
What are your favorite picture books that celebrate multiracial and multicultural families?