Celebrate EVERYONE! 10 Books that Open Children's Hearts to the World
By Rachel Ward
1. Yum! Let’s Eat! by Thando Maclaren
Age group: Toddler/Preschool
Chili peppers, curry, and couscous too—there’re so many unique foods and flavors that your little one probably hasn’t experienced yet! Available in several bilingual editions, this book highlights the different types of yummy cuisine that families eat all around the globe.
2. The Swirling Hijaab by Na'ima bint Robert
Age group: Preschool
Introduce your little one to the basics of Islamic culture in this fun story about a girl playing with her mother’s head scarf, called hijaab. With a swish and a swirl, she’s transformed into a fierce warrior queen, then a nomad in the desert, and even a bride inside a tent!
3. To Be a Kid by Maya Ajmera
Age group: Toddlers/Preschool
Celebrate what it’s like to be a kid no matter where you are in the world! This photographic book format captures moments with children from all over the world having fun, playing games, and spending time with loved ones. While the specifics may change from country to country, they’re all doing what they do best: being kids!
4. Elizabeti’s Doll by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen
Age group: Preschool
Seeing her mother care for her new baby brother, Elizabeti wants to try parenting something too. She finds a rock and turns it into a doll that she holds, clothes, and feeds like her very own child. Set in Tanzania, this story gives kids a glimpse into East African culture, including how babies are carried in a kanga cloth and food is prepared outside of the home.
5. Smiling by Gwenyth Swain
Age group: Toddlers
What makes you smile? Reading this book certainly will! It’s chock full of photos of real people around the world and all the things that make them smile—from watching a parade to hamming it up with friends. No matter how different we all are, smiling is our universal language!
6. Everybody Cooks Rice by Norah Dooley
Age group: Preschool
Carrie’s brother is late for dinner! On her quest around the neighborhood looking for him, she finds that so many people in her community cook rice! Whether they’re from Barbados, Mexico, or Vietnam, this mealtime staple is the common denominator at the dinner table.
7. Margaret and Margarita by Lynn Reiser
Age group: Toddlers
Margaret and Margarita meet each other at the park, but don’t speak the same language. Through patience and play they become fast friends—proving that language doesn’t need to be a barrier to making meaningful connections!
8. Hats Hats Hats by Ann Morris
Age group: Toddlers
All over the world there are all types of hats that represent diverse cultures. These real-life photos of people in their unique hats will introduce kids to new people and places, and get them thinking about what makes us the same and different.
9. One Green Apple by Eve Bunting
Age group: Preschool
When Farah and her family move to America from the Middle East, she suddenly feels like she doesn’t fit in. Some of her new classmates aren’t exactly welcoming, either. But on a field trip to the apple orchard, Farah and her classmates discover how variety can sweeten up life!
10. Dear Juno by Soyung Pak
Age group: Preschool
They’re separated by an ocean and a language barrier, but Juno and his grandmother don’t let that stop them from forming a deep bond. Juno’s grandmother sends photos and small gifts to share details of her life in Korea, while Juno relays experiences about his own life through drawings.
