Browse Items · Windows and Mirrors: Diversity in Books for Young Readers

Miles, Shanna

Shanna Miles is an author, reviewer, librarian, wife, and mother of two daughters. She advocates for the appropriate representation of marginalized groups in children's fiction.

Tags: author; Black/african (author); straight (author); woman (author)

This novel is an updated version of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. It brings in themes of cultural identity, class, and gentrification in a romance setting. It discusses diversity and hardship in the teenage years and reimagines a classic story.

Tags: Black/African (primary character); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; Latinx (primary character); unspecified sexuality (primary character); young adult fiction

The Outsiders

This novel discusses the disparities between working-class and upper-class gangs who are divided because of their status. It is a novel focused on teenage boys getting caught in trouble and is a first person account from the main character, Ponyboy.…

Tags: boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; straight (primary character); straight (secondary characters); white, assumed (primary character); white, assumed (secondary characters); young adult fiction

Allegiant

This novel is the third in the Divergent trilogy. It is set in a dystopian future in Chicago, where people are organized into five different factions based on gene purity; the system is meant to prevent war or any other population threatening…

Tags: boy/man (primary character); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; multiracial (primary character); straight (primary character); white, assumed (primary character); young adult fiction

Niven, Jennifer

She is an Emmy Award-Winning, #1 New York Times, and international bestselling author of 10 books. Niven works with Germ, a literary and lifestyle web magazine for teenage girls and boys. She has also worked as a screenwriter, journalist, and…

Tags: author; straight (author); white (author); woman (author)

Norton, Preston

Preston Norton is a bisexual, genderqueer, American author who was a middle school teacher and mentor for drug addicts. He is known for his book Neanderthal Open the Door to the Universe, Where I End and You Begin, and Hopepunk.

Tags: author; LGBTQ+ (author); man (author); white (author)

Hopepunk

Hope Cassidy feels out of place in her conservative Christian family. She loves listening to rock, and her sister Faith has a boyfriend. When their little sister tells their parents about Faith's sin, she disappears, and Hope decides to rebel and…

Tags: boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; LGBTQ+ (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (primary character); white, assumed (primary character); white, assumed (secondary characters); young adult fiction

The Thing About Spring

An exciting story about a Mouse, Bird, Bear, and Rabbit that are all excited friends for Spring looking forward to warm days, lots of good food, blooming flowers, and pleasant surprises.

Tags: language: English; non-human (primary character); non-human (secondary characters); picture book; unspecified gender (primary character); unspecified gender (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Quackenstein Hatches A Family

A spooky and kooky tale about a lonely duck and his unexpected new friend.

Tags: language: English; non-human (primary character); non-human (secondary characters); picture book; unspecified gender (primary character); unspecified gender (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Pete the Cat Talent Show Trouble

Pete the Cat's school is hosting a fun talent show! Pete knows just what to sign up for- playing the guitar. But, one of his friends has already signed up for that, will friendship get in the way of this talent show?

Tags: boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (secondary characters); language: English; non-human (primary character); non-human (secondary characters); picture book; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Dinosaur Dig (The Berenstain Bears)

Based on the TV/Cartoon show, Dinosaur Dig is a tie-in that follows Nick Jr’s Berenstain Bears. In this book, Brother and Sister visit the Bearsonian Museum and find a real dinosaur dig taking place! What sort of fossils will they find?

Tags: boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); language: English; picture book; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Richard Scarry's A Day at the Police Station

Follow Sergeant Murphy, Busytown's favourite police officer, as he helps Busytown citizens find their lost items, handle huge traffic jams, and teach the town about safety. Children of all ages will love this fun and exciting story from the one and…

Tags: boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (secondary characters); language: English; non-human (primary character); non-human (secondary characters); picture book; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Pinkalicious and the Babysitter

Based on the PBS Kids TV series Pinkalicious & Peterrific, Pinkalicious and the Babysitter is a tie-in that follows Maya as she babysits Peter and Pinkalicious. WhenPeter accidentally breaks his mother’s mug, Pinkalicious takes on the challenge…

Tags: boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; picture book; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters); white, assumed (primary character); white, assumed (secondary characters)

The Night Before Playoffs

"The Night Before Playoffs" is a children's story about the woodland creatures who like to play hockey once the humans are fast asleep. With amazing illustrations, this picture book puts a Canadian twist on the holiday classic "A Visit from St.…

Tags: boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (secondary characters); group (characters); language: English; non-human (secondary characters); picture book; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

The Truck Book

Take a dive into the world of trucks, with over 50 different types of trucks to learn about. Full of colourful illustrations and tons of interesting truck facts, this picture book is an excellent read for any vehicle enthusiast.

Tags: language: English; no characters; picture book

Lam, Thao

A Vietnamese-Canadian children’s author and illustrator who studied illustration at Toronto’s Sheridan College and creates books in collage style.

Tags: Asian (author); Asian (illustrator); author; illustrator; unspecified sexuality (author); unspecified sexuality (illustrator); woman (author); woman (illustrator)

The Paper Boat

A unique wordless picturebook that tells the story of a family's flight from Communist-ruled Vietnam. The images were created from paper craft, and ants are used to parallel the experience of the refugees.

Tags: Asian (secondary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); group (characters); human (secondary characters); language: English; picture book; unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Kwon, Julie

A graduate from the Brown/RISD Dual-degree program, Kwon is now an artist and illustrator for children’s books and comics.

Tags: Asian (illustrator); illustrator; unspecified sexuality (illustrator); woman (illustrator)

Fu, Cherie

Daughter of immigrants seeking to tell stories which reflect her family’s cultural experiences.

Tags: Asian (author); author; unspecified sexuality (author); woman (author)

Little Messy Marcy Su

Marcy Su sets out to clean up her room and herself before her grandparents arrive. By the time they get there, she and her room look great, but the rest of the house is a mess. The delightful picturebook contains elements of Chinese culture…

Tags: Asian (primary character); Asian (secondary character); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; picture book; unspecified gender (primary character); unspecified gender (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Flett, Julie

A Cree-Metis author, illustrator, and artist who lives in Vancouver, Canada. Also known for works like Birdsong and When We Were Alone.

Tags: author; illustrator; Indigenous (author); Indigenous (illustrator); unspecified sexuality (author); unspecified sexuality (illustrator); woman (author); woman (illustrator)

We All Play

Animals and Indigenous children play side by side. Cree words are peppered throughout the book, and a glossary at the end provides the Cree names for all of the animals depicted. There is also a guide to Cree pronunciation for those not familiar with…

Tags: group (characters); human (secondary characters); language: Cree; language: English; non-human (primary character); picture book; unspecified gender (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

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