Areli is a Dreamer: A True Story

E MOR

When Areli was just a baby, her mama and papa moved from Mexico to New York with her brother, Alex, to make a better life for the family--and when she was in kindergarten, they sent for her, too. Everything in New York was different. Gone were the Saturdays at Abuela’s house, filled with cousins and sunshine. Instead, things were busy and fast and noisy. Areli’s limited English came out wrong, and schoolmates accused her of being illegal. But with time, America became her home. And she saw it as a land of opportunity, where millions of immigrants who came before her paved their own paths. She knew she would, too.

All Because You Matter

E CHA

Tami Charles pens a poetic, lyrical text that is part love letter, part anthem, assuring readers that they always have, and always will, matter. This powerful, rhythmic lullaby reassures readers that their matter and their worth is never diminished, no matter the circumstance: through the joy and wonder of their first steps and first laughs, through the hardship of adolescent struggles, and the pain and heartbreak of current events, they always have, and always will, matter. Accompanied by illustrations by renowned artist Bryan Collier, a four-time Caldecott Honor recipient and a nine-time Coretta Scott King Award winner or honoree, All Because You Matter empowers readers with pride, joy, and comfort, reminding them of their roots and strengthening them for the days to come.

Intersectionallies: We Make Room For All

E JOH

The brainchild of three women-of-color sociologists, IntersectionAllies is a smooth, gleeful entry into intersectional feminism for kids. Featuring gorgeous illustrations on every page and powerful introductions by activist and law professor Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw, who coined the term “intersectionality,” and Dr. Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro, author of Intersectionality: An Intellectual History, the story's nine characters proudly describe themselves and their backgrounds, involving topics that range from a physical disability to language brokering, offering an opportunity to take pride in a personal story and connect to collective struggle for justice.

Where Are You From

E MEN

When a girl is asked where she’s from—where she’s really from—none of her answers seems to be the right one. Unsure about how to reply, she turns to her loving abuelo for help. He doesn’t give her the response she expects. She gets an even better one.

Where am I from? You’re from hurricanes and dark storms, and a tiny singing frog that calls the island people home when the sun goes to sleep.

When Aidan Became a Brother

E LUK

When Aidan was born, everyone thought he was a girl. His parents gave him a pretty name, his room looked like a girl's room, and he wore clothes that other girls liked wearing. After he realized he was a trans boy, Aidan and his parents fixed the parts of his life that didn't fit anymore, and he settled happily into his new life. Then Mom and Dad announce that they're going to have another baby, and Aidan wants to do everything he can to make things right for his new sibling from the beginning--from choosing the perfect name to creating a beautiful room to picking out the cutest onesie. But what does "making things right" actually mean? And what happens if he messes up? With a little help, Aidan comes to understand that mistakes can be fixed with honesty and communication, and that he already knows the most important thing about being a big brother: how to love with his whole self.

Calvin

E FOR

Calvin has always been a boy, even if the world sees him as a girl. He knows who he is in his heart and in his mind but he hasn't yet told his family. Finally, he can wait no longer: "I'm not a girl," he tells his family. "I'm a boy--a boy in my heart and in my brain." Quick to support him, his loving family takes Calvin shopping for the swim trunks he's always wanted and back-to-school clothes and a new haircut that helps him look and feel like the boy he's always known himself to be. As the first day of school approaches, he's nervous and the "what-ifs" gather up inside him. But as his friends and teachers rally around him and he tells them his name, all his "what-ifs" begin to melt away.

The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family

E MUH

With her new backpack and light-up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be special. It's the start of a brand new year and, best of all, it's her older sister Asiya's first day of hijab--a hijab of beautiful blue fabric, like the ocean waving to the sky. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful, and in the face of hurtful, confusing words, Faizah will find new ways to be strong.

Being You: A First Conversation About Gender

PC 305.3 MAD

While young children are avid observers and questioners of their world, adults often shut down or postpone conversations on complicated topics because it's hard to know where to begin. Research shows that talking about issues like race and gender from the age of two not only helps children understand what they see, but also increases self-awareness, self-esteem, and allows them to recognize and confront things that are unfair, like discrimination and prejudice.

It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity

305.3 THO

Some people are boys. Some people are girls. Some people are both, neither, or somewhere in between. This sweet, straightforward exploration of gender identity will give children a fuller understanding of themselves and others. With child-friendly language and vibrant art, It Feels Good to Be Yourself provides young readers and parents alike with the vocabulary to discuss this important topic with sensitivity.

Pink, blue, and you! questions for kids about gender stereotypes

305.3 GRA

An easy-to-grasp picture book, exploring questions relating to gender identity, sexual orientation, and sexism.

My Sister Daisy 

E KAR

Daisy’s older brother is thrilled when he gets a new sibling. They are best buddies who do everything together. But in kindergarten, things change. His sibling tells him she is a girl and wants to be called Daisy. Daisy’s brother must adjust to the change—including what it means for him and their relationship. A powerful, moving picture book based on a true story, My Sister, Daisy handles a sensitive subject with warmth and love.

The Proudest Color

E MOD

Zahra sees color around her wherever she goes, but she doesn't know how to feel about her brown skin. Kids at school make her feel unsure about the beauty of her brown skin, but her mother tells her to be proud of her skin and reminds her of important people like Kamala Harris, Frida Kahlo, Malala Yousafzai, and Martin Luther King Jr. that look just like her.

Leila in Saffron

E GUI

When Leila looks in the mirror, she doesn’t know if she likes what she sees. But when her grandmother tells her the saffron beads on her scarf suit her, she feels a tiny bit better. So, Leila spends the rest of their family dinner night on the lookout for other parts of her she does like. Follow Leila’s journey as she uses her senses of sight, smell, taste, touch to seek out the characteristics that make up her unique identity, and finds reasons to feel proud of herself, just as she is.

Like a Girl

E DEG

Once upon a time, “like a girl” was considered an insult. Not anymore! In art, aviation, politics, sports, every walk of life, girls are demonstrating their creativity, perseverance, and strength. From civil rights activist Rosa Parks, who stood up for her beliefs by staying seated, to astronaut Sally Ride, who soared to the skies, the 24 women profiled here took risks, acted up, broke barriers, and transformed the world. With its simple yet powerful text, this book will inspire young women everywhere.   

Ho’onani Hula Warrior

E GAL

Presents a picture book based on a true story. A Hawaiian girl, Ho'onani, doesn't feel like a girl or a boy; she feels in the middle. When she learns her school is performing a traditionally male hula chant, she wonders if a girl can lead the all-male troupe. While some are not happy with her determination, including her sister, Ho'onani stays true to herself and became a hula warrior.

American Desi

E GOP

A young girl longs to know where she fits in: Is she American? Or is she Indian? Does she have to pick or can she be both? With bright, joyful rhyme, and paired with an immersive art style using American and Indian fabrics, American Desi celebrates the experiences of young children growing up first and second generation Indian American: straddling the two cultural worlds they belong to, embracing all they love of both worlds and refusing to be limited by either.

Teo’s Tuto

E MAC

As soon as he joined ballet class, Téo fell in love with learning the new moves and dancing in his tutu. When it's time to choose costumes for the upcoming recital, Téo takes home two options: pants and a shirt like the other boys in class, and a purple tutu. When he has to make his final decision, he knows what he wants to wear, but is unsure how others will react to his choice, prompting his parents to give him much-needed advice on being oneself and taking steps to be brave.

This is Me: A Story of Who We Are & Where We Came From

E CUR

In This Is Me a teacher tells her class about her great-grandmother's dislocating journey from home to a new country with nothing but a small suitcase to bring along. And she asks: What would you pack? What are the things you love best? What says "This is me!" With its lively, rhyming language and endearing illustrations, it's a book to read again and again, imagining the lives of the different characters, finding new details in the art, thinking about what it would be like to move someplace completely different. 

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress

E BAL

A little boy named Morris is teased and excluded when he wears a tangerine dress during dress-up time at school. He stays home from school, but after having a vivid dream, he paints a picture of it and brings it to school. His picture inspires an imaginative playtime that draws others in and helps Morris--in his tangerine dress--make new friends.

Lucia the Luchadora

E GAR

Donning a red cape, just like the boys wear, little Lucía tackles the playground like a daredevil. However, the boys tell her girls can't be superheroes, and refuse to play with Lucía. Feeling sad, Lucía speaks with her grandmother, Abuela, who tells Lucía a secret--she comes from a family of luchadoras, bold women from the Mexican lucha libre tradition! This time Lucía dons a white cape and silver lucha mask, and sparks a luchadora sensation on the playground!

Remarkably You

E MIL

Simple rhyming text and colorful illustrations encourage young readers to discover what makes them unique, from helping and spelling to leading parades and drawing a crowd, and encourages them to share their gifts with the world.