Baby Books & Picture Books Up to Age 5
A Mother for Choco
By Keiko Kaska
A sweet story about families being based in love, despite differences in how we look or where we come from, adopted or not. Families can come in all different shapes in sizes and fit together beautifully.
Bilal Cooks Daal
By Aisha Saeed
This book highlights bringing people together of different backgrounds to enjoy a family’s traditional cuisine and customs. It showcases the curiosity of children to explore different foods, households, and cultures.
Should I Share My Ice Cream? (Elephant & Piggie Series)
By Mo Willems
A great book series about two friends who are different in their nature but support one another through different adventures.This book in particular is about sharing with friends.
Books for Ages 5-8
Two of a Kind
By Kenny Onatolu
Author Kenny Onatolu, a former NFL football player, writes his story about growing up as a privileged African-American child in a non-diverse community. This book encourages children to be curious and learn about others who may not look like them.
Frog and Toad are Friends
By Arnold Lobel
A classic book series about two friends who share adventures and are there for each other through thick and thin. Celebrate the power of friendship with Frog and Toad!
Piper Green and the Fairy Tree Series
By Ellen Potter
A spunky Piper Green who speaks her mind and rides a lobster boat to school! Fun adventures and a little bit of magic await you in this series.
Books for Ages 8-12
Anna Hibiscus
By Atinuke
A series of books set in West Africa, about Anna’s adventures, as she sings for the President, gets in a tangle with her hair, and visits the other side of the city. These stories expose children to another culture and will teach compassion.
I Am Malala
By Malala Yousafzai
The true story of Malala, as she grew up in Pakistan when the Taliban took control of her region. A story of advocacy and resilience and how one young girl stood up for what she believed in and nearly lost her life.
Sherlock Sam
By A.J. Low
A fun mystery series, based on the classic Sherlock Holmes, with a young boy set in Singapore with his trusty robot, Watson! Follow Sam through his adventures of solving crimes and learn more about teamwork & persistence.
Books for Middle-Schoolers & Tweens
Bud, Not Buddy
By Christopher Paul Curtis
This book highlights the courage of a young underprivileged boy who sets out to search for his father in Depression-era Michigan. Join Bud as he navigates his way towards the hope for a better future and learn about history along the way.
New Kid
By Jerry Craft
A graphic novel about a new kid trying to fit in at a new school. Set in middle school, Jordan struggles with adjusting to his two conflicting worlds.
Out of my Mind
By Sharon Draper
11 year old Melody has a photographic memory and is one of the smartest kids in her school. But most people don’t know it and dismiss her because she can’t walk, talk, or write. Follow Melody as she refuses to be defined by her disability.
Young Adult Books for High-school Aged Kids
All the Light We Cannot See
By Anthony Doerr
Set in Europe during WW2, this is a story about a young French girl who went blind and an orphaned German boy who we follow as they navigate the challenges of surviving after war. It is beautifully written, reminding us of the horror and inhumanity of war and also the kindness that humans are capable of.
Life of Pi
By Yann Martel
A tale of endurance and survival, as Pi Patel navigates his way through treacherous water with his Bengal tiger, Richard Parker. Pi comes face to face with his mortality and has to face his truth after surviving a shipwreck.
The Nickel Boys
By Colson Whitehead
A gripping tale with a twist at the end, set in 1960’s Tallahassee, about a reform school called Nickel Academy. This book will open up your eyes to history, brotherhood, and survival.