Here in ICPL, children and families from different cultures and different countries connect with each other to share happiness and to celebrate diversity. Please check out these stunning diverse children’s books recently published in 2022.
Lunch from home
Stein, Joshua David, author.
jE Stein
When Ray, Preeti, Mina, and Niki bring their favorite lunches to school, their classmates scrunch their noses and act disgusted, but the four children learn to stand up for their lunches and cultural backgrounds. Based on the real-life childhood experiences of chefs Ray Garcia, Preeti Mistry, Mina Park, and Niki Russ Federman.
The talk
Williams, Alicia, 1970- author.
jE Williams
As a little boy grows into a bigger boy, he first must have the difficult conversation Black families have with their sons, warning them about the challenges they face due to racism.
The world belonged to us
Woodson, Jacqueline, author.
jE Woodson
"A group of kids celebrate the joy and freedom of summer not so long ago on their Brooklyn block"--
Mama's Home
Youngblood, Shay, author.
jE Youngblood
"Home can be a blue house with white trim you share with your mama. But it can be bigger than that, with lots of Big Mamas to take care of you when your mom works--different houses for every day of the week. Mondays mean Nurse Louella and bike riding. Tuesdays mean eating fufu with your fingers with Miss Zikora. And Wednesdays . . . well, no matter where you are, as long as you are with your Big Mamas, you are home."--
Rosa's song
Rhee, Helena Ku, author.
jE Rhee
"A young immigrant from South Korea finds community and friendship in an apartment house filled with other newly arrived kids"--
All are neighbors
Penfold, Alexandra, author.
jE Penfold
"When a new family moves in, the whole neighborhood comes together to celebrate what makes their community diverse and special"--
American desi
Gopal, Jyoti Rajan, author.
jE Gopal
An American child of East Asian descent revels in dances, clothing, games, foods and other characteristics of both cultures, while blending them into what makes this American desi unique.
A is for Asian American : an Asian Pacific Islander Desi American alphabet
Loh-Hagan, Virginia, author.
j973.0495 Loh-Hagan
"Following the alphabet, poetry and expository text explain and showcase the cultural traditions and contributions of Asian Americans throughout U.S. history. Topics include traditions in food, family, and social celebrations, as well as key moments in history and milestone achievements."--
Goodnight racism
Kendi, Ibram X., author.
jE Kendi
Illustrations and text show children the language to dream of a better world.
The moon from Dehradun : a story of partition
Shamsi, Shirin, author.
jE Shamsi
A young girl leaves her beloved doll behind when she must make the journey from India to Pakistan in the aftermath of their partition by the British government.
Shoham's bangle
Sassoon, Sarah, 1981- author.
jE Sassoon
"When Shoham's family emigrates from Iraq to Israel, Nana Aziza gives Shoham a way to remember where she came from"--
I am amazing!
Holder, Alissa, author.
jE Holder
Ayaan loves being a sueprhero and offering a helping hand, but when two classmates tell him he does not look like a superhero, Ayaan's father assures him that superheros come in all shapes and sizes.
The little house of hope
Jennings, Terry Catasús, author.
jE Jennings
"When Esperanza and her family arrive in the United States from Cuba, they buy a little house, una casita. It may be small, but they soon prove that there's room enough to share with a whole community"--
Abuelita and I make flan
Hernández Bergstrom, Adriana, author, illustrator.
jE Hernandez
Anita helps her grandmother make flan for her grandfather's birthday.
Arab Arab all year long!
Camper, Cathy, author.
jE Camper
"Yallah! From January to December, join some busy kids as they partake in traditions old and new. There's so much to do, whether it's learning to write Arabic or looking at hijab fashion sites while planning costumes for a local comic convention. With details as vivid as the scent of jasmine and honeysuckle perfume (made to remind Mom of Morocco), children bond with friends, honor tradition, and spend loving time with family. Accompanied by buoyant and charming illustrations, this portrait of Arab life and childhood zeal is sure to bring joy all year round. Back matter includes an extensive glossary and notes to enrich the experience for readers of any culture."--
Brown is warm, black is bright
Thomson, Sarah L., author.
jE Thomson
Illustrations and text celebrate the colors brown and black, demonstrating the many positive assocations with these two colors.
You are my favorite color
Sze, Gillian, 1985- author.
jE Sze
"When you ask me why your skin is brown, I will tell you that you are my favorite color. I will say that your skin was decided long, long ago. Time was just waiting for you. So begins a mother's celebration of her children's brown skin, told through warm and vivid poetry."--
The hair book
Yvette, LaTonya, 1989- author.
jBOARD BOOK Yvette
"With bold, colorful graphics and poetic rhyme, this is a stunning tribute to every kind of hair, perfect for fans of Hair Love"--
I'll go and come back
LaRocca, Rajani, author.
jE Larocca
Jyoti is overwhelmed when she visits her grandmother in India for the first time, but she and Sita Pati quickly form a bond. When Pati visits Jyoti in America, it is Jyoti's turn to help her grandmother feel welcome.
I love you because I love you
Van, Muon, author.
jE Van
"Author Mựơn Thị Văn and Stonewall Book Award-winning artist Jessica Love detail all the big and small reasons why we love the people we do within a call-and-response picture book that features families across the spectrum"--
With lots of love
Torres Sanchez, Jenny, author.
jE Torressa
Rocio and her family move from Central America to the United States, leaving behind their extended family and many happy memories, but Rocio's Abuela finds a way to send her something special for her birthday.
Our world is a family : our community can change the world
Whitehill, Miry, author.
jE Whitehil
Demonstrates the importance of welcoming people from all over the world into the community with love, compassion, and acceptance.
Luli and the language of tea
Wang, Andrea, author.
jE Wang
"Though they may speak different languages, kids from all over the world come together to enjoy the shared pastime of tea in this delicious book for young readers. When five-year-old Luli joins her new English as a Second Language class, the playroom is quiet. Luli can't speak English, neither can anyone else. That's when she has a brilliant idea to host a tea party and bring them all together. Luli removes her teapot, thermos, and teacups from her bag and calls out "Chá!" in her native Chinese. One by one, her classmates pipe up in recognition: in Russian, Hindi, Turkish, Persian, Arabic, and Spanish, Portuguese, and Swahili. Tea is a tasty language they all know well, and it gives them a chance to share and enjoy each other's company. When all the tea is gone and it's time for dessert, Luli gets to use her favorite English word, cookie! After that, the playroom isn't so quiet."--
On this airplane
Heuer, Lourdes, author.
jE Heuer
"On this airplane...Someone travels solo, two travel as one, three return and four set out. In this simple and moving book, a young family takes a plane to their new home. While onboard, they encounter all the people you meet on a plane: a bookworm, a businessperson, tourists, crying babies and daydreamers...all with their own stories, all heading somewhere special." -- Inside front cover
Amy Wu and the warm welcome
Zhang, Kat, 1991- author.
jE Zhang
Amy Wu would love to welcome the new student in her class, but Lin has just come from China and does not speak much English, so with the help of her family Amy tries to work out a way to bridge the language gap.
You are life
Phi, Bao, 1975- author.
jE Phi
Every child is bursting with amazing possibilities and poet Bao Phi celebrates the complex identity of the children of immigrants and refugees.
Holi hai!
Soundar, Chitra, author.
j394.26545 Soundar
Will Gauri's anger prevent her from enjoying the Holi festivities with her family?
Daddy speaks love
Henderson, Leah, author.
jE Henderson
"A tribute to the joy and grounding that fathers bring to their children's lives"--
The legend of Gravity : a tall basketball tale
Palmer, Charly, author, illustrator.
jE Palmer
"A tall tale about a local basketball hero nicknamed Gravity."--
I'm growing great
Roe, Mechal Renee, author, illustrator.
jE Roe
"Girls' growth and positivity are celebrated in this garden-themed inspirational book"--
Tía Fortuna's new home
Behar, Ruth, 1956- author.
jE Behar
Estrella learns about her Cuban and Jewish heritage as she helps her aunt move from her Miami apartment to an assisted living community.
Show the world!
Dalton, Angela, author.
jE Dalton
"From painting, music, and slam poetry, to engineering, protesting, and photography, a young narrator journeys through her neighborhood, encouraging readers to explore all the many ways they can express themselves."--
You are not alone
McGaw, Kaitlin, author.
jE McGaw
"When I say something is unfair to me, but it's fair for you, what does that make it? When I meditate, it all gets clear. And if you listen, you will really hear. I am not alone. I am enough. It can be scary to feel like you're all on your own, especially in the face of prejudice. But always remember: you are not alone. Inspired by the Alphabet Rockers' empowering song "Not Alone," this uplifting picture book reassures kids that they belong and encourages them to love their beautiful selves and their identities, use their voices against hate, and step up for one another and have one another's backs no matter what"--
Just help! : how to build a better world
Sotomayor, Sonia, 1954- author.
j307 Sotomayor
"In a story inspired by her own family's desire to help others, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor takes young readers on a journey through a neighborhood where kids and adults, activists and bus drivers, friends and strangers all help one another to build a better world for themselves and their community"--
Who are your people?
Sellers, Bakari, 1984- author.
jE Sellers
When you meet someone for the first time, they might ask, "Who are your people?" and "Where are you from?" In these pages is a timeless celebration of the individuals and experiences that help shape young children into the most remarkable and unique beings that they can be.
Love in the library
Tokuda-Hall, Maggie, author.
jE Tokudaha
Based on a true story of love and resilience at the Minidoka incarceration camp.
Amah faraway
Greanias, Margaret Chiu, author.
jE Greanias
Nervous about visiting her grandmother in Taipei, Taiwan, a young girl soon adjusts to her unfamiliar surroundings and enjoys the adventure.
Marley and the family band
Marley, Cedella, author.
jE Marley
"Marley and her siblings plan to put on a community concert after moving from Jamaica to Delaware, but when rain threatens to ruin the day, they learn the power of lending a helping hand"--
Eyes that speak to the stars
Ho, Joanna, author.
jE Ho
A young Asian boy notices that his eyes look different from his peers' after seeing his friend's drawing of them. After talking to his father, the boy realizes that his eyes rise to the skies and speak to the stars, shine like sunlit rays, and glimpse trails of light from those who came before--in fact, his eyes are like his father's, his agong's, and his little brother's, and they are visionary. Inspired by the men in his family, he recognizes his own power and strength from within. This extraordinary picture book redefines what it means to be truly you. Eyes That Kiss in the Corners received three starred reviews and was embraced as "breathtaking," "lyrical," and "poignant." This companion volume is sure to be welcomed with equal joy. January/February 2021 Kids' Indie Next List An Amazon January Best Book of the Month
Nigel and the moon
Eady, Antwan, author.
jE Eady
When Nigel looks up at the moon, his future is bright. He imagines himself as...an astronaut, a dancer, a superhero, too! Among the stars, he twirls. With pride, his chest swells. And his eyes, they glow. Nigel is the most brilliant body in the sky. But it's Career Week at school, and Nigel can't find the courage to share his dreams. It's easy to whisper them to the moon, but not to his classmates--especially when he already feels out of place.
I color myself different
Kaepernick, Colin, 1987- author.
jE Kaeperni
An inspiring story of identity and self-esteem from celebrated athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick. When Colin Kaepernick was five years old, he was given a simple school assignment: draw a picture of yourself and your family. What young Colin does next with his brown crayon changes his whole world and worldview, providing a valuable lesson on embracing and celebrating his Black identity through the power of radical self-love and knowing your inherent worth. I Color Myself Different is a joyful ode to Black and Brown lives based on real events in young Colin's life that is perfect for every reader's bookshelf. It's a story of self-discovery, staying true to one's self, and advocating for change...even when you're very little!
Mommy's hometown
Lim, Hope, author.
jE Lim
When a young boy and his mother travel to her childhood home in Korea, the town is not as he imagined until he visits the river where she used to play and sees that the spirit and happiness of those days remain.
The notebook keeper : a story of kindness from the border
Briseño, Stephen, author.
jE Briseno
After traveling to Tijuana, Mexico, Noemi and her mother are denied entry at the border and must find the refugee in charge of the notebook, an unofficial ledger of those waiting to cross into the United States. Includes author's note.
That's not my name!
Syed, Anoosha, author, illustrator.
jE Syed
Mirha questions her name after her classmates continually pronounce it wrong on the first day of school so her mother helps her to learn the significance of her name and to be proud of it.
Playtime for restless rascals
Grimes, Nikki, author.
jE Grimes
A mother wakes up her child whose job is to play, as there is so much to do in a fun-filled day, from dancing in puddles to jumping in leaves.
Shapes, lines, and light : my grandfather's American journey
Yamasaki, Katie, author, illustrator.
jBIOGRAPHY Yamasaki, Minoru
"Katie Yamasaki's newest picture book celebrates the life of her grandfather, the acclaimed Japanese American architect Minoru Yamasaki. Minoru Yamasaki described the feeling he sought to create in his buildings as "serenity, surprise, and delight." Here, Katie Yamasaki charts his life and work: his childhood in Seattle's Japanese immigrant community, paying his way through college working in Alaska's notorious salmon canneries, his success in architectural school, and the transformative structures he imagined and built. A Japanese American man who faced brutal anti-Asian racism in post-World War II America and an outsider to the architectural establishment, he nonetheless left his mark on the world, from the American Midwest to New York City, Asia, and the Middle East. This striking picture book renders one artist's work through the eyes of another, and tells a story of a man whose vision, hard work, and humanity led him to the pinnacle of his field"--
My Diwali light
Mirchandani, Raakhee, author.
j394.26545 Mirchandani
Devi, her family, and their friends boldly celebrate and proudly share their Diwali traditions.
I am golden
Chen, Eva, 1980- author.
jE Chen
This moving ode to the immigrant experience, as well as a manifesto of self-love for Chinese American children, is a jubilant celebration of accepting who you are.
We are golden, we are shining. We are the beautiful minds on this beautiful land. Please share with me this beautiful and toughing ode to generations of Chinese American joy.
- Fang