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

Baldacchino, Christine

Baldacchino, who lives in Toronto, has a background in early childhood education. Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress is her first book; it is based on a situation she encountered in one of the schools where she was teaching. The book was a…

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

Barely Bruised Books

This small, independent bookstore sells a variety of new and used books of different genres of books and promotes community and diversity. They sell new and used copies of these books, as well as offering all children's literature for free.

Tags: brick and mortar independent bookstore; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Barlow, Charnelle Pinkney

She is a surface designer, which is similar to a graphic designer but they make designs that can be put unto surfaces like fabric. Barlow is also an illustrator. She started doing art and working as an illustrator as a way to tell her story and make…

Tags: Black/african (illustrator); graphic designer; illustrator; unspecified sexuality (illustrator); woman (illustrator)

Barrow, David

Before being is a skilled illustrator, Barrow was "a shelf-stacker, a library assistant, a call-centre worker, a civil servant and a printer" ("David Barrow").

Tags: illustrator; man (illustrator); unspecified sexuality (illustrator); white (illustrator)

Batpig: When Pigs Fly

Part of the Batpig series. Gary Yorkshire was a perfectly ordinary pig who gets Superpowers thanks to a radioactive bat bite. Gary, inspired by his Crimson Swine comics, decides to put his powers to good use and adopts the moniker Batpig.

Tags: boy/man (primary character); graphic novel; language: English; non-human (primary character)

Beatrice and Croc Harry

Beatrice is a young girl who wakes up in a treehouse in the magical forest of Argilia with no knowledge of who she is and how she got there. She wakes up alone with amnesia but quickly finds an ally in a crocodile... While working together to…

Tags: Black/African (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); cognitive/neurological disability/condition (primary character); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; middle grade book (ages 8-12); non-human (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Beaty, Andrea

Andrea Beaty’s family ran a grocery store in Benton, Illinois where she developed a love for reading mystery books. After attending Southern Illinois University for computer science where afterwards she obtained a job for a computer software company…

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

Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures is a romantic fantasy that follows the characters Ethan Wate and Lena Duchannes. Lena arrives in Ethan’s small town, where he learns the secrets of her peculiar family. Lena’s powers come with a family curse, and upon her 16th…

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

Being You: A First Conversation About Gender

“Based on the research that race, gender, consent, and body positivity should be discussed with toddlers on up, this read-aloud book series offers adults the opportunity to begin important conversations with young children in an informed, safe, and…

Tags: board book; group (characters); language: English; unspecified sexuality (primary character)

Berenstain, Jan

An American writer and illustrator best known for creating the children's book series The Berenstain Bears.

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

Better Than the Movies

Now that her long-term crush, Micheal, is back in town, Liz Buxbaum is desperate to get him to notice her – desperate enough to seek help from her annoying next-door neighbor, Wes Bennet. As the two scheme and plot to win Liz her dream prom date,…

Tags: boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); 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

Billelis (Billy Bogiatzoglou)

He is a 3D illustrator and digital artist who currently is based in Edinburgh, Scotland. He specializes in dark visuals and decorative art, and likes to expand his artistic skills to create his own style.

Tags: illustrator; man (illustrator); unspecified sexuality (illustrator)

Blabey, Aaron

Aaron is an Australian children's book author and artist who was also an actor until the mid-2000s. Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley, The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon, and the best-selling Pig the Pug are among his award-winning picture books.

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

Black Boy Joy

An anthology of stories regarding black boyhood and the experiences and joys of growing up as a person of color. Black Boy Joy brings together stories from 17 non-binary and black male authors.

Tags: Black/African (primary character); boy/man (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; middle grade book (ages 8-12); non-binary (primary character); unspecified sexuality (primary character)

Black, Holly

Holly Black is a writer who currently lives in New England with her husband and son. She was born and raised in West Long Branch, New Jersey and moved away when she got older. Black is the #1 New York Times bestselling author for over thirty of her…

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

Blackall, Sophie

Sophie Blackall has illustrated more than 30 children's books. She won the Caldecott Medal in 2016 forFinding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear(2015) and in 2019 forHello, Lighthouse (2018). She lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

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

Blood Like Magic

A teen with is forced to sacrifice the love of her life in order to preserve her family's magical powers. Being a teen, she has never been in love and is tasked with finding Mr. Right in order to kill him. She applies for a matchmaking program and is…

Tags: Black/African (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; LGBTQ+ (secondary characters); straight (primary character); straight (secondary characters); transgender (secondary characters); young adult fiction

Bodies Are Cool

This playful picture book celebrates a variety of body types, genders, hair types, and skin colours. It uses friendly images to deliver lessons on body positivity and inclusivity.

Tags: Arab (secondary characters); Asian (secondary characters); Black/African (secondary characters); boy/man (secondary characters); brown skin (secondary characters); girl/woman (secondary characters); group (characters); language: English; multiracial (secondary characters); non-binary (secondary characters); picture book; transgender (secondary characters); unspecified gender (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters); white, assumed (secondary characters)

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