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

Cilla Lee-Jenkins, Future Author Extraordinaire

Cilla Lee-Jenkins knows she is destined to be a great author; her first-person narrative demonstrates her working at her craft while also learning about her biracial (Chinese/White) identity.

Tags: Asian (secondary characters); Black/African (secondary characters); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; middle grade book (ages 8-12); multiracial (primary character); white, confirmed (secondary characters)

Walking in Two Worlds

Bugz is a shy Anishinaabe teen girl, but online, she’s a confident video gamer. Her two worlds collide when she befriends Feng, a Muslim Uighur teen boy and fellow gamer who moves into the Rez. Together, they must learn to reconcile broken…

Tags: Asian (secondary character); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); Indigenous (primary character); language: English; Muslim (secondary characters); straight (primary character); straight (secondary characters); young adult fiction

The Hate U Give

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter tries to balance two very different lives in the poor, predominantly black neighborhood where she lives and the posh, predominantly white, suburban prep school she attends. She is forced to face her reality when…

Tags: Black/African (primary character); Black/African (secondary characters); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; straight (primary character); straight (secondary characters); white, confirmed (secondary characters); young adult fiction

Peppa’s Pizza Party

It's Pizza Time! Based on the TV/Cartoon show, Peppa’s Pizza Party is a tie-in that follows Nick Jr’s Peppa Pig and her family as they make the dough, prepare the ingredients, and assemble their own homemade pizzas.

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

A Bear to Share

When her mother suggests she give up her favourite teddy bear, Bach, to make room for a brand new one, Tiana doesn’t know what to do. Tiana’s character acts as the perfect example of selflessness, generosity, and the value of giving to others. The…

Tags: Black/African (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); early reader (ages 5-9); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters); white, confirmed (secondary characters)

The Scapegracers

Sideways Pike is a teenage lesbian witch who finds an unlikely friendship in the three most popular girls of her school. Together, the diverse group of friends form a powerful coven in which they explore friendship, love, and magic.

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

Kaleidoscope

An unnamed protagonist must continue life without his friend James. A fantastical story about love, friendship, and grief between two teenage boys. Non-linear storytelling told through recollections of memories and dreams. Biblical and mythological…

Tags: boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; middle grade book (ages 8-12); unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters); white, assumed (primary character); white, assumed (secondary characters)

What About Will

Trace Reynolds is a white-Puerto Rican 12-year-old who has always looked up to his 17-year-old brother Will. But when Will suffers from a traumatic brain injury during a football game, their family starts to fall apart. Will's depression, anger…

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

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)

For All Time

Together, Tamar and Fayard live through a thousand lives and have seen the ups and downs of life. Through all these lives lived, one thing never changed, which is their passionate love for one another. The problem is they can never see how their love…

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

Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven

Raven and Garfield have both experienced traumatic life events and have their own hidden secrets. They meet for the first time in Nashville as both try and seek answers from Slade Wilson. A YA romance story about trust and acceptance.

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

Holding Up the Universe

Libby Strout is dubbed "America's Fattest Teen," but after her mom's death, she hopes to start the new school year as the girl who can do anything no matter her weight. Jack Masselin has the skill of fitting in except he can't recognize faces, and…

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

Mother Goose Goes to India

A colourfully illustrated book which combines timeless nursery rhymes with an introduction to Indian culture.

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

Unplugged

Jett Baranov attends Oasis, a "wellness" camp that forces him to "unplug" from technology. Although unimpressed at first, Jett soon finds that Oasis is a place of friendship, mystery, adventure, and chaos!

Tags: boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; middle grade book (ages 8-12); unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters); white, assumed (primary character); white, assumed (secondary characters)

Great Too

This fun children's book is about hockey and overcoming challenges in sports. It shows children the importance of teamwork and relying on each other.

Tags: Black/African (secondary characters); boy/man (primary character); boy/man (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)

A Snake Falls to Earth

A coming-of-age story about Nina, a 16-year-old Lipan Apache girl from Texas and Oli, a cottonmouth snake person. Nina believes in old stories and the idea there's much more to life than what is on Earth. Oli is from the Reflecting World and learns…

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

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

The Hockey Sweater

This children's picture book is about hockey and team loyalty. It is a comical story about a boy who is disappointed about receiving a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey jersey instead of a Montreal Canadians hockey jersey.

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

Amari and the Night Brothers

Amari, an outcast, is convinced that her brother Quinton is missing. While searching for him, despite everyone's prejudiced opinions, she discovers a whole new world of supernatural affairs. Throughout her journey, she faces friendships, doubt,…

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

Made in Korea

Two entrepreneurial Korean American teens fall in love as they compete in sales at their respective Korean beauty businesses. Despite their blossoming relationship, the rivalry is strong and only one business can succeed!

Tags: Asian (primary character); Asian (secondary character); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; straight (primary character); straight (secondary characters)

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)

5-minute Marvel stories

This book has no specific author as it is a collection of twelve 5-minute long stories by Marvel Press Book Group, featuring all-time favourite superheroes such as Ms. Marvel, Captain Marvel, Kate Bishop, Jane Foster, and many more. This comic book…

Tags: boy/man (secondary characters); comic book; girl/woman (secondary characters); group (characters); language: English; unspecified sexuality (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)

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)

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)

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