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

Outside Over There

When her baby sister is abducted by goblins, Ida must enter a strange and bizarre world to rescue her. As noted on the Harper Collins website, this book has been the recipient of multiple awards, including the National Book Award, New York Times Best…

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

That Was Then, This is Now

Set in the 1960s, this coming-of-age novel follows two male best friends, Mark Jennings and Bryon Douglas, as they evolve and drift apart.

Tags: boy/man (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; unspecified sexuality (primary character); white, assumed (primary character); young adult fiction

The Girl and the Wolf

A retelling of the "Little Red Riding Hood" story; in this version, the wolf is a helper, and the little girl must rely on both his knowledge and her own to find her way to safety. TheKirkus review states, "Readers will likely infer the girl and her…

Tags: early reader (ages 5-9); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; unspecified sexuality (primary character)

From the Tops of the Trees

“Young Kalia has never known life beyond the fences of the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp. The Thai camp holds many thousands of Hmong families who fled in the aftermath of the little-known Secret War in Laos that was waged during America’s Vietnam War. For…

Tags: Asian (primary character); Asian (secondary character); early reader (ages 5-9); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; picture book; unspecified gender (primary character); unspecified gender (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (primary character)

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)

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)

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things

Alvin Ho tells the story of an Asain American Second grade boy, Alvin is afraid of a lot of things, including girls and school. At school Alvin is very quiet and hardly there, but when he's home he pretends to be a superhero who shares the qualities…

Tags: Asian (primary character); boy/man (primary character); early reader (ages 5-9); human (primary character); language: English; unspecified sexuality (primary character)

I Love You to the Moon and Back

I Love You to the Moon and Back is a short children’s novel recounting a parent bear and their cub from morning to night as they recall all the ways they show their love.

Tags: early reader (ages 5-9); language: English; non-human (primary character); unspecified gender (primary character); unspecified sexuality (primary character)

Aaron Slater, Illustrator

Aaron Slater is a young boy who dreams of creating his own stories one day, however, struggles when trying to decipher letters when reading and struggles more than his other classmates due to this. Aaron believes his dream is unreachable however…

Tags: Black/African (primary character); boy/man (primary character); cognitive/neurological disability/condition (primary character); early reader (ages 5-9); human (primary character); language: English; unspecified sexuality (primary character)

Daughter of the Deep

While leaving for a trial on board a yacht from her marine academy, 15-year-old Ana and her classmates watch their school get destroyed, revealing a battle from the 19th century based on Jules Verne's novels 20,000 Leagues Under the Seaand The…

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

Operation Sisterhood

Bo and her mother lived a quiet life before moving to her stepfather's home in Harlem. With three new sisters, pets, and a new life, she is unsure how to fit in.

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

Forever Birchwood

Wolf's and her friend's treehouse hideaway Birchwood, is threatened to be cut down, pushing Wolf to fight harder to protect the environment she cares deeply for. Her passion is fuelled when discovering her family’s indigenous connections as her great…

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

Elijah Of Buxton

The book follows Elijah Freeman, an 11 year old boy from Buxton, Ontario, a settlement of escaped slaves. After Elijah's friend is robbed of the money he was saving to buy his family out of captivity, Elijah journeys to the US in pursuit of the…

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

Diary of a Young Naturalist

A teenager in Ireland describes his life within a year as he navigates friendships, school, and his incredible connection with nature. These diary entries follow the challenges of Dara's living with autism.

Tags: boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); cognitive/neurological disability/condition (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters); white, confirmed (primary character); white, confirmed (secondary characters); young adult nonfiction

Gabby’s Dollhouse Cat-tastic Heroes to the Rescue!

Gabby and Pandy become superheroes and defend the Dollhouse! Follow along as they save the Gabby Cats from the supervillain.

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

The 12 Days of First Grade

What will the teacher share with us on The 12 Days of First Grade? Find out in this rhyming storybook by Jenna Lettice! Follow along to discover all the school activities and supplies for a fun-filled 12 Days of First Grade.

Tags: Asian (secondary characters); boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); brown skin (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 (secondary characters)

Daniel Misses Someone

Daniel misses Grandpere because he lives so far away! What can he do to cope with this feeling? Follow Daniel as he discovers there are tons of things to do to feel better about missing Grandpere.

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

Peg+Cat: The Sleepover

Sleepover time! Peg +Cat invites their 4 Pirate + parrot friends over for a slumber soiree. Unfortunately, the pirates get homesick! This causes a big problem… What will they do to save the sleepover?

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

In the Key of Nira Ghani

Nira, an aspiring trumpeter, fights to pursue her musical passions, which oppose the expectations of her traditional Guyanese parents. With its themes of family, friendship, and romance, this coming-of-age story explores the realities of a…

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; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters); white, assumed (secondary characters); young adult fiction

Tokyo Ever After

Izumi Tanaka has never really felt like she fit in—it isn’t easy being Japanese American in her small, mostly white, northern California town. Raised by a single mother, it’s always been Izumi—or Izzy, because “It’s easier this way”—and her mom…

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

Deeplight

In this fantasy story, the Gods have disappeared for over 30 years and divers search for some of their remains. Hark finds a divine heart to save his best friend Jelt, but the divine does not seem to mingle well with the human. The book follows two…

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

Refugee

Refugeefollows three children escaping three different traumatic situations: in the 1930s, a Jewish boy named Josef escapes Nazi Germany; in 1994, a girl named Isabel tries to leave Cuba to go to America; and in 2015, a Syrian boy named Mahmoud is on…

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

Don't Ask Me Where I'm From

When Liliana Cruz, a first-generation Latina, is accepted into an elite and predominantly white high school, she chooses to white-wash herself in order to fit in. However, as family secrets unravel and racial tensions begin to rise, Liliana is left…

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

The Couch Potato

A couch potato believes it can live life sitting on a sofa in front of a wall of screens—that is until the power goes out and forces the couch potato to play outside. Being in nature reminds the couch potato that fresh air, exercise, and human…

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

Grumpy Monkey

Jim is a grumpy monkey who does not want to admit it. His jungle friends suggest ways he can cheer himself up. But instead of trying to improve his mood, Jim sits with Norman, the gorilla, who lets him just feel his grumpiness. This New York Times…

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

Browse Items (61 total)